Arturo Guerra: From Navy service to educational planner
Arturo Guerra, educational planner for San Jacinto College’s veterans services, grew up in Pasadena and Deer Park. Uncertain about his future after high school, he joined the U.S. Navy, a decision that would shape his career and approach to student guidance.
In his senior year at Deer Park High School, Guerra was introduced to military service through a recruiter who promised college benefits and the opportunity to travel the world. He graduated in May 2010 and joined the Navy that November as a cryptologic technician.
“I didn’t want my dad to pay for college if I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” he said. “The Navy gave me time to figure things out while working and getting paid.”
After completing boot camp and training in Pensacola, Florida, Guerra was stationed in San Diego, where he served on the cruiser USS Antietam. The Navy expanded his worldview and instilled collaboration and responsibility.
“It became very apparent that I was not there as an individual but part of a team,” he said. “I was late one morning in boot camp, and they made an example of me by making the other recruits work even harder while I sat out. Teamwork and accountability are high on my priority lists because of those experiences.”
One of Guerra’s defining moments occurred during a leave in Oklahoma, where he, a friend, and his friend’s dad responded to an EF5 tornado that struck a nearby elementary school. Guerra, alongside other first responders, helped rescue children and staff from the rubble. His efforts earned him a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and an American Red Cross Real Heroes Military Award.
“I’ll never forget that experience,” he said. “My friend’s dad was a master chief petty officer in the Navy, and he was all about mission action. He told us to hop in the car to go help these people, and we never hesitated.”
After four years of service, Guerra also earned a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for superior performance as his ship’s signal exploitation space supervisor. In this role, he collected more than 120,000 signals of interest and disseminated more than 1,000 time-sensitive reports.
In 2014, Guerra transitioned to civilian life and eventually returned to Texas, where his military benefits would be extended, combining the GI Billâ and the Hazlewood Act. He enrolled at San Jac and earned his associate degree in 2017.
“The process when I got to the veteran center at San Jac was super easy,” he said. “It was like a breath of fresh air because the staff knew about the veteran benefits and all the steps to take throughout the process.”
Former San Jac veteran services manager Eugene Bernard mentored Guerra while he attended the College.
“Mr. Bernard would check in on me and let me know about work-study and applying for financial aid,” he said. “Anytime he had a learning opportunity or there was an opportunity to grow, he was like, ‘Check this out.’”
Guerra transferred to the University of Houston-Clear Lake and pursued a bachelor’s degree in communication, studying public relations and graphic design. He also served as an audience engagement editor for the student newspaper, The Signal.
“Initially, I was called to communication for graphic design, but public relations ended up being the meat and potatoes of the program for me,” he said. “I realized it was a lot cooler than I thought. Crisis communication was exciting because it was almost exactly like what I did in the Navy.”
After earning his bachelor’s degree in 2019, Guerra returned to San Jac as a veteran services educational planner. His military background, particularly lessons in trust and accountability, informs how he guides students today.
“In the military, people depended on me to do my part,” he said. “That’s the same mindset I bring to my work with students. I want them to know that I’ve got their back as they figure out their path.”
