Culinary Specialist 1st Class Amanda Ortiz is the unaccompanied housing lead petty officer and housing liaison for Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota.

“I conduct room inspections in all 18 of our barracks buildings as well as our weekly barracks clean ups,” she said. “I manage all overseas housing allowances (OHA) request for E-4 Sailors at NAVSTA Rota as well as our resident assistant (RA) program.”

She also manages any issues or discrepancies between Sailors, the Sailor’s parent command, and unaccompanied housing.

Ortiz, from Sacramento, California, has been in the Navy for 16 years serving aboard USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), Navy Medicine and Readiness Training Command (NMRTC) San Diego, USS Ashland (LSD 48), Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71.

Her favorite part of her current job is when she notifies a Sailor that their OHA request has been approved and they can move out into the economy.
“It’s rewarding knowing that you have made their day a little better with some good news,” she said.

For collateral duties, Ortiz also serves as First Class Petty Officer Association event coordinator, assistant command financial specialist, departmental training coordinator, and unaccompanied housing Hazmat coordinator.

“My favorite thing about being stationed in Spain is it has allowed my family and I to travel and visit new places,” she said.

During her travels, she enjoys exploring new places, getting to understand and see more of Spain, and trying new foods along the way.

“I have been in the Navy for 16 years now and Spain was always a ‘bucket list’ place for me so I’m glad I got the opportunity to be able to be stationed out here and being able to be out here with my husband and kids has been great so far.”