May 20, 2024

Deandra J. Legare is our newest Veteran of the Week!

Petty Officer Legare was born in Rome, GA. She graduated from Pepperell High School in Lindale, GA in 1992. She worked after high school and later decided to enlist in the United States Navy in March 1995 at the Smyrna Recruiting Station. Her father Leo Word a Vietnam Veteran inspired her for military service. She completed Basic Training in Great Lakes, Illinois in December 1995. After completing Basic Training she attended and graduated from Disbursing Clerk “A” School located in Meridian, MS.

In May 1996, PS1 Legare reported to her first command as a Disbursing Clerk Seaman Recruit at PSD Newport, RI working in Reserve payroll. She then transferred to Guantanamo Bay Cuba in June 1998, PS1 Legare was assigned to Military Pay division, and while assigned in Guantanamo Bay Cuba she advanced to Disbursing Clerk Third Class. In January 2001, she reported to VP-8 the Fighting Tigers in Brunswick, ME to wrap up her sea time. As, Disbursing Clerk Second Class, she deployed to Puerto Rico as the lead Military Pay Clerk for six months where she obtained her Aviation Warfare Specialist.

In October 2002 PS1 Legare reported to PSD Patuxent River, MD as Disbursing Clerk Second Class taking on the roles as Travel Leading Petty Officer, Separation Supervisor, Receipts Clerk, and Education Services/ID Cards in preparation for changes Navy wide. In October 2005, Disbursing Clerks and Personnelman merged into the new rating of Personnel Specialist. She transferred December 2005 and reported to Norfolk, VA as a student where she obtained the Disbursing Afloat Auto System Specialist NEC (2905).
At the completion of school, she reported to Marine Aircraft Group-31 in Beaufort, SC as Personnel Specialist First Class working as the Military Pay Supervisor. During this tour she worked with Marines and Hospital Corpsman as she became qualified Fleet Marine Force. In March 2009 she reported to NRD Raleigh, NC where she worked outside her normal duties as Office Manager and Officer Processing Admin Leading Petty Officer.

Upon her transfer from NRD, she checked into Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX for training enroute to her next command. She completed training and obtained the Navy Correctional Counselor NEC (9516). In May 2012 she reported onboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) home ported in Yokosuka, Japan where she became the Transfers, Education Service Officer, and Patriots Landing Indoctrination Leading Petty Officer. During this tour she deployed and visited the countries of Malaysia, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, Guam and Singapore. She also qualified as an Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist.

In February 2014, she transferred to Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan working as a Paralegal at Region Legal Service Office Japan and Transfers Leading Petty Officer at Personnel Support Detachment Yokosuka, Japan. During this time she completed the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Victim Advocate course in support of all Sailors. In May 2015 she received short fused orders to Naval Hospital Beaufort, SC where she became the Leading Petty Officer of Military Human Resources.
PS1 Legare’s awards include Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards), Meritorious Unit Commendation, Battle Efficiency Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal (five awards), National Defense Service Medal (two awards), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (three awards), and Overseas Service Ribbon (five awards).
PS1 retired from the Navy in October 2015. After retirement she completed her Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Excelsior University. 
Deandra is married to Jason (Retired HMC) and is the proud mother of their 4 children and one granddaughter, Marquis, Aiyanna, Jason Jr, Ja'Kobi and Marianna.