Leadership, discipline, and a fighting spirit are the qualities that make Peruvian Navy Lieutenant Lucía del Rosario Granda Ticona, deputy commander of the Maritime Patrol Vessel (MPV) BAP Río Tumbes, unique.
She graduated from the Peruvian Naval School in 2012 and since then has directed her efforts to the professionalization of her naval specialty. Lt. Granda, who has 11 years of experience in various departments of the Navy, both on land and in naval units, spoke with Diálogo about her current position and professional dreams.
Diálogo: What are the main challenges of being the deputy commander of the MPV BAP Río Tumbes?
Peruvian Navy Lieutenant Lucía del Rosario Granda Ticona, deputy commander of the MPV BAP Río Tumbes:One of the biggest challenges I have is that I have under my command a group of 30 male crew members, whom I lead and guide in order to be able to fulfill the commander role.
Diálogo: What kind of missions are carried out aboard the MPV?
Lt. Granda: We have three main functions: The first is to safeguard human life at sea; to protect the aquatic environment and its hydrobiological resources; and our third function is to curb illicit activities such as narcotrafficking, which is sometimes very common in certain areas of our sea.
Diálogo: What motivated you to join the Peruvian Navy?
Lt. Granda: Seeing my older sister enter the Naval Academy awakened my vocation for the Navy, and the experiences that she told me awakened my interest even more, and that’s how I came to apply and follow a woman service member full of discipline and vocation for this naval career.
Diálogo: If a teenager came to you and asked you for advice about joining the military forces of your country, what would you tell them?
Lt. Granda: I would encourage them to apply for the armed forces because they teach us discipline and rigor; military life brings us closer to the day-to-day of what our country is full of, both in fulfilling military and social duties. It’s a career for which one may make some sacrifices, but over time, it brings you great satisfaction both personally and professionally, since it is also full of benefits.
Diálogo: During your military career, do you think there have been advances for women in the Peruvian Navy?
Lt. Granda: Yes, I believe that during these years that I’ve been an officer, we have grown and evolved in terms of gender equality. Now we have women commanders of a unit and they’ve already had more important positions based on the responsibility that they’ve accumulated in their ranks.
Diálogo: What is your dream within the Peruvian Navy?
Lt. Granda: One achievement that I would like to reach within the Peruvian Navy is to command a coast guard unit, since that is my qualification. At present I am the deputy commander of an MPV and I would like to be able to be commander of an MPV in the future.
Diálogo: What capabilities should an MPV commander have?
Lt. Granda: I think that above all they should be a good leader because they have junior staff under their command, who are watching them at all times, taking them as an example, and they should be responsible for the actions they take.
To see the full interview with Peruvian Navy Lieutenant Lucía del Rosario Granda Ticona, deputy commander of the MPV BAP Rio Tumbes, please click on the following link: https://dialogo-americas.com/articles/a-conversation-with-lieutenant-lucia-granda-of-the-peruvian-navy/#.Yw_CUHZByUk
