SteelMaster Stories of Service: Desiree Vasquez

Desiree Vasquez has been part of the SteelMaster team for over two decades. Her story of service begins long before she joined the company and runs deep through her family.

A New Chapter in the U.S.

In 1999, Desiree left the Philippines at age 20 and moved to California with her mom and two younger brothers. They reunited with her father and eldest brother, who had arrived in the U.S. just months earlier. The family settled near relatives who had also immigrated, creating a tight-knit community that eased the transition to life in a new country.

“When we moved to California, it sort of felt like coming home because of our extended family who were already living here,” Desiree recalls. “We were together every day in the Philippines, and life just wasn’t the same after they left.”

Shortly after arriving, all three of her brothers joined the U.S. Navy. They followed in the footsteps of two uncles who had retired from the service.

“When they joined, it was a bit of a shock. We’re so close in age and have always been together,” she says. “But I was still with my parents, and we had family around us, so that helped.”

“I’m proud of the work I do at SteelMaster, and I’m so grateful to live in America. This country has given us so many opportunities, and I’ll never take that for granted. I’m especially proud of my brothers, who have all served this country with honor.”

Service During a Time of Uncertainty

After 9/11, the weight of military service hit home in a new way. One of Desiree’s brothers was deployed to Afghanistan on one of the first Navy ships sent to the region.

“I cried so much when I found out,” she says. “We were all so scared. But thank goodness he made it through and came back safe and sound.”

In 2001, her family moved again. This time, they relocated to Virginia Beach to be closer to her father’s side. Two years later, Desiree joined SteelMaster as an accounting specialist. She has remained a steady and dedicated presence ever since. She is currently working toward her bachelor’s degree in management at Old Dominion University.

A Lasting Legacy of Service

Today, her family’s connection to service continues. Her oldest brother, now retired from the Navy, works as a field engineering technician supporting the Naval Surface Warfare Center. Her younger brother, who also retired in 2021, is now a budget analyst at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her youngest brother is still on active duty and serves as a Master Chief Gas Turbine System Technician in the Navy.