Cryptologic Technician Interpretive Petty Officer First Class Christina M. Bungubung was born and raised in Noble, OK. In May 2011, she graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts in International and Area Studies. She decided to enlist in the Navy and departed for basic training in Great Lakes, IL in December 2011. Following graduation from Recruit Training Command, she attended the Korean Course at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA.

In 2013, CTI1 Bungubung received orders to Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Hawaii as her first duty station. After meritoriously advancing to Petty Officer First Class in 2018, she served as Division Leading Petty Officer to 46 Sailors across three cryptologic ratings.

CTI1 Bungubung transferred to Information Warfare Training Site (IWTS) Hawaii in 2019, where she attended the Navy Instructor Training Course and served as a Korean Apprentice Cryptologic Language Program (ACLP) instructor and course supervisor. In 2021, Petty Officer Bungubung graduated with distinction from Hawaii Pacific University with a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

In February 2022, Petty Officer Bungubung graduated from the Naval Aircrewman Candidate School (NACCS) in Pensacola, FL. After completing the aircrew pipeline, she transferred to NIOC Hawaii’s Air Operations Department and deployed to Okinawa, Japan.

Petty Officer Bungubung has earned the Enlisted Information Warfare Specialist designation and Master Training Specialist certification. Her personal awards include two Joint Service Commendation Medals, one Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

I joined the Navy in 2011 because I needed more time to figure my post-graduation career path. If you were to tell me then, at 22 years old, that I would pursue a 20-year military career, I would have called you crazy. Despite being one of the oldest women in my integrated recruit division, I was able to find my place then, and even more so now, as an older sister, even an aunt, to some of my Shipmates. During my first few years in the Navy, I never felt that I was out-numbered by men in my rate community. I was surrounded by many people who I could trust and learn from.

It wasn’t until I decided to go through the aircrew pipeline that I noticed a significant change in the number of women. I tried to use my prior experiences as a way to motivate myself and others who were in my division. I have always believed that leading by example is key, which meant that I could not give up, even when met with physical and mental challenges. The young men in my division helped me any time I needed- encouraging me on the runs, giving me a leg-up for the pull-up bar, and helping me find the smallest flight suit and boots to wear in the pool for our training. They were the best division I could ask to be with.

I was raised by a single-mother, who always taught me to try my best, always. That is one thing that I try to teach my children and my Sailors. As long as we do our best, we can wake up the next morning proud of who we are and what we’re working towards. Not only have I worked for many admirable men and women in the Navy, but I’ve had the opportunity to lead some of them, too. I look forward to the continuous improvements and changes the Navy will make to ensure gender equality across all ranks.