Aunapu Mann became an immediate starter at marking back as a 5-foot-5 plebe. In those days, Navy employed a one-versus-one defensive scheme with a sweeper as a safety valve and Aunapu Mann's job was to shut down the opponent's most dangerous scorer.

"Nicole just had the mentality piece. Your job is to mark one person and the challenge is to see who is going to win that duel," Gabarra said. "Nicole's competitiveness and toughness were exceptional. She was a relentless defender who was also very good on the ball and could jump-start the attack after winning possession."

Aunapu Mann was named Patriot League Defender of the Year as both a junior and senior. She was a four-time United Soccer Coaches All-East Region selection, earning second team honors as a senior captain.

Looking back, Aunapu Mann realizes how her time with Navy women's soccer helped prepare her to become an officer.

"Being a member of the soccer team, you learn so much about peer leadership and working together to overcome challenges," she said. "You win and lose together. As a young woman, I realized the Marine Corps was my next team."

From fighter jets to spacecraft

During summer training before her senior year, Aunapu Mann was introduced to aviation and the world of fighter jets, which was a transformational experience.

"I didn't have it all figured out when I went to Annapolis. I didn't know what I wanted to do in the military," she said. "Fairly early on I knew I wanted to be a Marine. It wasn't until the summer before my firstie year that I got a ride in the back seat of an F-18. I remember thinking, 'You're telling me I can be a pilot and a Marine? Sign me up and let's do this.' "

After graduating the academy with a degree in mechanical engineering, Aunapu Mann attended graduate school at Stanford and earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering with a specialization in fluid mechanics.

While stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in North Carolina, Aunapu Mann deployed twice aboard the USS Enterprise in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

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