St. Pete servicewoman awarded Meritorious Mast

A St. Petersburg native has received one of the highest honors for enlisted personnel. 

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Carla Pisecco was awarded a Marine Corps Meritorious Mast in July, in recognition of her leadership while serving with the Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2 during Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2025. 

The military presents Meritorious Masts to enlisted Marine and Navy servicemen and women who demonstrate outstanding performance and service. 

BALTOPS 25 is an annual North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) maritime-focused military exercise that takes place in the Baltic region. During the exercise, personnel train and test different types of capabilities and skills. 

Sixteen countries participated in the event. 

 For Pisecco, receiving the Meritorious Mast was an honor. “The award recognizes that all the hard work that I have put into my 18 years in the Navy does not go unnoticed,” she explained to the Catalyst.  

During BALTOPS 25, Pisecco was the assistant battle watch captain for ESG 2, which is a Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet naval force. 

“During that time, we were mainly focused on ensuring that our partner nations and our units that were on other ships and ashore,” she said, “were where they were supposed to be, were meeting timelines and were able to safely execute their missions as well.” 

Pisecco’s experience working with her commanding officers has played a key role in her leadership style. They “have made me the person I am today and the leader I aspire to be.” 

Joining the military was a natural decision for Pisecco. Her father and both of her grandfathers served in the Navy. “I just wanted to continue with the tradition,” she said. 

A graduate of Pinellas Park High School, she was a part of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps youth development program. “It provided a lot of opportunities to go to different trainings and do community events, which then grew my love for the military and the Navy even more,” she explained. 

One of Pisecco’s favorite parts of her job is setting an example for others. 

“I really enjoy being a mentor to those who are younger who don’t really understand or don’t know a way ahead,” she said. “They can learn from my experiences and I can also learn from them.” 

She hopes her career can inspire young women to join the military. “They can be leaders and they can be powerful,” she explained. “It’s not just a male dominant military.

“Women are certainly a minority,” she continued. “However, if they put forth the effort and the work that it takes and they believe in themselves, they are able to achieve success.” 

Pisecco is currently an operations specialist and is stationed in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She plans on moving back to St. Pete, where her parents reside, when she retires in two years.