A North Marion High School graduate serving in the United States Marine Corps is participating in the world’s largest international maritime exercise in and around the Hawaiian Islands.
Corporal Diego Deanda, a native of Gainesville who graduated from North Marion High School in 2020, is currently deployed with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 164 (Reinforced).
Over the past month, Deanda took part in the 30th biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026 exercise, a massive multinational operation featuring 31 nations, approximately 40 surface ships, five submarines, over 140 aircraft, and more than 25,000 personnel…