Warren native and Warren High School graduate Master Gunnery Sgt. Juan “Johnny” Roque has retired from the United States Marine Corps after an accomplished 30-year career marked by leadership, global deployments and distinguished service.
Roque, a member of the Warren High School Class of 1996, enlisted in the Marine Corps on July 3, 1996, shortly after graduation. Over the next three decades, he rose through the enlisted ranks to become a Master Gunnery Sergeant, one of the highest enlisted ranks in the Marine Corps.
The son of the late Antonio “Tony” Roque and Delfina “Lili” Roque, he began his military journey at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego before training as an ammunition technician. Throughout his career, he served in numerous leadership positions across the United States and around the world.
Roque’s assignments included duty stations in California, Hawaii, North Carolina, South Carolina, Okinawa, Japan, and overseas service at U.S. embassies in Estonia and Slovenia. He also deployed in support of military operations and training exercises throughout the Indo-Pacific region, the Middle East and Iraq.
During his career, Roque served as an ammunition chief at the battalion, regimental and force levels, eventually becoming the Marine Forces Pacific Force Ammunition Chief. In that role, he oversaw ammunition readiness and support operations across 10 countries throughout the Pacific theater.
His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, four Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and 10 Good Conduct Medals.
Roque officially retired on May 29, concluding 30 years of honorable service to the nation.
He and his wife Angela, formerly Angela Braswell of Warren, are the parents of three children: Javier, Lilyana and Elisa.
For the Warren community, Roque’s retirement marks the culmination of an extraordinary military career that began with a local high school graduate answering the call to serve and ended as one of the Marine Corps’ most senior enlisted ammunition experts.
