“In her 11 years in the Navy, Tawanna Gallassero has received more than a few awards for excellence. Tomorrow night, she’ll get the chance to see how television stars receive their’s.Gallassero, a first class petty officer at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, has been chosen to represent the Navy at Sunday night’s Emmy Awards. Not just NAS Whidbey’s Navy, but the Navy, all 372,688 men and women currently on active duty.Gallassero is one of four enlisted service people invited by the Academy of Arts and Science to represent their respective service branch – Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Air Force – at the show.The academy worked with Air Force Col. Ray Shepherd, commander of Armed Forces Radio and Television Service, to select the four military guests.The Academy wants to recognize our soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines for their daily sacrifices in defense of our country, Shepherd said. The Academy was specifically looking for military members from remote, contingency or sea duty locations.Gallassero knows about being recognized for outstanding performance. Last year, she was named Shore Sailor of the Year by Oak Harbor’s Navy League Council, as well as Top Sailor of the Year by Navy Region Northwest. And earlier this year, Gallassero was one of the top three finalists for Shore Sailor of the Year for the entire Pacific Fleet. Not bad for a kid from Capitol Heights, Md., who joined the Navy in 1988 to save money for college and travel.Speaking from her digs at Sheraton Universal Hotel in Hollywood on Wednesday, Gallassero said she only learned she’d be attending the Emmy Award ceremonies a week ago when Navy officials gave her a call.I was like, ‘Who? Are you serious? ‘Are you sure? Are we talking about theannual Emmys?’ Now, with the Emmys only a few days away, Gallassero is experiencing other emotions.I’m honored by the chance to represent the Navy, she said. But I’m a little nervous. I’m most nervous about the Emmys.This, minutes before Gallassero was off to be interviewed by Entertainment Tonight.Also on tap for the Navy petty officer and her three military counterparts are visits with E! and Access Hollywood.When she isn’t attending award ceremonies, Gallassero works at NAS Whidbey’s Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) in production control. Previously in her Navy career she served in Guam and Diego Garcia. AIMD Command Master Chief Robert Stence said Gallassero made an impression on him the first time they met.What impressed me most was when she checked aboard and she came up to me, introduced herself and said, ‘Master Chief, I want a challenge and if you have any collateral duties, I want them.’ And I gave them to her, Stence said, pointing out that she has stepped forward as a blood drive coordinator and an Oak Harbor Middle School volunteer, to name just two of the ways Gallassero has gotten involved in the community.She’s volunteered for just about darn near everything, Stence said.Gallassero says she’s just doing what comes naturally to her.A lot of people ask me what my secret is, she said. There is no secret to my success, it’s just hard work and dedication. And that was instilled in me by my mother, Marcella, who told me I could do anything I could set my heart and mind to do.When she was stationed in Guam, Gallassero set her heart and mind to becoming an officer.From then on, whether ashore or at sea aboard the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Gallassero took correspondence college courses. She also found time to earn both Enlisted Surface Warfare and Air Warfare Specialist ratings. I have a lot of energy and I was grateful and blessed to have a chain of command that supported me, she said.On Sept. 29, Gallassero will become a commissioned officer.She said she’s excited about that opportunity because she’ll be able to draw on 11 years experience as an enlisted sailor when she puts on her ensign collar insignia. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way because I’ll be able to understand the people that will be working for me, be able to guide them in the right way, she said.First, however, Tawanna Gallassero has to get through the Emmys. She’s nervous, but duty calls. The Emmys will air on ABC (KOMO) Channel 4 at 8 p.m. For a better chance of seeing Gallassero, tune in at 7 p.m. for the pre-show. “