Bonnie Dabalos-Castro was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on 29 May 1962. She graduated from Liberty Union High School in Brentwood, California in June 1980. Soon after graduation, Bonnie reported to boot camp in September 1980. After boot camp, she reported to Meridian, Mississippi, for Aircraft Maintenance Administration School (MOS 6046).

Upon completion of military school in February 1981, Bonnie reported to her first command, Headquarters & Maintenance Squadron 39 (H&MS-39), Marine Air Group 39 (MAG-39), at Camp Pendleton, California. In 1983 while attached to MAG-39, Bonnie had to opportunity to transfer to Marine Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 (HMA-369) for deployment to Okinawa, Japan, for six months. After her return to the States, she reenlisted into the Marine Corps and attended Recruiter’s School in San Diego, California, where she graduated 3rd in her class.

Bonnie was attached to Recruiting Station San Francisco, where she recruited future Marines from the Bay Area cities of Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Mountain View, and Sunnyvale. After her tour as a Recruiter, Bonnie reported to Marine Attack Squadron 133 (VMA-133), Marine Aircraft Group 42 (MAG-42) at NAS Alameda, where she ended her military career in October 1988.

Bonnie’s military decorations included Good Conduct Medal (1 star), Expeditionary Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal.

Bonnie currently works at Cooley LLP in Palo Alto, California, as a Patent Client Portfolio Specialist and resides in Fremont, California, with her husband.