Hispanic Admirals in the United States Navy

Hispanic Admirals in the United States Navy can trace their tradition of naval military service to the Hispanic sailors, who have served in the Navy during every war and conflict since the American Revolution. Prior to the Civil War, the highest rank reached by a Hispanic-American in the U.S. Navy was Commodore. Such was the case of Commodore Uriah Phillips Levy (1792-1862), a Sephardic Jew of Hispanic descent and great grandson of Dr. Samuel Nunez, [ [http://www.marcleepson.com/savingmonticello/levys/uriah.html Uriah P. Levy] , retrieved Oct. 2, 2007] who served in the War of 1812. [THE COMMODORE THE ADVENTUROUS LIFE OF URIAH P. LEVY (Hardcover); by Robert D., Gold, Albert Abrahams (Author); pg. 112; Publisher: Jewish Publication Society (1954) ASIN: B000IORAXI] [ [http://www.orbilat.com/Languages/Spanish-Ladino/History/Ladino-History.htm History of the Sephardic Jews] ] [ [http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:IYpPHw0yGC0J:www.americansephardifederation.org/PDF/sources/ASF_Bios.pdf+URIAH+P.+LEVY+Sephardic+Jew&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=11&gl=us&ie=UTF-8 URIAH P. LEVY Sephardic Jew] ] During the American Civil War, the government of the United States recognized that the rapid expanding Navy was in need of admirals therefore, Congress proceeded to authorize the appointment of nine officers the rank of rear admiral.cite web |accessdate=2007-04-15|url=http://www.rand.org/pubs/reports/R4246/R4246.appa.pdf
title=Appendix A: A Short History of Officer Personnel Management
page=77|format=pdf |id=ISBN 0-8330-1287-8 |publisher=RAND Corporation
work=The Defense Officer Personnel Management Act of 1980: A Retrospective Assessment
author=Bernard D. Rostker, Harry J. Thie, James L. Lacy, Jennifer H. Kawata, Susanna W. Purnell] [http://www.history.navy.mil/trivia/triv4-5l.htm NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER] , Retrieved Oct. 2, 2007] On July 16, 1862, Flag Officer David Glasgow Farragut became the first Hispanic-American to be appointed to the rank of rear admiral.cite web |accessdate=2007-04-14 |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/wars/civilwar.htm
title=Some significant events of 1862|work=A Brief Naval Chronology of the Civil War (1861-65)
publisher=Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy] [http://www.lonesailor.org/a_bronze_reliefs_6.php United States Navy Memorial] , Retrieved Oct. 2, 2007] Two years later (1864), Farragut became a vice admiral and in 1866 the Navy's first full admiral. During World War I, Robert Lopez, the first Hispanic graduate of the United States Naval Academy, served with the rank of Commodore in command of the Mare Island Naval Shipyard and during World War II five Hispanics served with the ranks of Rear Admiral or above in either the European or Pacific Theater's of the war. As of April 2007, twenty two Hispanic-Americans have reached the rank of Admiral and of this number thirteen were graduates of the USNA.

Terminology

Admiral, a word that stems from the Arabic term Amir-al-bahr (commander of the sea),cite web|accessdate=2007-04-15
url=http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?sourceid=Mozilla-search&va=admiral
title="Admiral"|work=Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary] is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. Admirals are the highest-ranking officers in the U.S. Navy. However, through the American Revolution until 1862, the U.S. Navy had no admiral rank. [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=VbcbAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA288&lpg=PA288&dq=creation+of+the+rank+of+admiral+united+states&source=web&ots=BFV825ecaA&sig=IN-0eVOEGEkKHaXqZ6sQfe2BW6s History of the United States] , Retrieved September 8, 2007] [http://www.history.navy.mil/trivia/triv4-5l.htm NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER] , Retrieved Oct. 2, 2007]

Hispanic American is an ethnic term employed to categorize any citizen or resident of the United States, of any racial background, of any country, and of any religion, who has at least one ancestor from the people of Spain or is of non-Hispanic origin, but has an ancestor from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central or South America, or some other Hispanic origin. The three largest Hispanic groups in the United States are the Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans and Cubans. [ [http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hispanic/hispdef.html Hispanic Population of the United States Current Population Survey Definition and Background] , United States Census Bureau, Population Division,Ethnic & Hispanic Statistics Branch. Retrieved on August 24, 2007] [ [http://www.ed.gov/pubs/FaultLine/who.html Who are Hispanic Americans?] ] [cite web
year=2001
month=March
url=http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/cenbr01-1.pdf
title=Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin - 2000 Census Brief
publisher=www.census.gov
accessdate=2007-10-04 ]

David Glasgow Farragut

Born on July 5, 1801 at Campbell's Station, near Knoxville, Tennessee, David Glasgow Farragut (born James Farragut) was the second son of Elizabeth Farragut and her husband Jorge Farragut Mesquida, a Spanish–Catalan by descent and a Minorquin by birth, who had emigrated to America in 1776. Jorge Farragut Mesquida served during the American Revolution.

In 1808, Farragut's mother died from yellow fever and his father then gave him up for adoption. He was adopted by future-U.S. Navy Captain David Porter. [http://www.lonesailor.org/a_bronze_reliefs_6.php United States Navy Memorial] , Retrieved Oct. 2, 2007]

Farragut entered the Navy as a midshipman on December 17, 1810. His first naval combat experience came in the War of 1812, when the ship to which he was assigned, the USS "Essex", captured an enemy vessel and, at the age of 12 years old he was given the assignment to bring the ship safely to port. [http://www.lonesailor.org/a_bronze_reliefs_6.php United States Navy Memorial] , Retrieved Oct. 2, 2007]

Civil War

In April 1862, Farragut was the "flag officer" in command of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. With his flag ship, the USS "Hartford", he ran past Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip and the Chalmette, Louisiana, batteries to take the city and port of New Orleans, Louisiana. This victory was an influential factor when in 1862, Congress created the rank of Admiral and named Farragut and eight other naval officers (which also included his foster brother David Dixon Porter) as rear admirals. Thus, Farragut became the first Hispanic-American admiral in the United States Navy. [http://www.lonesailor.org/a_bronze_reliefs_6.php United States Navy Memorial] , Retrieved Oct. 2, 2007]

Farragut's greatest victory was the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864. Mobile, Alabama at the time was the Confederacy's last major port open on the Gulf of Mexico. The bay was heavily mined with tethered naval mines, also known as "torpedoes". When the USS "Tecumseh", one of the ships under his command, struck a mine and went down, Farragut shouted through a trumpet from his flagship to the USS "Brooklyn", "What's the trouble?" "Torpedoes!" was the reply. Farragut then shouted his now famous words "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!" The fleet succeeded in entering the bay. Farragut then triumphed over the opposition of heavy batteries in Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines to defeat the squadron of Admiral Franklin Buchanan.cite book
title=Naval Battles, Ancient and Modern
first=Edward|last=Shippen
pages=638
year=1883
publisher=J.C. McCurdy & Co.] [http://www.lonesailor.org/a_bronze_reliefs_6.php United States Navy Memorial] , Retrieved Oct. 2, 2007]

Farragut was promoted to vice admiral on December 21, 1864, and to full admiral on July 25, 1866, after the war, thereby becoming the first person to be named full admiral in the Navy's history.cite web|accessdate=2007-04-14 |url=http://www.nndb.com/people/050/000094765/
title=David Farragut|publisher=NNDB]

United States Naval Academy

The United States Naval Academy (USNA) is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The institution was founded as the Naval School in 1845 by Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft. [ [http://www.usna.edu///homepage.php United States Naval Academy] , Retrieved Oct. 2, 2007]

The first Hispanic-American to graduate from the academy to reach the rank of admiral was Robert F. Lopez, class of 1879. Lopez was a Commodore during World War I, which technically made him the first Hispanic alumni to become an admiral. [Jennifer Bryan 04/11/07; Obituary in NY Times, October 1, 1936 (page 25);] [ [http://www.ansomil.org/home/YesterYearsHeroes.html ANSO] , Retrieved October 2, 2007.] Commodore is an official flag rank when used during wartime and is equivalent to today's one-star admiral — rear admiral (lower half). Many rank systems only use this rank during wartime.cite news|title="Navy Board Retires Fourteen Officers"|work=New York Times|date=July 4, 1911| page=13|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F03E3DF1131E233A25757C0A9619C946096D6CF|accessdate=2007-10-14] The first Hispanic alumni, born outside of the United States mainland, to graduate from the academy and to reach the rank of admiral was Rear Admiral Frederick Lois Riefkohl, a Puerto Rican who graduated in the class of 1911.

The academy's Hispanic alumni

*Commodore Robert F. Lopez, USN - USNA Class of 1879. Born in Davenport, Iowa. Appointed from Tennessee, 9th Congressional District, Lopez was admitted to the USNA on September 29, 1874. Lopez retired from the Navy in 1911 as a Captain. During World War I, he was recalled to active duty and given the rank of Commodore (equivalent to a one star admiral rank, typically used during war timecite web|accessdate=2007-04-15 |url=http://www.friesian.com/rank.htm |title=Military Rank |author=Kelly L. Ross|work=Proceedings of the Friesian School, Fourth Series] ) to command the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. United States Naval Academy records on Robert F. Lopez.]

*Rear Admiral Frederick Lois Riefkohl, USN – USNA Class of 1911. Born and raised in Maunabo, Puerto Rico, he is the first Puerto Rican to graduate from the Naval Academy. He was a World War I Navy Cross recipient who served as Captain of the USS Vincennes (CA-44) during World War II. [cite web|accessdate=2007-04-13
url=http://www.usswashington.com/dl05au42.htm
title=August 5th, 1942 - August 8th, 1942
work=World War II Plus 55
author=David H. Lippman] [ [http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/PUERTORICO/1999-07/0931655867 Puerto Rico L-Archives] , Retrieved Oct 3, 2007] [ [http://www.usswashington.com/dl05au42.htm World War II Plus 55] , Retrieved Oct. 3, 2007]

*Rear Admiral Jose M. Cabanillas, USN - USNA Class of 1924. Born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, was an Executive Officer of the USS "Texas" which participated in the invasions of North Africa and Normandy (D-Day) during World War II. In 1945, he became the first Commanding officer of the USS Grundy (APA-111). [ [http://www.mlrsinc.com/newsletters/Griggs_Grundy/GGNL1201.pdf Griggs-Grundy News] (PDF). Military Locator & Reunion Service, Inc. Volume 2, Issue 4, December 2001. Retrieved September 23, 2007]

*Rear Admiral Edmund Ernest Garcia, USN - USNA Class of 1927. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, his father Enrique Garcia was a Captain in the U.S. Army. He was originally a member of the Class of 1926 but requested to be turned back to the class of 1927 for academic deficiency in mathematics. During WWII was commander of the destroyer USS Sloat and saw action in the invasions of Africa, Sicily, and France. [ [http://www.ansomil.org/home/YesterYearsHeroes.html Hispanic Heroes and Leaders From the Yester Years.] Association of Naval Services Officers. Retrieved September 23, 2007.]

*Rear Admiral Henry G. Sanchez, USN – USNA Class of 1930. Born on December 29, 1907. During World War II, then-LCDR Sanchez commanded VF-72, an F4F squadron of 37 aircraft, onboard the USS Hornet (CV-8) from July to October 1942. His squadron was responsible for shooting down 38 Japanese airplanes during his command tour which included the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. [Guadalcanal: The Carrier Battles by Eric Hammel, Crown Publishers, 1987, (ISBN 0517566087. ]
*Admiral Horacio Rivero, Jr., USN - USNA Class of 1931. Was the first four-star admiral from Puerto Rico and the second Hispanic-American full admiral, after Admiral David Farragut, in the Navy. Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico and graduated third in his USNA class. During WWII, he served aboard the USS San Juan (CL-54) and was involved in providing artillery cover for Marines landing on Guadalcanal, Marshall Islands, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. In October 1962, Admiral Rivero found himself in the middle of the Cuban Missile Crisis. As Commander of amphibious forces, Atlantic Fleet, he was on the front line of the vessels sent to the Caribbean by President Kennedy to stop the Cold War from escalating into World War III. [*cite web|url=http://www.navytimes.com/story.php?f=0-NAVYPAPER-2180565.php
archiveurl=http://cache.zoominfo.com/cachedpage/?archive_id=0&page_id=577232168&page_url=%2f%2fwww.navytimes.com%2fstory.php%3ff%3d0-NAVYPAPER-2180565.php&page_last_updated=1%2f21%2f2004+6%3a57%3a51+PM
archivedate=2004-01-21
title=Damn the Torpedoes! Former VCNO excelled in combat, technical roles
author=Robert F. Dorr
work=Navy Times
date=January 26 2004
accessdate=2006-10-21] [ [http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues/vol4n39/HRivero-en.html] , Retrieved Oct. 3, 2007]
*Rear Admiral Rafael Celestino Benitez, USN - USNA Class of 1939. Born in Juncos, Puerto Rico, was a Lieutenant Commander and saw action aboard submarines and on various occasions weathered depth charge attacks. For his actions, he was awarded the Silver and Bronze Star s. Benitez would later play an important role in the first American undersea spy mission of the Cold War as commander of the submarine USS Cochino in what became known as the "Cochino Incident".*cite book
url=http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=1-006097771x-2
title=Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage
publisher=Public Affairs|year=1998
last=Sontag |first=Sherry
coauthors=and Christopher Drew, with Annette Lawrence Drew
id=ISBN 006097771X] [ [http://www.mishalov.com/Benitez.html New York Times] , Retrieved Oct 3, 2007]

*Vice Admiral Jesse J. Hernandez, USN – USNA Class of 1958. Hernandez was the Commander, US Naval Forces Japan from 1990 to 1993.cite web|accessdate=2007-04-15 |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/library/guides/rosters/japan%20naval%20forces.htm
title=Japan, Commander US Naval Forces - Lists of Commanding Officers and Senior Officials of the US Navy
publisher=Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy]

*Rear Admiral Benjamin F. Montoya, USN – USNA Class of 1958 (Ret.). A native of Indio, California, Montoya served in various positions during his Naval career. Montoya’s academic accomplishments include a Civil Engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a Masters Degree in Environmental Engineering from Georgia Tech and a Law Degree from Georgetown University. He was the Chief of the Navy Civil Engineer Corps and Commander of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command.cite web|accessdate=2007-04-13 |url=http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/oer/nac/bios/montoya.htm
title=Rear Admiral Benjamin F. Montoya, USN, Ret. - CEO, SmartSystems Technologies
work=NASA Advisory Council
publisher=National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)]

*Rear Admiral Henry F. Herrera, USN – USNA Class of 1966.(Ret.) Herrera was born in Miami Springs, Florida, is the President of the Board of Inspection and Survey, the Commander of Submarine Group NINE, and the Director, C41 Systems (J-6), U.S. Strategic Command. He had previously, served as the commanding officer of two fleet ballistic missile submarines.cite web|accessdate=2007-04-17
url=http://www.spawar.navy.mil/fleet/insurv/history.htm
title=History of the Board of Inspection and Survey
publisher=Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, United States Navy] cite web|accessdate=2007-04-17
url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_pnav/is_199309/ai_1362736084
title=Navy Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Contributions|date=September 1993
author=United States Navy press release|publisher=FindArticles.com] [ [http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec1994/m122094_m312-94.html Defense links] ]

*Rear Admiral Marc Y.E. Pelaez, USN – USNA Class of 1968 (Ret.). Pelaez, served in various positions in the Navy during his career, among them commanding officer of nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Sunfish (SSN-649) . From 1990 to 1993. He served as the Executive Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy and as 1993 to 1996 ) as director of submarine technology at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and Chief of the Office of Naval Research. As a civilian he serves as Director of Technology / Scientific and Technical Instruments at II-VI Incorporated, Saxonburg, Pennsylvania. [ [http://www.forbes.com/finance/mktguideapps/personinfo/FromPersonIdPersonTearsheet.jhtml?passedPersonId=885788 Forbes] , Retrieved Oct. 3, 2007] cite web|accessdate=2007-04-15|url=http://www.ansomil.org/home/USNAFlagOfficers.html
title=USNA graduates of Hispanic descent, Class of 1960 - Present (Flag Rank)
publisher=Association of Naval Service Officers]

*Rear Admiral George "Rico" Mayer, USN – USNA Class of 1975. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, became a naval aviator and assumed his current assignment as Commander, Naval Safety Center, in August 2005. Mayer earned a Master’s degree from the U.S. Naval War College.cite web|accessdate=2007-04-13 |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=203
title=Rear Admiral George E. Mayer, Commander, Naval Safety Center
work=U.S. Navy Biographies
publisher=United States Navy] cite news|accessdate=2007-04-17
url=http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=18118
title=Admiral Earns Executive Excellence Award from Hispanic Engineers
author=Rudi Williams |date=October 8, 2005
work=DefenseLINK News |publisher=U.S. Department of Defense]

*Rear Admiral Jay A. DeLoach, USN - USNA Class of 1978. Born in San Diego, California, His academic background include a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering and two Masters degree; Master of Arts in Management & Supervision and Masters of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering. DeLoach is the Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Resources, Requirements and Assessments. DeLoach played an instrumental role in implementing a visionary "Memorandum of Understanding" between the Submarine Force Active component and the Reserve component. He helped pioneer many key initiatives that have since been adopted Navy-wide.cite web|accessdate=2007-04-08 |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=94
title=Rear Admiral Jay A. DeLoach
work=U.S. Navy Biographies
publisher=United States Navy] [ [http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:yo9XNmK0w3IJ:adjunct.diodon349.com/DNSO/Daily_News_Online_September_13_2004.pdf+Rear+Admiral+Jay+A.+DeLoach&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=25&gl=us&ie=UTF- Daily News online Retrieved: April 8, 2007] ]
*Rear Admiral Patrick H. Brady, USN – USNA Class of 1981. Born in Camp Springs, Maryland is the Deputy Director, Submarine Warfare Division (N87B). Brady, who is of Irish and Hispanic descent graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering. Brady's academic accomplishments also include a Master of Arts in National Security Affairs from the Naval Post Graduate School. He attended the Air Force Command and Staff College, and completed Navy Nuclear Power training and Level Three acquisition training. Prior to his current position, Brady was the Commander of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center. [ [http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=408 Rear Admiral Patrick H. Brady Commander, Naval Undersea Warfare Center] ]

Other Hispanic Admirals

There are also some members of the Navy who reached the rank of Admiral and who were not graduates of the Naval Academy. These were men who had earned specialized degrees and then chose to serve in the Navy. The following are the Hispanic Admirals who are not alumni of the Academy.

*Rear Admiral Jose Luis Betancourt, Jr. (Surface Warfare) (Ret.), was Commander, Mine Warfare Command, headquartered at Naval Air Station (NAS) Corpus Christi, Texas. Betancourt, who was born in Mexico, had previously served aboard the USS Frederick (LST 1184), USS John S. McCain (DDG 36), USS William H. Standley (CG 32), and as Executive Officer of the USS Fox (CG 33). He served as commanding officer of the USS Merrill (DD 976), during its deployment to the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm, where during extensive mine clearance operations his ship served as flag ship. Betancourt, served in various positions, among them Commanding Officer of the USS Peleliu (LHA 5), Special Assistant for Officer Accession Programs, Office of the Chief of Naval Personnel at Washington, D.C. and in the International Military Staff at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium before being named Commander of the Mine Warfare Command. In this position he was responsible for the development of the Navy's mining strategy and the Navy's inventory of underwater mines among other tasks.cite web|accessdate=2007-04-13| |url=http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/influentials/details.asp?id=320&year=2002
title=Jose Luis Betancourt Jr., Influential Hispanic for 2002
work=2002 Influentials
publisher=HispanicBusiness.com] [ [http://www.medalofhonor.com/JoseBetancourt.htm Official ste of MoH] , Retrieved Oct.3, 2007]
*Rear Admiral Alberto Diaz, Jr. (Medical Corps) (Ret.), born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from George Washington University and a Master's degree in Psychology from Butler University. He earned his Medical Degree from the University of Barcelona Medical School in Barcelona, Spain. Diaz was the first Hispanic to become the Director of the San Diego Naval District and Balboa Naval Hospital.cite web|accessdate=2007-09-24 |url=http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/influentials/details.asp?id=335&year=2002
title=Alberto Diaz Jr., Influential Hispanic for 2002
work=2002 Influentials |publisher=HispanicBusiness.com] cite web|accessdate=2007-10-03|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Aug1998/m08071998_m130-98.html
title=General and Flag Officer Assignments |date=August 7, 1998
publisher=DefenseLINK News, U.S Department of Defense]
*Rear Admiral Philip A. Dur (Ret.), born in Bethesda, Maryland, earned a bachelor’s degree in Government and International Studies and a Master’s degree in Soviet East European studies from the University of Notre Dame. He also earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University. Dur served as Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations; Director, Navy Strategy Division; Commander, Battle Force United States Sixth Fleet; Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group EIGHT; United States Defense Attaché accredited to the Government of France; Commanding Officer, USS Yorktown; and Director, Political Military Affairs on the staff of the National Security Council.cite web|accessdate=2007-04-13| |url=http://www.usswaddell.com/Crew/XOs/lcdr_philip_a__dur.htm
title= Rear Admiral Philip A. Dur, USN (Retired)
publisher=USS Waddell.com]

*Rear Admiral Alvaro R. Gomez (Ret.) born in Brooklyn, New York, earned a Bachelor’s degree in history from St. Johns University and a Master of Science degree in business administration from George Washington University. [cite book|accessdate=2007-04-13|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Oq9BCzQuq8MC&pg=PA107&lpg=PA107&dq=admiral+alvaro+r+gomez&source=web&ots=7jdUGxng_N&sig=wUbyPEtU3y9NxM3JHz0hOPj17yQ
title=Hispanics in America's Defense
publisher=DIANE Publishing Company |year=1997
id=ISBN 0788147226]

*Vice Admiral Diego E. Hernandez (Ret.), born in San Juan, was the first Hispanic to be named Vice Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Hernandez as Commander, Third Fleet, coordinated RIMPAC '88, a massive naval exercise which included more than 40 ships, approximately 200 aircraft and more than 50,000 sailors, airmen and Marines from the United States, Japan, Australia and Canada. This exercise marked the first inclusion of a battleship, USS Missouri, as a component in RIMPAC. [ [http://www1.va.gov/centerforminorityveterans/page.cfm?pg=39 United States Department of Veteran Affairs Retrieved April 15, 2007] ] [ [http://ussmissouri.com/CmdHist/ch29.htm USS Missouri Command History] , retrieved Oct.3, 2007]

*Rear Admiral Rodrigo C. Melendez (Dental Corps) (Ret.), from Los Angeles, California, joined a Navy Dental Student Early Commissioning Program during his freshmen year in Dental School. He earned Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Dental Surgery degrees from the University of Southern California and a Master of Science degree from George Washington University. He served as Assistant Chief for Education, Training and Personnel, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery in Washington D.C. [ [http://elnavy.com/us.navy?id=e.hn.admirals2 Hispanos en el Navy: Almirantes (Hispanics in the Navy: Admirals)] , Retrieved September 24, 2007] [ [http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=2299 United States Department of Defense] , Retrieved Oct. 3, 2007]

Currently

As of April 2007, there are four Admirals in the Navy of Hispanic descent. They are:
*Rear Admiral Albert Garcia, Civil Engineer Corps, from Round Rock, Texas. His academic background includes a Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering form Texas A&M University. Garcia has served as Commanding Officer of Officer in Charge of Construction, Atlantic; Commodore for the 9th Naval Construction Regiment; Assistant Chief of Staff for Reserve Affairs in the First Naval Construction Division; he commanded Task Force Charlie of the MEF Engineering Group and later was assigned as the Deputy Commander of the MEF Engineering Group in Iraq. In 2004 he assumed responsibility for consolidating several reserve augment units into a new command, NAVFAC Contingency OICC. He assumed the duties of Deputy Commander of the First Naval Construction Division in August 2005.cite web|accessdate=2007-04-13 |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=117
title=Rear Admiral William D. "Will" Rodriguez, Chief Engineer, Space & Naval Warfare Systems Command
work=U.S. Navy Biographies
publisher=United States Navy]

*Rear Admiral Will Rodriguez, Engineering Duty Officer. Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, His father was Captain William Primitivo Rodriguez, USN, a 1954 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. Rodriguez has been the Chief Engineer for the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR 05). Between November 2005 and February 2006, he was the Acting Commander for SPAWAR as well. Rodriguez's academic background includes a Bachelors Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science and a Master of Science Degree in Systems Technology (Command, Control and Communications with emphasis in Computer Science and Communications Engineering). [ [http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=250 Rodriguez Navy Bio] , Retrieved Oct. 2, 2007]

*Rear Admiral George 'Rico' Mayer (See: "The academy's Hispanic alumni" above)
*Rear Admiral Patrick H. Brady (See: "The academy's Hispanic alumni" above)

Notes

ee also

*History of the United States Navy
*Hispanics in the United States Naval Academy
*List of United States Navy people
*List of Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients

External links

*cite web|accessdate=2007-04-14|url=http://www.ansomil.org/home/USNAofficers.html
title=USNA graduates of Hispanic descent for the Class of 1879 - 1959, Class of 1960 - Present (Flag Rank
publisher=Association of Naval Service Officers (ANSO)

*cite web|accessdate=2007-04-14|url=http://www.navy.mil/
title=United States Navy website

*cite web|accessdate=2007-04-13|url=http://www.usna.edu///homepage.php
title=United States Naval Academy website