View source for Hispanics in the United States Naval Academy

{{Short description|About a minority group}}
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|image1=Frederic Louis Riefkohl.JPG
|caption1=[[Frederick Lois Riefkohl]]
|image2=Pedro del Valle.jpg
|caption2=[[Pedro Augusto del Valle]]
|image3=Cabanillas.jpg
|caption3=[[Jose M. Cabanillas]]
|image4=De Arellano with awards cropped.jpg
|caption4=[[Marion Frederic Ramírez de Arellano]]
|image5=VADM Yvette M. Davids.jpg
|caption5=[[Yvette M. Davids]]
|image6=PatBrady.jpg
|caption6=[[Patrick H. Brady (Navy)|Patrick H. Brady]]

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'''Hispanics in the United States Naval Academy''' account for the largest minority group in the institution. According to the academy, the Class of 2009 includes 271 (22.2%) minority midshipmen. Out of these 271 midshipmen, 115 are of Hispanic heritage.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.usna.edu/Catalog/2005-2006introduction.pdf | access-date = 2007-04-30| title = United States Naval Academy - Introduction| work = [http://www.usna.edu/Catalog/ United States Naval Academy Catalog 2005-2006]}}</ref> In 2004, of the total of 736 female midshipmen, 74 (10%) of them were of Hispanic descent.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.latinastyle.com/currentissue/v10-5/f-average.html |access-date=2007-05-07 |title=Not Your Average Undergrad |author=Young, Julia |journal=LATINA Style |volume=10 |issue=5 |date=July 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404190856/http://www.latinastyle.com/currentissue/v10-5/f-average.html |archive-date=2008-04-04 }}</ref>

The United States Navy has implemented a recruitment program directed towards this group, ''El Navy,'' whose principal aim is to attract those who speak Spanish.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.elnavy.com/| title = El Navy| access-date = 2007-04-30| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070501060846/http://elnavy.com/| archive-date = 2007-05-01| url-status = dead}}</ref>

==First Hispanic-American alumni of the Academy==
The [[United States Naval Academy]] (USNA), founded 1845, is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers of the United States Navy and [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.usna.edu///homepage.php| title = United States Naval Academy| access-date = 2007-04-30}}</ref>

The first Hispanic-American to graduate from the academy was [[Commodore (USN)|Commodore]] [[Robert F. Lopez]], Class of 1879.<ref name=LopezUSNA>United States Naval Academy records on Robert F. Lopez.</ref> The first Hispanic to graduate from the academy and to reach the rank of admiral was a [[Puerto Rico|Puerto Rican]], Rear Admiral [[Frederick Lois Riefkohl]], Class of 1911.

In 1980, the USNA included Hispanic/Latino as a racial category for demographic purposes. Four women identified themselves as Hispanics in the Class of 1981, and they became the first Hispanic women to graduate from the academy. The four women were Carmel Gilliland, who had the highest class rank; Lilia Ramirez, who retired with the rank of Commander; Ina Marie Gomez; and Trinora Pinto.<ref>Capt. Gottschalk, USNA Institutional Research office. Retrieved May 31, 2007</ref>

==Notable Hispanic USNA graduates==
Amongst the academy's Hispanic alumni who have distinguished themselves as career officers in the Navy, the Marine Corps or the [[United States Air Force]] are the following:

===19th century, notable Hispanic USNA graduates===
*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.<ref name=LopezUSNA/> Captain Lopez retired from the Navy in 1911 as a Commodore.<ref name=NYT1911>[see above]</ref> During World War I, he was recalled to active duty.  Lopez served as Commandant of the [[Mare Island Naval Shipyard]] north of San Francisco.<ref name=NYT1911/>

===1900-1959, notable Hispanic USNA graduates===
*Rear Admiral [[Frederick Lois Riefkohl]], USN – USNA Class of 1911. Born and raised in [[Maunabo, Puerto Rico]], he was the first Puerto Rican to graduate from the Naval Academy. He was a World War I [[Navy Cross (United States)|Navy Cross]] recipient who served as captain of the {{USS|Vincennes|CA-44|6}} during World War II.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2007-04-13 |url=http://www.usswashington.com/dl05au42.htm |title=August 5, 1942 - August 8, 1942 |work=World War II Plus 55 |author=David H. Lippman |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070519011540/http://www.usswashington.com/dl05au42.htm |archive-date=May 19, 2007 }}</ref>
*Lieutenant General [[Pedro Augusto del Valle]], USMC - USNA Class of 1915. Born in [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]] (28 August 1893 - 28 April 1978) and appointed to the USNA on 17 June 1911 by Governor George R. Colton. He was a United States Marine Corps officer who became the first Hispanic to reach the rank of lieutenant general. His military career included service in World War I, [[Haiti]] and [[Nicaragua]] during the so-called [[Banana Wars]] of the 1920s; in the seizure of [[Guadalcanal]]; and later as commanding general of the U.S. 1st Marine Division during World War II.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Historical/Whos_Who/delValle_PA.htm |title=Lieutenant General Pedro A. Del Valle, USMC |access-date=October 10, 2006 |work=History Division |publisher=United States Marine Corps |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061023154132/http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Historical/Whos_Who/delValle_PA.htm |archive-date=October 23, 2006 }}</ref>
*Rear Admiral [[Jose M. Cabanillas]], USN - USNA Class of 1924. Born in [[Mayagüez, Puerto Rico]], was an executive officer of the {{USS|Texas|BB-35|6}} 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|6}}.
*Rear Admiral [[Edmund Ernest García]], 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 World War II was commander of the destroyer escort {{USS|Sloat|DE-245|6}} and saw action in the invasions of Africa, [[Sicily]], and France.
*Colonel Jaime Sabater Sr., USMC - USNA Class of 1927. Sabater was born on May 28, 1904, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was appointed to USNA on July 8, 1923, by [[Félix Córdova Dávila]], the resident commissioner of Puerto Rico in [[Washington D.C.]] During World War II, commanded the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines during the Bougainville amphibious operations. Commanding officer of the 3rd Marines, Fleet Marine Force, Western Pacific (formerly the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines) from 1 October 1947 to 1 April 1948 in [[Qingdao, China]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-NSols/USMC-M-NSol-X.html | title = Hyperwar USMC | access-date =  2007-04-30}}</ref>
*Rear Admiral Henry G. Sanchez, USN – USNA Class of 1930. Born on 29 December 1907. During World War II, then-LCDR Sanchez commanded VF-72, a F4F squadron of 37 aircraft, on board the {{USS|Hornet|CV-8|6}} 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.<ref>{{cite web| access-date = 2007-04-15 | url = http://www.navweaps.com/index_oob/OOB_WWII_Pacific/OOB_WWII_Santa-Cruz.htm | title=Order of Battle: Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, 26 October 1942| work=World War II - Battles of the Pacific|author1=Richard Worth |author2=David Williams |author3=Richard Leonard |author4=Mark Horan | publisher=NavWeaps}}</ref>
*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 World War II, he served aboard the {{USS|San Juan|CL-54|6}} and was involved in providing artillery cover for Marines landing on [[Guadalcanal]], [[Marshall Islands]], [[Iwo Jima]], and [[Okinawa Island|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 [[John F. Kennedy|President Kennedy]] to stop the [[Cold War]] from escalating into World War III.<ref>*{{cite web| url = http://www.navytimes.com/story.php?f=0-NAVYPAPER-2180565.php  <!-- archive permanently removed -->| title=Damn the Torpedoes! Former VCNO excelled in combat, technical roles | author=Robert F. Dorr | work=Navy Times | date=January 26, 2004 | access-date=2006-10-21}}</ref>
*Captain [[Marion Frederic Ramírez de Arellano]], USN - USNA Class of 1936. Born in [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]] was the first Hispanic submarine commanding officer.<ref>"The Submarine Forces Diversity Trailblazer - Capt. Marion Frederick Ramirez de Arellano"; Summer 2007 Undersea Warfare magazine; pg.31</ref> He was awarded two Silver Star Medals, the [[Legion of Merit]], and a Bronze Star Medal for his actions against the [[Japanese Imperial Navy]]. Not only is he credited with the sinking of at least two Japanese ships, but he also led the rescue of the lives of numerous downed Navy pilots.<ref name=HispanicUSNA>{{cite web | access-date = 2007-03-15 | url = http://www.ansomil.org/home/USNAofficers.html#Arellano | title=CAPT Marion Frederic Ramírez de Arellano | work=USNA graduates of Hispanic descent for the Class of 1911, 1915, 1924, 1927, 1931, 1935, 1939, 1943, 1947 | publisher=Association of Naval Services Officers | date= February 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927095022/http://www.ansomil.org/home/USNAofficers.html |archive-date=2007-09-27}}</ref>
*Rear Admiral [[Rafael Celestino Benítez]], 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 Star Medal|Silver]] and [[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Stars]]. 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|SS-345|6}} in what became known as the "''Cochino'' Incident".<ref name="Sontag">*{{cite book | url = https://archive.org/details/blindmansbluffun00sher | title = Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage | publisher = Public Affairs | year = 1998 | last = Sontag | first = Sherry | author2 = and Christopher Drew | author3 = with Annette Lawrence Drew | isbn = 0-06-097771-X | oclc = 45342848 | url-access = registration }}</ref>
*1st Lieutenant [[Baldomero Lopez]], USMC - USNA Class of 1947. Posthumously awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] for smothering a hand grenade with his own body during the [[Inchon landing]] on 15 September 1950 during the Korean War. His father, also named Baldomero, came to Tampa, Florida as a young man from the Asturias region of Spain. Born on 23 August 1925 in [[Tampa, Florida]] he enlisted in the Navy on 8 July 1943 and served until 11 June 1944 when he was given a Fleet appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. There is a maritime vessel named after him, USNS 1St Lt Baldomero Lopez, plus a room in Bancroft Hall at the U.S. Naval Academy bears his name.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Historical/Whos_Who/Lopez_B.htm |work=Who's who in Marine Corps History |title=First Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez, USMC |access-date=2007-05-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070430015053/http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/HD/Historical/Whos_Who/Lopez_B.htm |archive-date=2007-04-30 }}</ref>
*General Julio Torres, USAF - USNA Class of 1957. Torres was born in [[Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico|Santurce]], Puerto Rico. He completed his premedical studies at the [[University of Puerto Rico]] before attending the Naval Academy. He continued his academic education and earned a master's degree and professional engineers degrees in [[Electrical Engineer]]ing at [[Stanford University]]. He later earned a doctorate in Electrical Engineering and [[Applied Physics]] at the same institution. In 1983, Torres graduated from the [[Naval War College|United States Naval War College]] and in 1984 he completed his studies at the [[Industrial College of the Armed Forces]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Oq9BCzQuq8MC&dq=Gen.+Antonio+Maldonado+Air+Force&pg=PA120 Hispanics in America's Defense By DIANE Publishing], Retrieved March 4, 2007</ref>
*Major [[Pedro Vázquez (politician)|Pedro Vazquez]], USMC - USNA Class of 1957. He was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Completed a degree in law from the University of Puerto Rico. Was Deputy General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Commerce and later on became Secretary of State of Puerto Rico and Chief of Staff to then Governor [[Carlos Romero Barceló]].
*Rear Admiral [[Benjamin F. Montoya]], USN – USNA Class of 1958. He was born in [[Indio, California]] and graduated from Coachella Valley High School in 1953. He retired from the Navy in 1989 as the Chief of the Navy Civil Engineer Corps and Commander of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command.<ref name=Montoya>{{cite web | access-date = 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]]) | url-status = dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119225254/http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/oer/nac/bios/montoya.htm |archive-date=2009-01-19}}</ref>
*Vice Admiral Jesse J. Hernandez, USN – USNA Class of 1958. Hernandez was the Commander, US Naval Forces Japan from 1990 to 1993.<ref name=JapanCommander>{{cite web|access-date=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 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071202184336/http://www.history.navy.mil/library/guides/rosters/japan%20naval%20forces.htm |archive-date=2007-12-02 }}</ref>

===1960-present, notable Hispanic USNA graduates===
*Rear Admiral Henry F. Herrera, USN – USNA Class of 1966. Hails from [[Miami Springs, Florida]], he was the commanding officer of two fleet ballistic missile submarines, 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.<ref name=INSURV>{{cite web|access-date=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 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051216164931/http://www.spawar.navy.mil/fleet/insurv/history.htm |archive-date=2005-12-16 }}</ref><ref name=PressHerrera>{{cite web | access-date = 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}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
*Rear Admiral Marc Y.E. Pelaez, USN – USNA Class of 1968. He was commanding officer of nuclear-powered attack submarine {{USS|Sunfish|SSN-649|6}}, director of submarine technology at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and Chief of the Office of Naval Research.<ref name=Pelaez>{{cite web|access-date=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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927095029/http://www.ansomil.org/home/USNAFlagOfficers.html |archive-date=2007-09-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*Rear Admiral [[George E. Mayer|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.<ref name=MayerBio>{{cite web | access-date = 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}}</ref><ref name=DefenseLINK2005>{{cite news | access-date = 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}}</ref>
*Brigadier General [[Joseph V. Medina]], USMC – USNA Class of 1976. In November 2003, Medina took command of [[Expeditionary Strike Group Three]]. This event marked the first time in history that a United States Marine Corps officer took command of a Naval flotilla. He has a Bachelor of Science ([[Physics]]) and a Master of Science (Systems Management) degree from the [[University of Southern California]].<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2007-03-07 |url=http://www.usmc.mil/genbios2.nsf/biographies/DA9C6F9E36A7015885256D730013425D?opendocument |title=Official Biography for Joseph V. Medina |date=May 31, 2005 |publisher=United States Marine Corps |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070215135150/http://www.usmc.mil/genbios2.nsf/biographies/DA9C6F9E36A7015885256D730013425D?opendocument |archive-date=2007-02-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*Rear Admiral [[Jay A. DeLoach]], USN - USNA Class of 1978. Born in [[San Diego, California]], His academic background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering and two master's 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.<ref name=DeLoachBio>{{cite web | access-date = 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}}</ref>
*Captain [[Michael E. Lopez-Alegria|Miguel López Alegría]] - [[Astronaut]], USN - USNA Class of 1980. Born 30 May 1958, in [[Madrid]], Spain and raised in [[Mission Viejo, California]]. His academic background include a Bachelor of Science degree in systems engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1980; and a Master of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1988. Graduate of [[Harvard University]]'s Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security. Speaks Spanish, French and Russian. López Alegría served as pilot and mission commander of EP-3E aircraft. he was assigned to [[NASA]] as an engineering test pilot and program manager at the Naval Air Test Center. López Alegría reported for training to the Johnson Space Center (JSC) in August 1992. After one year of training he was designated as an astronaut. Between 20 October 1995 and 21 April 2007, López Alegría participated in four spaceflights, logged over 257 days in space, and performed 10 spacewalks accumulating a total of 67 hours and 40 minutes of [[Extra-vehicular Activity]] (EVA).<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/lopez-al.html | title = NASA Biographical Data-Lopez-Alegria | work = Astronaut Biographies|publisher=NASA | access-date = 2007-04-30}}</ref>
*Rear Admiral [[Patrick H. Brady (Navy)|Patrick H. Brady]], USN – USNA Class of 1981. Born in [[Maryland|Camp Springs, Maryland]] is the deputy director, Submarine Warfare Division (N87B). Brady, who is of [[Irish-American|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 Postgraduate 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.<ref>[http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=408 Rear Admiral Patrick H. Brady Commander, Naval Undersea Warfare Center]</ref>
*Commander Lilia L. Ramirez (ret.), USN – USNA Class of 1981. Born in [[Colombia]] and raised in [[Glen Cove, New York]], she was one of the first four Hispanic female graduates of the academy. She is currently the Director of the International Programs Office, for the Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate.<ref name=ParaMI>{{cite web|access-date=2007-05-31 |url=http://www.para-mi.com/Features/WorkingWoman/LiliaLRamirez.htm |title=Working Woman: Commander Lilia L. Ramirez, U.S. Navy (Retired), Natural Born Leader & Pioneer |author=Ramirez, Anna Tulia |work=Para MI |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927234136/http://www.para-mi.com/Features/WorkingWoman/LiliaLRamirez.htm |archive-date=2007-09-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*Colonel [[Christopher Loria|Christopher J. "Gus" Loria]] - Astronaut, USMC - USNA Class of 1983. Born 9 July 1960 in [[Belmont, Massachusetts]]. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in general engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy (1983). He has a Master in Public Administration from John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University (2004); and an Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership from the MIT Sloan School of MManagement.  Colonel Loria flew 42 combat missions with Marine Fighter Attack squadron VMFA-314 in support of allied operations during Operations [[Gulf War#Operation Desert Shield|Desert Shield]] and [[Operation Desert Storm|Desert Storm]]. Colonel Loria was the Naval Test Wing Atlantic's test pilot of the year in 1995. In 1996 he was the runner up for the Society of Experimental Test Pilot's coveted Iven C. Kinchloe Award for the test pilot of the year world-wide.  Selected by NASA in April 1996, Loria completed two years of training and evaluation, and qualified for flight assignment as a pilot. From September 2002 through July 2003 he served as the Chief of Flight Test for the Orbital Space Plane Program.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/loria.html | title = NASA Biographical Data-Christopher J. "Gus" Loria | work=Astronaut Biographies|publisher=NASA | access-date = 2007-04-30}}</ref>
*Colonel [[George D. Zamka|George David Zamka]] - Astronaut, USMC - USNA Class of 1984. Born in [[Jersey City, New Jersey]] in 1962. He was raised in New York City; Irvington, New York; [[Medellín, Colombia]]; and [[Rochester Hills, Michigan]]. In June 1998, Zamka was selected for the astronaut program, and reported for training in August. Zamka served as lead for the shuttle training and procedures division and as supervisor for the astronaut candidate class of 2004. Zamka made his first spaceflight as the pilot of [[STS-120]], This was a [[Space Shuttle]] mission to the [[International Space Station]] to deliver the U.S. Node 2 Module, while also reconfiguring part of the station to prepare it for future assembly missions. The mission was flown in September 2007 by [[Space Shuttle Atlantis|Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'']].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oeop.larc.nasa.gov/hep/Hispanic%2520Fact%2520Sheet.pdf |title=Eight Hispanic American Space Explorers |work=NASA Facts |access-date=2007-05-07 }}{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* Vice Admiral [[Yvette M. Davids]], USN – USNA Class of 1989. She was the first Hispanic American woman to command a navy ship,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/101st-congress/151|title=PN151 — Navy|website=U.S. Congress|date=March 1989|access-date=2017-10-12}}</ref><ref name=first>{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=40114|title="Las Primera" Latina to Command a Navy Ship Honored at Gala|author=Zimmerman, Elizabeth|date=1 October 2008|website=U.S. Navy|access-date=2017-10-12}}</ref> due to commanding the frigate {{USS|Curts|FFG-38}} from April 2007 to November 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/07/0738.htm|title=USS Curts (FFG 38)|website=NavSource Naval History|access-date=2017-10-12}}</ref>

==Gallery of Hispanic USNA Alumni==

{{Gallery
|title=[[File:Navyacademylogo.jpg|30px]]&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Hispanic USNA Alumni'''&nbsp;&nbsp;[[File:Navyacademylogo.jpg|30px]]
|width=100
|height=100
|align=center
|File:Frederic Louis Riefkohl.JPG|'''RADM Frederick Lois Riefkohl<br/>Class of 1911'''
|File:Pedro del Valle.jpg|'''Lt. Gen. Pedro Augusto del Valle<br/>Class of 1915'''
|File:Cabanillas.jpg|'''RADM Jose M. Cabanillas<br/>Class of 1919'''
|File:Rear Admiral Edmund Ernest Garcia (1926).jpg|'''RADM Edmund Ernest García <br/>Class of 1926'''
|File:Horacio Rivero Jr.jpg|'''ADM Horacio Rivero Jr.<br/>Class of 1931'''
|File:De Arellano with awards cropped.jpg|'''Capt. Marion Frederic<br/>Ramirez de Arellano<br/>Class of 1935'''
|File:Rear Admiral R.C. Benitez.jpg|'''RADM Rafael Celetino Benitez<br/>Class of 1939'''
|File:Baldomero Lopez - portrait.jpg|'''1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez<br/>Class of 1947'''
||'''RADM Benjamin Montoya<br/>Class of 1958'''
|File:RADML George E. Mayer.jpg|'''RADM George "Rico" Mayer<br/>Class of 1975'''
|File:Joseph V Medina.jpg |'''Brigadier General<br/>Joseph V. Medina<br/>Class of 1976'''
|File:Deloach.jpg|'''RADM Jay A. DeLoach<br/>Class of 1978'''
|File:Michael Lopez-Alegria.jpg|'''Capt. Miguel López Alegría<br/>Class of 1980'''
|File:PatBrady.jpg|'''RADM Patrick H. Brady<br/>Class of 1981'''
|File:Christopher Loria.jpg |'''Lt. Col. Christopher J. "Gus" Loria<br/>Class of 1983'''
|File:Zamka G NASA.jpg|'''Col. George David Zamka<br/>Class of 1984'''
|File:VADM Yvette M. Davids.jpg|'''VADM Yvette M. Davids<br/>Class of 1989<br />'''
}}

==See also==
*[[Hispanic Admirals in the United States Navy]]
*[[Hispanics in the United States Navy]]
*[[Hispanics in the United States Marine Corps]]
*[[Hispanics in the United States Air Force]]
*[[Hispanics in the United States Coast Guard]]
*[[Hispanic Americans in World War II]]
*[[Hispanics in the American Civil War]]
*[[List of United States Naval Academy alumni]]
{{clear}}

==References and notes==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{cite web | access-date = 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) |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927095022/http://www.ansomil.org/home/USNAofficers.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-09-27}}
*{{cite web | access-date = 2007-04-13 | url = http://www.usna.edu///homepage.php | title = United States Naval Academy website}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hispanics In The United States Naval Academy}}
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American culture in Maryland]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American history]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American military personnel| Naval Academy]]
[[Category:United States Naval Academy]]
[[Category:United States Naval Academy alumni|+H]]