In April 2007, U.S. Navy Commander Yvette Marie Gonzalez Davids assumed command of the frigate USS Curts. This assignment made Davids the first Hispanic-American woman to command a Navy ship. This milestone was commemorated during the 2008 Annual Las Primeras Awards Gala of the Mexican American Women’s National Association, and Davids used the occasion to highlight those people who made a huge difference in her own life.
“It’s important for our own personal and professional growth to be able to look around and find models of excellence,” said Davids. “The greatest mentors of my life have been my parents, who challenged me to rise above mediocrity . . . and with the expectation that all things are possible.”
Davids, who grew up in San Antonio, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1989 with a B.S. in oceanography and was commissioned as an ensign. During her time at the academy, she earned All-American Crew honors in intercollegiate sailing. Davids went on to earn an M.A. in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College in 2002 and an M.S. in national resource strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 2012.
Davids served as commander of USS Curts until November 2008. Prior to that assignment, she had been executive officer of the destroyers USS Higgins and USS Benfold. In addition, Davids was commander of the cruiser USS Bunker Hill from November 2012 to October 2014.
In 2017, Davids was promoted to rear admiral. She now serves as senior military advisor to the assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs. She is married to Keith B. Davids, a 1990 Naval Academy graduate and Navy SEAL officer.
For more information on U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Yvette Gonzalez Davids, please check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yvette_M._Davids and https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=40114
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