Yvette Marie Davids (born 29 March 1967)[1][2] is a United States Navy vice admiral. She was the first Hispanic American woman to command a navy ship.[3]
Yvette M. Davids | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth name | Yvette Marie Gonzalez |
| Born | 29 March 1967 Bexar County, Texas[1] |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1989–present |
| Rank | Vice admiral |
| Commands held | United States Naval Academy Naval Surface Forces Naval Surface Force Pacific Carrier Strike Group 11 USS Bunker Hill USS Curts |
| Battles/wars | Gulf War Iraq War |
| Awards | Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) |
| Spouse(s) | Rear Admiral Keith B. Davids |
Early life and education edit
Yvette Marie Gonzalez grew up in San Antonio, Texas.[4] She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography from the United States Naval Academy in 1989 and was commissioned as an ensign.[5] While studying at the Naval Academy she earned All-America Crew honors in Intercollegiate Sailing for both 1987 and 1989.[6] She later received a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in 2002 and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 2012.[4]
Career edit
Yvette Davids served as executive officer of the destroyers USS Higgins (DDG-76) and USS Benfold (DDG-65).[4] She later commanded the frigate USS Curts (FFG-38) from April 2007 to November 2008,[7] becoming the first Hispanic American woman to command a navy warship.[3]
Yvette Davids assumed command of the cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) from Captain Michael J. Ford in San Diego on 8 November 2012.[8] She was relieved of command by Captain Sterling W. Dawley in Singapore on 3 October 2014.[9]
Davids' promotion to rear admiral (lower half) was authorized by the United States Senate on 25 May 2017.[10] Davids served as senior military advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs.[4] She assumed command of Carrier Strike Group 11 in May 2019.[11] She was succeeded by Rear Admiral James A. Kirk in May 2020.[12] Her promotion to rear admiral (upper half) had been approved by the Senate on 20 March 2020.[13]
In May 2022, it was announced that Davids would be assigned as special assistant to the director of the Navy Staff,[14] simultaneously serving as director of the Learning to Action Drive Team.[15]
In April 2023, Davids was nominated for promotion to vice admiral and assignment as the superintendent of the United States Naval Academy.[16][17] Pending confirmation, she was assigned in an interim capacity as the commander of Naval Surface Forces and Naval Surface Force, United States Pacific Fleet, succeeding Roy Kitchener until December 2023.[18] She was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral in the U.S. Navy and began serving as the Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy on 11 January, 2024.[19]
Personal edit
Yvette Davids is the daughter of William E. Gonzalez and Magda Margarita (Matos) Gonzalez.[1] She is married to Rear Admiral Keith B. Davids, a 1990 Naval Academy graduate and Navy SEAL officer.[20][21] They have twin sons. As of August 2022, her husband was serving as the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command.[22]
References edit
- ^ a b c Birth Index, 1903–1997. Austin, Texas: Texas Department of State Health Services.
- ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 1 October 1990. p. 181. Retrieved 2021-06-25.
- ^ a b Zimmerman, Elizabeth (1 October 2008). ""Las Primera" Latina to Command a Navy Ship Honored at Gala". U.S. Navy. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
- ^ a b c d "Rear Admiral Yvette M. Davids". U.S. Navy. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
- ^ "PN151 — Navy". U.S. Congress. March 1989. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
- ^ "Intercollegiate Sailing". Navy Sports. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
- ^ "USS Curts (FFG 38)". NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
- ^ Wasko, Claire (8 November 2012). "USS Bunker Hill Holds Change of Command". U.S. Navy. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
- ^ "New Commander aboard USS Bunker Hill". navaltoday.com. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
- ^ "PN111-1 — Navy". U.S. Congress. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
- ^ "U.S. Navy Biographies – REAR ADMIRAL YVETTE M. DAVIDS". www.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 2018-12-19.
- ^ "Nimitz Change Of Command Ceremony". dvidshub.net. 16 May 2020. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
- ^ "PN1627 — Navy". U.S. Congress. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
- ^ "United States Navy Flag Officers (Public), May 2022" (PDF). MyNavyHR. 2022-04-30.
- ^ "United States Navy Flag Officers (Public), October 2022" (PDF). MyNavyHR. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-10-01. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
- ^ "PN541 — Rear Adm. Yvette M. Davids — Navy". U.S. Congress. 2023-04-20. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
- ^ "Flag Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense. 2023-04-24. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
- ^ "Commander, Naval Surface Forces Holds Change of Command". DVIDS. San Diego: Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. 2023-08-18. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
- ^ "VADM Davids Confirmed As Superintendent At Naval Academy". United States Navy. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
- ^ "PN1011 — Navy". U.S. Congress. 9 March 1990. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
- ^ "Mental Toughness Underlies Passion for Sailing". Ethos Live. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
- ^ Cheek, Destiny (2022-08-19). "Naval Special Warfare Command Holds Change of Command Ceremony". DVIDS. San Diego, California: Naval Special Warfare Command. Retrieved 2022-08-20.