Yvette M. Davids

Yvette Marie Davids (born 29 March 1967)[1][2] is a United States Navy rear admiral. She was the first Hispanic American woman to command a navy ship.[3]

Yvette M. Davids
Birth nameYvette Marie Gonzalez
Born (1967-03-29) 29 March 1967
Bexar County, Texas[1]
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1989–present
RankRear Admiral
Commands heldNaval Surface Forces
Naval Surface Force Pacific
Carrier Strike Group 11
USS Bunker Hill
USS Curts
Battles/warsGulf War
Iraq War
AwardsDefense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (2)
Spouse(s)Rear Admiral Keith B. Davids

Early life and education

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]

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 has been assigned in an interim capacity as the commander of Naval Surface Forces and Naval Surface Force, United States Pacific Fleet, succeeding Roy Kitchener.[18]

Personal

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.[19][20] They have twin sons. As of August 2022, her husband was serving as the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command.[21]

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yvette M. Davids.
  1. Birth Index, 1903–1997. Austin, Texas: Texas Department of State Health Services.
  2. 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.
  3. Zimmerman, Elizabeth (1 October 2008). ""Las Primera" Latina to Command a Navy Ship Honored at Gala". U.S. Navy. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
  4. "Rear Admiral Yvette M. Davids". U.S. Navy. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
  5. "PN151 — Navy". U.S. Congress. March 1989. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
  6. "Intercollegiate Sailing". Navy Sports. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
  7. "USS Curts (FFG 38)". NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
  8. Wasko, Claire (8 November 2012). "USS Bunker Hill Holds Change of Command". U.S. Navy. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
  9. "New Commander aboard USS Bunker Hill". navaltoday.com. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
  10. "PN111-1 — Navy". U.S. Congress. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
  11. "U.S. Navy Biographies – REAR ADMIRAL YVETTE M. DAVIDS". www.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 2018-12-19.
  12. "Nimitz Change Of Command Ceremony". dvidshub.net. 16 May 2020. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  13. "PN1627 — Navy". U.S. Congress. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  14. "United States Navy Flag Officers (Public), May 2022" (PDF). MyNavyHR. 2022-04-30.
  15. "United States Navy Flag Officers (Public), October 2022" (PDF). MyNavyHR. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-10-01. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  16. "PN541 — Rear Adm. Yvette M. Davids — Navy". U.S. Congress. 2023-04-20. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  17. "Flag Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense. 2023-04-24. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
  18. "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.
  19. "PN1011 — Navy". U.S. Congress. 9 March 1990. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
  20. "Mental Toughness Underlies Passion for Sailing". Ethos Live. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
  21. 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.
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