| Yvette Davids | |
| Office: | 64th Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy |
| Term Start: | January 11, 2024 |
| Predecessor: | Frederick W. Kacher (acting) |
| Birth Date: | 29 March 1967 |
| Birth Place: | Bexar County, Texas, U.S. |
| Spouse: | Keith Davids |
| Education: | United States Naval Academy (BS) Naval War College (MS) National Defense University (MS) |
| Branch: | United States Navy |
| Serviceyears: | 1989–present |
| Rank: | Vice Admiral |
| Commands: | United States Naval Academy Naval Surface Forces Naval Surface Force Pacific Carrier Strike Group 11 |
| Battles: | Gulf War Iraq War |
| Mawards: | Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) |
Yvette Marie Davids (born 29 March 1967)[1] is a United States Navy vice admiral. She was the first Hispanic American woman to command a navy ship.[2]
Yvette Marie Gonzalez grew up in San Antonio, Texas.[3] She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography from the United States Naval Academy in 1989 and was commissioned as an ensign.[4] While studying at the Naval Academy she earned All-America Crew honors in Intercollegiate Sailing for both 1987 and 1989.[5] 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces of the National Defense University in 2012.[3]
Yvette Davids served as executive officer of the destroyers and .[3] She later commanded the frigate from April 2007 to November 2008,[6] becoming the first Hispanic American woman to command a navy warship.[2]
Yvette Davids assumed command of the cruiser from Captain Michael J. Ford in San Diego on 8 November 2012.[7] She was relieved of command by Captain Sterling W. Dawley in Singapore on 3 October 2014.[8]
Davids' promotion to rear admiral (lower half) was authorized by the United States Senate on 25 May 2017.[9] Davids served as senior military advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs.[3] She assumed command of Carrier Strike Group 11 in May 2019.[10] She was succeeded by Rear Admiral James A. Kirk in May 2020.[11] Her promotion to rear admiral (upper half) had been approved by the Senate on 20 March 2020.[12]
In May 2022, it was announced that Davids would be assigned as special assistant to the director of the Navy Staff,[13] simultaneously serving as director of the Learning to Action Drive Team.[14]
In April 2023, Davids was nominated for promotion to vice admiral and assignment as the superintendent of the United States Naval Academy.[15] [16] 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.[17] She was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral in the U.S. Navy and began serving as the first female Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy on 11 January 2024.[18] [19] [20]
Yvette Davids is the daughter of William E. Gonzalez and Magda Margarita (Matos) Gonzalez.[21] She is married to retired rear admiral Keith B. Davids, a 1990 Naval Academy graduate and Navy SEAL officer.[22] [23] They have twin sons. As of August 2022, her husband was serving as the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command.[24]
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