George E. Mayer
Encyclopedia
Rear Admiral George E. "Rico" Mayer (born c. 1952) is a retired United States Naval officer
and Naval Aviator
. At the time of his retirement, he was the first Puerto Rican
Commander of the Naval Safety Center.
, the island's capital. There he received his primary and secondary education. In the 1960s, during his teenage years, he was unsure of what type of work he would like to do as an adult. This changed as he visited his father who worked at the local airport
. Mayer became fascinated with aviation and decided that he would like to become an aviator. His father recommended that he join the Navy and become a Naval Aviator.
, graduating from the Naval Academy in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science
degree in Political Science. Upon graduation, he was designated as a Student Naval Aviator and assigned to flight training. Selected for advanced flight training in the Strike training pipeline, he earned his pilot's wings as a Naval Aviator
following graduation from Training Air Wing One at Naval Air Station Meridian
, Mississippi
in 1976.
As a Naval Aviator
, he was initially qualified in the carrier-based A-7 Corsair II
attack aircraft and later qualified in the F/A-18 Hornet
strike fighter.
), Mayer initially flew the A-7E Corsair II
with the “Dambusters” of Attack Squadron 195 (VA-195
) at Naval Air Station Lemoore
, California
, deploying with the Pacific Fleet. He would later fly with other NAS Lemoore-based squadrons, the “Fist of the Fleet” of Attack Squadron 25 (VA-25
) and the "Flying Eagles" of VA-122
, the latter as an A-7 instructor pilot. Subsequent flying assignments took him to Naval Air Station Cecil Field
, Florida
for recurrent training with the "Hellrazors" of Attack Squadron 174 (VA-174) followed by assignment to the “Gunslingers” of Attack Squadron 105 (VA-105
), where he deployed with the Atlantic Fleet. He then transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet
for his command tour with the “Rampagers” of Strike Fighter Squadron 83 (VFA-83
), also based at NAS Cecil Field. He has accumulated over 4,000 flight hours and logged more than 1,000 carrier-arrested landings.
Mayer served in the following shore duty assignments: Executive Assistant to the Chief of Legislative Affairs; Light Attack/Strike Fighter Junior Officer Detailer with the Navy's Bureau of Personnel (BUPERS) in Washington, D.C.
; Spanish Command and Staff College in Madrid, Spain; the U.S. Naval War College
in Newport, Rhode Island
, where he obtained a Master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. Promoted to Rear Admiral (Lower Half), his first flag officer assignment was as Deputy Director of Operations (DJ3) at Headquarters, United States Central Command
, MacDill Air Force Base
, Florida. On September 11, 2001, while serving as Deputy Director of Operations at U.S. Central Command, he was quickly thrust into a major leadership role during the planning and execution of Operation Enduring Freedom. On February 15, 2002, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld announced that President George W. Bush
had promoted him to the grade of Rear Admiral (Upper Half).
Rear Admiral Mayer's other command tours included commanding officer of the Atlantic Fleet F/A-18 Fleet Replacement Squadron, the "Gladiators" of Strike Fighter Squadron 106 (VFA-106
); Commander, Carrier Air Wing Seven
(CVW-7); Commander, Carrier Group Eight (COMCARGRU 8); and a dual command assignment as both Commander, Navy Region South (COMNAVREG SOUTH), responsible for all naval shore installations in northwest Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Texas, and Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA), responsible for the entire Naval Air Training Command, to include all naval flight training schools, training air wings and training squadrons in Florida, Mississippi and Texas. He assumed command of the Naval Safety Center in August 2005 and relinquished command and retired from the U.S. Navy in October 2007.
Mayer commanded Carrier Group Eight, later renamed Carrier Strike Group Eight, whose base of operations is located in Norfolk, Virginia. During this tour, he led an international naval exercise known as Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2003
from his flagship
, the USS Vella Gulf (CG-72)
. Thirteen nations participated in the exercise, which included more than 3,600 personnel, 36 ships, 3 submarine
s, over 40 aircraft
, and 6 different ground forces from Allied and Partnership for Peace (PfP) nations which included Denmark
, Estonia
, Finland
, France
, Germany
, Latvia
, Lithuania
, Norway
, Poland, Russia, Sweden
, the United Kingdom
and the United States. It was the first time in the 31 year history of BALTOPS that the exercise included combined ground troops from Russia
, Poland
, Denmark
and the United States.
For the first time in the history of the exercise, BALTOPS 03 included ground force elements that trained in interoperability exercises, which included a combined Russian, Polish, Danish and American amphibious landings in Poland
and an evacuation of role-playing non-combatants by both sea and air from Bornholm, Denmark
.
. As commander, he was responsible for the center's mission of providing safety assistance and advice to the Chief of Naval Operations
(CNO), the Commandant of the Marine Corps
(CMC), and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Safety in order to enhance the war fighting capability of the United States Navy
and United States Marine Corps
, preserve resources and improve combat readiness by preventing mishaps and saving lives.
Mayer has been a strong advocate of Hispanic
recruitment and active participation in the United States Armed Forces and has been quoted as saying:
, where he received the program's military executive excellence award.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and Naval Aviator
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
. At the time of his retirement, he was the first Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
Commander of the Naval Safety Center.
Early years
Mayer was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, the island's capital. There he received his primary and secondary education. In the 1960s, during his teenage years, he was unsure of what type of work he would like to do as an adult. This changed as he visited his father who worked at the local airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
. Mayer became fascinated with aviation and decided that he would like to become an aviator. His father recommended that he join the Navy and become a Naval Aviator.
United States Naval Academy
Mayer was accepted to the United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
, graduating from the Naval Academy in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Political Science. Upon graduation, he was designated as a Student Naval Aviator and assigned to flight training. Selected for advanced flight training in the Strike training pipeline, he earned his pilot's wings as a Naval Aviator
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
following graduation from Training Air Wing One at Naval Air Station Meridian
Naval Air Station Meridian
Naval Air Station Meridian or NAS Meridian is a military airport located 11 miles northeast of Meridian, Mississippi in Lauderdale County and Kemper County, and is one of the Navy's two jet strike pilot training bases .-History:On July 16, 1957, the first shovel of earth was thrown, marking the...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
in 1976.
As a Naval Aviator
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
, he was initially qualified in the carrier-based A-7 Corsair II
A-7 Corsair II
The Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II is a carrier-based subsonic light attack aircraft introduced to replace the United States Navy's Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, initially entering service during the Vietnam War...
attack aircraft and later qualified in the F/A-18 Hornet
F/A-18 Hornet
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets . Designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and...
strike fighter.
Naval career
Following transitional training with the Pacific Fleet A-7 Fleet Replacement Squadron, Attack Squadron 122 (VA-122VFA-122
Strike Fighter Squadron 122 , also known as the "Flying Eagles", are a United States Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F/A-18 Hornet A/B/C/D Fleet Replacement Squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore.-History:...
), Mayer initially flew the A-7E Corsair II
A-7 Corsair II
The Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II is a carrier-based subsonic light attack aircraft introduced to replace the United States Navy's Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, initially entering service during the Vietnam War...
with the “Dambusters” of Attack Squadron 195 (VA-195
VFA-195
Strike Fighter Squadron 195 , also known as the "Dambusters", is a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Facility Atsugi...
) at Naval Air Station Lemoore
Naval Air Station Lemoore
Naval Air Station Lemoore or NAS Lemoore is a United States Navy base, located in Kings County and Fresno County, California. Lemoore Station, California, a census-designated place, is located inside the base's borders....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, deploying with the Pacific Fleet. He would later fly with other NAS Lemoore-based squadrons, the “Fist of the Fleet” of Attack Squadron 25 (VA-25
VFA-25
Strike Fighter Squadron 25 is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at NAS Lemoore. Its current tail code is AA, its callsign is Fist, and it flies the F/A-18C Hornet.-Squadron insignia and nickname:...
) and the "Flying Eagles" of VA-122
VFA-122
Strike Fighter Squadron 122 , also known as the "Flying Eagles", are a United States Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F/A-18 Hornet A/B/C/D Fleet Replacement Squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore.-History:...
, the latter as an A-7 instructor pilot. Subsequent flying assignments took him to Naval Air Station Cecil Field
Naval Air Station Cecil Field
Naval Air Station Cecil Field or NAS Cecil Field was a United States Navy base, located in Duval County, Florida. NAS Cecil Field was the largest military base in the Jacksonville, Florida, area....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
for recurrent training with the "Hellrazors" of Attack Squadron 174 (VA-174) followed by assignment to the “Gunslingers” of Attack Squadron 105 (VA-105
VFA-105
Strike Fighter Squadron 105 also known as the "Gunslingers" is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The "Gunslingers" are an operational fleet squadron and fly the F/A-18E Super Hornet...
), where he deployed with the Atlantic Fleet. He then transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet
F/A-18 Hornet
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets . Designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and...
for his command tour with the “Rampagers” of Strike Fighter Squadron 83 (VFA-83
VFA-83
Strike Fighter Squadron 83 , also known as the "Rampagers", are a United States Navy F/A-18C Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana...
), also based at NAS Cecil Field. He has accumulated over 4,000 flight hours and logged more than 1,000 carrier-arrested landings.
Mayer served in the following shore duty assignments: Executive Assistant to the Chief of Legislative Affairs; Light Attack/Strike Fighter Junior Officer Detailer with the Navy's Bureau of Personnel (BUPERS) in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
; Spanish Command and Staff College in Madrid, Spain; the U.S. Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, where he obtained a Master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. Promoted to Rear Admiral (Lower Half), his first flag officer assignment was as Deputy Director of Operations (DJ3) at Headquarters, United States Central Command
United States Central Command
The United States Central Command is a theater-level Unified Combatant Command unit of the U.S. armed forces, established in 1983 under the operational control of the U.S. Secretary of Defense...
, MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base is an active United States Air Force base located approximately south-southwest of downtown Tampa, Florida...
, Florida. On September 11, 2001, while serving as Deputy Director of Operations at U.S. Central Command, he was quickly thrust into a major leadership role during the planning and execution of Operation Enduring Freedom. On February 15, 2002, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld announced that President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
had promoted him to the grade of Rear Admiral (Upper Half).
Rear Admiral Mayer's other command tours included commanding officer of the Atlantic Fleet F/A-18 Fleet Replacement Squadron, the "Gladiators" of Strike Fighter Squadron 106 (VFA-106
VFA-106
Strike Fighter Squadron 106 , also known as the "Gladiators," is a United States Navy F/A-18 Hornet and F/A-18 Super Hornet Fleet Replacement Squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.-Mission:...
); Commander, Carrier Air Wing Seven
Carrier Air Wing Seven
Carrier Air Wing Seven , is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier .-Mission:...
(CVW-7); Commander, Carrier Group Eight (COMCARGRU 8); and a dual command assignment as both Commander, Navy Region South (COMNAVREG SOUTH), responsible for all naval shore installations in northwest Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Texas, and Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA), responsible for the entire Naval Air Training Command, to include all naval flight training schools, training air wings and training squadrons in Florida, Mississippi and Texas. He assumed command of the Naval Safety Center in August 2005 and relinquished command and retired from the U.S. Navy in October 2007.
BALTOPS 2003
BALTOPS
BALTOPS is an annual military exercise, held and sponsored by the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe since 1971, in the Baltic Sea and the regions surrounding it....
from his flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
, the USS Vella Gulf (CG-72)
USS Vella Gulf (CG-72)
USS Vella Gulf is an American Ticonderoga class Aegis guided missile cruiser. She is named for the Battle of Vella Gulf, a naval engagement in the Solomons campaign of World War II. This engagement was historically significant because it was the first time that destroyers were allowed to operate...
. Thirteen nations participated in the exercise, which included more than 3,600 personnel, 36 ships, 3 submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s, over 40 aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
, and 6 different ground forces from Allied and Partnership for Peace (PfP) nations which included Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Poland, Russia, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the United States. It was the first time in the 31 year history of BALTOPS that the exercise included combined ground troops from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and the United States.
For the first time in the history of the exercise, BALTOPS 03 included ground force elements that trained in interoperability exercises, which included a combined Russian, Polish, Danish and American amphibious landings in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and an evacuation of role-playing non-combatants by both sea and air from Bornholm, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
Final Command
In August 2005, Mayer was assigned as Commander, Naval Safety Center in Norfolk, VirginiaNorfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
. As commander, he was responsible for the center's mission of providing safety assistance and advice to the Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
(CNO), the Commandant of the Marine Corps
Commandant of the Marine Corps
The Commandant of the Marine Corps is normally the highest ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...
(CMC), and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Safety in order to enhance the war fighting capability of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, preserve resources and improve combat readiness by preventing mishaps and saving lives.
Mayer has been a strong advocate of Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
recruitment and active participation in the United States Armed Forces and has been quoted as saying:
"One of the biggest strengths of the Hispanic community is its ability to produce leaders in all facets of society and industry."
Recognition
On October 7, 2005, based on his service as former Chief of Naval Air Training and as Commander, Naval Safety Center, Rear Admiral Mayer was recognized as one of the nation's best and brightest engineers and scientists during the 17th Annual Hispanic Engineers National Achievement Awards Conference in Anaheim, CaliforniaAnaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, where he received the program's military executive excellence award.
Military decorations and awards
Among Rear Admiral Mayer's military decoration are the following: |
|||||||||||
| Naval Aviator Badge United States Aviator Badge A United States Aviator Badge refers to three types of aviation badges issued by the United States military, those being for Army, Air Force, and Naval aviation.... |
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| 1st Row | Defense Superior Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal The Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."... |
Legion of Merit Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements... |
Bronze Star Bronze Star Medal The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the... |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd Row | Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (United States) The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969... w/ one gold star |
Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal Commendation Medal The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. For valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy force, but of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Bronze Star, the Valor device may... |
Navy Achievement Medal Achievement Medal The Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the United States military. The Achievement Medal was first proposed as a means to recognize the contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel who were not eligible to receive the higher Commendation Medal or the Meritorious Service... |
Navy Expeditionary Medal Navy Expeditionary Medal The Navy Expeditionary Medal is an award of the United States Navy which was first created in August 1936 by General Orders of the Department of the Navy... |
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| 3rd Row | National Defense Service Medal National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower... w/ two bronze stars |
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is a military award of the United States military, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John Kennedy... |
Armed Forces Service Medal Armed Forces Service Medal The Armed Forces Service Medal is a military award of the United States military which was created on January 11, 1996 by President Bill Clinton under... |
Humanitarian Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal The Humanitarian Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States armed forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under... |
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See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- List of Puerto Rican military personnel
- German immigration to Puerto RicoGerman immigration to Puerto RicoGerman immigration to Puerto Rico increased when German businessmen immigrated to Puerto Rico during the early part of the 19th century. However, it was the economic and political situation in Europe during the early 19th century plus, the fact that the Spanish Crown issued the Royal Decree of...
- Hispanic Admirals in the United States NavyHispanic Admirals in the United States NavyHispanic Admirals in the United States Navy can trace their tradition of naval military service to the Hispanic sailors, who have served in the Navy during every war and conflict since the American Revolution. Prior to the Civil War, the highest rank reached by a Hispanic-American in the U.S. Navy...
- Hispanics in the United States Naval AcademyHispanics in the United States Naval AcademyHispanics 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 minority midshipmen. Out of these 271 midshipmen, 115 are of Hispanic heritage...
- Hispanics in the United States NavyHispanics in the United States NavyHispanics in the United States Navy can trace their tradition of naval military service to men such as Lieutenant Jorge Farragut Mesquida, who served in the American Revolution. Hispanics, such as Seaman Philip Bazaar and Seaman John Ortega, have distinguished themselves in combat and have been...