Diego E. Hernández
Vice Admiral Diego E. Hernandez (March 25, 1934 – July 7, 2017) was a United States Navy officer. He was the first Hispanic to be named Vice Commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). He then underwent flight training and in August 1956, was designated a Naval Aviator.[1]
| Diego E. Hernandez | |
|---|---|
| 150px Vice Admiral Diego E. Hernandez First Hispanic to be named Vice Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command(NORAD) | |
| Birth name | Diego Hernandez Sanfeliz |
| Nickname | Duke |
| Born | March 25, 1934 San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Died | July 7, 2017 (aged 83) Miami Lakes, Florida, U.S. |
| Allegiance | |
| Service/branch | |
| Years of service | 1955-1991 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held | USS John F. Kennedy USS Truckee Deputy Commander in Chief U.S. Space Command Vice Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Navy Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit Purple Heart Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal |
Hernandez died on July 7, 2017 from complications of Parkinson's disease at the age of 83.[2]
Diego E. Hernández Media
- Navy Distinguished Service ribbon.svg
Navy Distinguished Service ribbon
- Silver Star ribbon.svg
- SilverStarribbon
- Legion of Merit ribbon.svg
Ribbon from the Legion of Merit awarded by the United States Department of Defense.
Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon
- Purple Heart ribbon.svg
Ribbon bar: w:Purple Heart.
- Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon
- Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon
References
- ↑ United States Department of Veteran Affairs Archived August 1, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Adm. Diego Hernandez, a Vietnam hero tapped by the president for his expertise, dies at 83". miamiherald.