Rear Adm. Yvette Davids. US Navy Photo
Rear Adm. Yvette Davids has been nominated to serve as the next superintendent of the Naval Academy, USNI News has learned.
Her name was listed on the Senate’s list of nominations. Two defense officials confirmed to USNI News on Friday that President Joe Biden nominated Davids for the academy’s top position.
If approved by the Senate, Davids would be the first female superintendent in the institution’s history. Davids is also nominated for the rank of vice admiral, according to the Senate’s list of nominations.
Davids, who currently serves as the director of the Learning to Action Drive Team, is a 1989 graduate of the Naval Academy, according to her Navy biography.
Davids previously served as the assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs under the State Department, as well as chief of staff for U.S. Southern Command.
A career surface warfare officer, she deployed on Mars-class combat stores ship USS San Jose (AFS-7) as part of Desert Shield and Desert Storm. She also served as the executive officer for Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG-76) during Operation Iraqi Freedom and commanded Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Curts (FFG-38) during deployments as part of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Davids was the first Hispanic American woman to lead a warship as the commanding officer of Curts.
Her last operational deployment was as the commander of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group.