Association of Naval Services Officers
A 501c3 nonprofit supporting Latinos/Hispanics of all ranks in the U.S. Sea Services!
| Chapter Name & Year Established | Maj. Gen. Angie Salinas, USMC | 1998 |
| President | CS1 Phyllis Almaraz, USCG | President.Sandiego@ansomil.org |
| Vice President | VACANT – Contact ANSO if interested. | |
| Secretary | LTJG Nicole Maldonado, USN | Secretary.Sandiego@ansomil.org |
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, the San Diego Chapter proudly participated in a lively 5K alongside Latinosrun, embracing and sharing our culture’s rich traditions and heritage. This month has been a growth journey for us, as we welcome new faces at each meeting—an inspiring testament to our commitment to spreading awareness about ANSO. We’re also thrilled to highlight two of our remarkable members, LTJG Nicole Maldonado and YN3 Olga Quintero, who recently shone on ANSO’s social media, allowing us all to learn more about their incredible stories. Stay tuned for our announcement for the following chapter meeting—you won’t want to miss it!
ANSO Familia,
Are you interested in providing mentorship and professional development to students interested in a career as an Officer?
ANSO San Diego Chapter’s LT Jonathan Daniel has created a virtual mentorship program for Hispanic and Latin students in high school, college, as well as recent graduates to be connected with ANSO members. The objective of this mentorship program is to provide students with information, pathways, and personal insight into pursuing a career as a USN/USCG Officer.
As of 2022, the ethnic Hispanic makeup of Navy Enlisted closely mirrors the national population; however, there is a stark decrease in Hispanic Officer representation that is non-proportional with the national population. We want to close that gap and increase inclusivity and a sense of belonging in order to focus on warfighting. Creating a Navy and Coast Guard with a proportional and diverse leadership corps leads to innovation and organizational creativity.
If you are interested in signing up as a mentor, please use the following link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScFNyjB941Ht4QurtiP1zkbwNy422_wljOr6j-uYoX3hbqvPw/viewform
If you are a student, recent graduate, or know someone who would be interested in receiving a mentor, please direct to the following link:
If you have any further questions or concerns, comment below or reach out to LT Jonathan Daniel at danieljb4545@gmail.com
The history of Hispanic Americans in the U.S. Coast Guard may be traced as far back as early 1800s. Hispanic Americans performed duties at light house stations as keepers and assistant keepers, such as Keeper José A. Ramirez, who was the Head Keeper of the Windward Point Light Station in Cuba, prior to World War II. Others served on board Revenue Service cutters and as surfmen at Life-Saving Service stations along the coast. Many gave their lives in the performance of their duties and others were decorated for their heroism.
In 1914, Hispanics sailed on the Revenue Cutter Algonquin. The cutter was stationed in the Caribbean and assisted the city of San Juan twice. In 1920, after the formation of the Coast Guard, two Hispanic crewman of the cutter Acushnet, Mess Attendant First Class Arthur J. Flores and SN John E. Gomez, volunteered to save survivors of the schooner Isaiah K. Stetsen, which sank off the coast of Massachusetts during a storm. The Treasury Department awarded both of them the Silver Lifesaving Medal for their heroism.
Many served with distinction during World War II as well. The Sanjuan family, including the father, Vivencio, and two of his sons served in the Coast Guard. Vivencio Sanjuan served on board the Coast Guard-manned attack transport USS Samuel Chase during the invasions of North Africa and then Salerno, Italy. His son, Pedro, was stationed on board the attack transport USS Bayfield and saw service during the Normandy invasion and the invasion of Southern France as well. Another son, Ramon, served on board four Coast Guard cutters during his career and retired from the service in 1969. Another son, William, served in the Coast Guard in the Vietnam conflict. He was awarded the Purple Heart for a combat injury received while under a Viet Cong mortar attack.
Periodically we will post and recognize prominent Hispanics who were trailblazers.
Article can be found at https://www.history.uscg.mil/Browse-by-Topic/Notable-People/Minorities/Hispanic-Americans/.
The San Diego Chapter is soliciting for Coast Guard Active Duty Officers, Coast Guard Academy Alumni, and Retirees who wish to mentor prospective and current Coast Guard Academy cadets as part of the Academy Minority Outreach Team (AMOT). In coordination with Academy Admissions, mentors conduct outreach to prospective candidates, encourage completion of their applications, and offer support on acceptance to the Academy. Moreover, volunteers forge relationships with cadets as they transition into the Officer Corps.
If interested in participating please RSVP below.
https://einvitations.afit.edu/inv/anim.cfm?i=563375&k=0767410A7C52