Registration is now open for the 2022 Western Region Symposium, which will be held 6 to 8 December 2022 onboard Naval Base Point Loma, San Diego, California. Please visit the event page for all details.
Adelante con ANSO!!
ANSO Fundraising Program Launch
As part of ANSO’s strategic plan, we have launched a fundraising program to advance our mission through improved regional symposiums, the ANSO/CTR Factor Non-Profit Alliance Joint Leadership Institute, and the advancement of grass-root community outreach initiatives.
Each one of our five pillars is essential to our mission success, but community outreach can arguably be considered the most meaningful. Through our community initiatives, we (each ANSO member) share our experiences, educate both parents and young men and women on the opportunities available in the military, and mentor those who aspire to become the future leaders of our sea services.
Since 1981, ANSO has shaped the path of some of our highest ranking leaders serving today, and those leaders continue to be part of ANSO, but there is still much work to be done. ANSO members must navigate key assignments and professional development milestones to achieve personal and professional goals, and successfully compete for promotions and opportunities. The ANSO network can play a vital role in guiding those career decisions.
So, be a part of a future sea service leader’s journey and donate TODAY!
Please share the fundraising program with your personal and professional networks.
You can donate through our fundraising page or text “donate” to 202-831-9777.
Your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. You will receive your tax receipt via email once the donation is processed.
Thank you for your continued support, and adelante con ANSO!!
Western Region Symposium
December 6, 2022 @ 7:00 am – December 8, 2022 @ 5:00 pm
Our annual west coast flagship event is being coordinated by the San Diego Chapter and the Seattle Chapter, and will be held 6 to 8 December 2022 onboard Naval Base Point Loma, San Diego, California, at Admiral Kidd Club. Please visit our event website for all the most up to date details.
ANSO Norfolk Chapter Meeting
October 19, 2022 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Join our monthly ANSO Norfolk Chapter meeting! We will have a joint conversation with CAPT Javier Medina (ANSO Norfolk President), LCDR Diego Londoño (ANSO National Chaplain), CWO2 Yandy Hernández (ANSO National Secretary), and many more amazing leaders on topics like Good Financial Strategies, Emotional Intelligence, Commissioning Programs, Leadership, Effective Communication, Mentorship, and more. In addition, at the end of our meeting we will conduct a networking and social section to allow member to connect and seek potential mentors. Adelante con ANSO! Nuestra Familia.
Don’t miss this great opportunity to network with peers and leaders stationed in Hampton Roads area!
Become a ANSO member Today! Visit: https://www.ansomil.org/why-join-anso/
ANSO Norfolk Chapter
Joint ANSO HVLA Hispanic Heritage Month 2022 Kickoff Message
Saludos, ANSO Familia!
Un fuerte abrazo para todos! Today we kick off Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) 2022. HHM runs from September 15 to October 15 every year. This year’s theme is “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.” The following article was written in collaboration with our partner, the Hispanic Veterans Leadership Alliance (HVLA), an organization dedicated to advocating for Hispanics and Latinos across all military services.
We encourage everyone to look for opportunities to participate in HHM events in your local communities. There are plenty of resources that share information on our history and events throughout the month. Join us in celebration of our rich heritage. Adelante con ANSO!
Hispanic Heritage Month Resources
- National Museum of the American Latino HHM 2022 Page
- National Museum of American History HHM 2022 Page
- Hispanic Star HHM 2022 Toolkit
United in Service to Our Country
Written by LCDR Diego Londoño, CHC, USN, CAPT Roy Love, USN (Ret), and Brigadier General Carlos E. Martínez, USAFR (Ret).
Hispanics have been serving in the American military since well before it became the United States of America. Going back to the Revolutionary war, let’s recount the little-known story of a merchant Captain named Jorge Farragut Mesquida. The latter hailed from Menorca, Spain, and served as a cavalry officer in the Tennessee militia. Jorge arrived in America in 1766 and took part in the American Revolutionary War, serving as a lieutenant, initially in the South Carolina Navy and then in the Continental Navy. While Jorge, who later changed his name to George, was a Spaniard who adopted the American Colonies first and later the United States of America as his home, his famous son, David Porter Farragut, was born an American and established himself as one of history’s most extraordinary Naval Officers, becoming the first Admiral in the United States Navy.
The son of a Spanish immigrant, Farragut, who rose through the ranks of the greatest Navy the world has ever known to become its first Admiral, was not considered Hispanic in the 1800s. There is no reference before 2010 describing David Farragut as Hispanic. Only recently has his name been associated with a culture and ethnic group that has contributed to our nation’s progress and greatness since its birth. David Farragut would not have become the distinguished gentleman he grew up to be without the help of an ally, David Porter.
This story is extraordinary and serves as a great example of what each of us, immigrants, and children of immigrants, can accomplish when we have the allies, the opportunity, the support, and the will to do what we must to succeed. Many more stories of Hispanic and Latino men and women in service are not being told, like that of Lieutenant Esteban Hotesse, a Dominican-born Latino member of the Tuskegee Airmen. According to The Atlantic, Hotesse’s story was found by Edward De Jesus, a research associate at the Dominican Studies Institute at the City University of New York (CUNY), New York (Lantigua, 2015). Hotesse, an Afro-Latino born in the Dominican Republic, served as an Officer in the US Army at a time when segregation and prejudice prevented men like him from reaching their highest potential. While the services have come a long way, we still find that opportunities for Hispanics can be limited. We must remember their stories and work together to continue to change for the better. United we triumph, divided we fall.
In November 2021, Disney released one of its latest animation movies, Encanto, allowing the world to see some extraordinary aspects of the Latino identity. The Familia Madrigal established a strong connection with the townspeople as the story developed. A shift occurs as the Familia rebuilds the foundations of the casita (the house Madrigal). The townspeople, united in one accord, meet their neighbors and pick up the tools to work with them side by side. “Lay down your load. We are only down the road. We have no gifts (magic), but we are many, and we’ll do anything for you,” repeats the song along this scene. This scene projects the powerful theme of this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month, “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.”
Talking about the Latino and Hispanic identity is a complex and multidimensional process. Ask some people, and you’ll find that Latinos can be Hispanic, but Hispanics aren’t necessarily Latinos. Latinos can speak several languages, while Hispanics are primarily Spanish speakers or the children of Spanish-speaking parents. Yes, it is complex. Latinidad, a single identity collecting the unique Latino pan-ethnic experiences, continues to be part of the public debate in multiple forums. Even with this acknowledgment, common threads bring people from 33 nationalities together as one. And they are more than speaking a similar language!
Such unity is not just a link that binds us as Latinos who have migrated or inherited cultural traits in a new land (two-thirds of Latinos in the U.S. are native-born). This link is a commitment to be part of the U.S., the land of opportunities, and active participants in our nation’s socio-political and economic shaping. Like Farragut, we want to be seen as and treated the same way as all other American citizens of the United States. This commitment energizes the more than 62 million Latinos in this country to contribute their knowledge, skills, and abilities with plenty of sazón, from offices, shops, education centers, hospitals, fire and police stations, farms, and military commands, among others. According to a report from the Joint Economic Committee, “Latinos in the U.S. account for $2.3 trillion in economic activity.”
The Association of Naval Services Officers (ANSO) is proud to support our active duty Hispanic and Latino members across the Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Merchant Marine. Latinos are doing amazing things in the Services, working in every field and across all military ranks, from Seamen to Admirals and Generals, Master Chiefs and Sergeant Majors, Captains of ships, Commanders of Strike Groups, and Senior Enlisted Advisors. While we have not had another David Farragut (Four Star Hispanic Admiral) since Admiral Horacio Rivero Jr. held the rank in 1972, we can proudly say that one of our own ANSO members, the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, is now the second Hispanic/Latino Secretary of the Navy since our founder, the Honorable Eduardo Hidalgo, served as SECNAV in 1980 and established this illustrious organization. We have come far, but there is more to do!
While Hispanics represent an ever-growing proportion of the U.S. population, they are not as well-represented among our military services. For example, while 18.7 percent of the U.S. population is Hispanic and 16.1 percent of our military members are Hispanic, Hispanics are greatly under-represented among the senior ranks of the military, constituting only 8.0 percent of the officer corps, and a paltry 2.6 percent of the general officer and naval flag ranks. The Hispanic Veterans Leadership Alliance (HVLA) has called attention to these disparities and is working with the Department of Defense to correct these inequities to have the military “reflect the face of America.”
The U.S. Navy Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office defines inclusion as “The enabling of every individual of all identities to feel valued and welcomed.” With inclusion, every team member has an opportunity to reveal their value and to develop a true sense of belonging to the team. Our Hispanic Heritage Month theme highlights the continuous efforts to keep us united, belonging to intentionally inclusive environments that strengthen our families, organizations, communities, and nation.
Thankfully, ANSO and HVLA are working to ensure Latinos continue to grow and thrive in the Sea Services and across all Military Services. This month, we come together to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, the strong ties among Latinos, and the transcendental impact of unity, inclusiveness, and belonging in each of our areas of influence. ANSO and HVLA remain united in service to our country.
Article References
- Lantigua, J. (2015, November 5). An Unknown Latino Tuskegee Airman Has Been Discovered. Retrieved from The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/11/unknown-latino-tuskegee-airman-discovered/433479/
ANSO Norfolk Chapter Meeting
September 21, 2022 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Join our monthly ANSO Norfolk Chapter meeting! We will have a joint conversation with CAPT Javier Medina (ANSO Norfolk President), LCDR Diego Londoño (ANSO National Chaplain), BMCS Yandy Hernández (ANSO National Secretary), and many more amazing leaders on topics like Good Financial Strategies, Emotional Intelligence, Commissioning Programs, Leadership, Effective Communication, and Mentorship. In addition, at the end of our meeting we will conduct a networking and social section to allow member to connect and seek potential mentors. Adelante con ANSO! Nuestra Familia.
Don’t miss this great opportunity to network with peers and leaders stationed in Hampton Roads area!
Become a ANSO member Today! Visit: https://www.ansomil.org/why-join-anso/
ANSO Norfolk Chapter Meeting
August 17, 2022 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Join our monthly ANSO Norfolk Chapter meeting! We will have a joint conversation with CAPT Javier Medina (ANSO Norfolk President), LCDR Diego Londoño (ANSO National Chaplain), BMCS Yandy Hernández (ANSO National Secretary), and many more amazing leaders on topics like Good Financial Strategies, Emotional Intelligence, Commissioning Programs, Leadership, Effective Communication, and Mentorship. In addition, at the end of our meeting we will conduct a networking and social section to allow member to connect and seek potential mentors. Adelante con ANSO! Nuestra Familia.
Don’t miss this great opportunity to network with peers and leaders stationed in Hampton Roads area!
Become a ANSO member Today! Visit: https://www.ansomil.org/why-join-anso/
Change of Command for ANSO Seattle Leader
Today we said farewell to our Vice President LCDR Katherine Martínez Alvarez. After an extremely successful tour as Commanding Officer of Naval Base Kitsap Bangor’s Transient Personnel Unit (TPU), LCDR Martínez Alvarez is on her way to Germany to continue to execute the mission of the Navy. Her leadership and energy will be sorely missed by the Seattle Chapter familia. Fair winds and following seas. ¡Felicidades y buena suerte!
ANSO Norfolk Chapter Meeting
July 20, 2022 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Join our monthly ANSO Norfolk Chapter meeting! We will have a joint conversation with CAPT Milciades “Tony” Then (Commodore, Destroyer Squadron 22), LCDR Diego Londoño (ANSO National Chaplain), BMCS Yandy Hernández (ANSO Norfolk Chapter USN Senior Enlisted Rep), and many more amazing leaders on topics like Good Financial Strategies, Emotional Intelligence, Commissioning Programs, Leadership, Effective Communication, and Mentorship. In addition, at the end of our meeting we will conduct a networking and social section to allow member to connect and seek potential mentors. Adelante con ANSO! Nuestra Familia.
Don’t miss this great opportunity to network with peers and leaders stationed in Hampton Roads area!
Become a ANSO member Today! Visit: https://www.ansomil.org/why-join-anso/
ANSO Norfolk Chapter
Congratulations to Carlos Del Toro, the 78th Secretary of the Navy
Forty years after ANSO was founded by the first Secretary of the Navy of Hispanic descent, the Honorable Edward Hidalgo, one of our members has been sworn in as the second Secretary of the Navy of Hispanic descent. Secretary Carlos Del Toro was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on Saturday August 7, 2021, and was sworn in on Monday August 9, 2021.
Born in Havana, Cuba, Secretary Del Toro immigrated to the U.S. with his family as refugees in 1962. Raised in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York City, he attended public schools and received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering, and was commissioned as a Surface Warfare Officer upon graduation in 1983.
His 22-year naval career included a series of critical appointments and numerous tours of duty at sea. After retiring at the rank of Commander, Secretary Del Toro founded SBG Technology Solutions, Inc. in 2004. As its CEO and President, he supported defense programs across a host of immediate and long-term Department of Navy issue areas, including shipbuilding, AI, cybersecurity, acquisition programs, space systems, health, and training.
In an August 10, 2021 Message to the Fleet, Secretary Del Toro outlined his vision and priorities for the service, listing the current challenges, and promising to advocate for the necessary resources crucial to the Navy Marine Corps Team’s preparation and mission success.
Secretary Del Toro is an active ANSO member, a founding member of the ANSO DC Chapter, and a former member of our National Board of Advisors. Even though running a successful business has kept his schedule super busy, he has always made time to support our organization. We are proud and excited to be witness to his journey and hope our members find inspiration in his achievements. Adelante con ANSO!
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