Naval Careers
Captain
Henry Gonzales, Jr.
United States Navy Commanding Officer,
Navy Recruiting Region WEST
Captain Henry Gonzales
is the senior Submariner of Mexican American descent in the United States
Navy. He is also the first Hispanic Navy Captain to command a Recruiting
Area. His area, Navy Recruiting Region West consists of the 17 Western
United States and the Pacific Territories including Guam and recruiting
offices in Hawaii and Japan. He supervises 9 Recruiting Districts with
over 2,260 military and civilian personnel who are responsible for over
one third of all personnel who join the Navy each year as enlisted and
officer candidates.
A native of El Paso, Texas, Captain Gonzales graduated with honors
from the United States Naval Academy in June of 1977. After earning
his Bachelor of Science degree in Ocean Engineering at the academy,
he completed Navy Nuclear Power training in Orlando, Florida and Saratoga
Springs, New York in August 1978. Following more training at the Basic
Submarine School in New London, Connecticut, he reported to USS PINTADO
(SSN 672), a submarine home ported in San Diego, California. During
this assignment, he completed his submarine qualifications and went
on two Western Pacific and Indian Ocean deployments.
From March 1983 to June 1985, then Lieutenant Gonzales was assigned
to the admissions staff of the Candidate Guidance Office at the United
States Naval Academy. In January 1986, Lieutenant Gonzales reported
as Engineering Officer to the USS JOHN C. CALHOUN (SSBN 630)(GOLD) home
ported in Charleston, S.C. While on CALHOUN, he completed post overhaul
shakedown operations and two strategic deterrent patrols. In May 1988,
he was assigned as the Combat Systems Officer on USS STURGEON (SSN 637),
also home ported in Charleston. During this 18-month assignment, Lieutenant
Commander Gonzales completed an under-ice Arctic deployment and various
Western Atlantic operations.
Following TRIDENT Prospective Executive Officer training in June 1990,
Gonzales became the Executive Officer of USS FLORIDA (SSBN 728) (BLUE).
While assigned to FLORIDA, Lcdr. Gonzales participated in three strategic
deterrent patrols from the ships home port of Bangor, Washington. From
August 1992, until August 1994, Commander Gonzales served as an Action
Officer in the Operations Directorate of the Joint Staff. Working within
J-36's Nuclear Operations Branch, he was involved in Strategic Nuclear
Issues and provided training to all the military services and White
House nuclear advisers. Having been selected for command at sea, Commander
Gonzales successfully completed the Prospective Submarine Commanding
Officer's course from 1994 until March 1995. Then as a result of an
unexpected medical disqualification for sea duty, he was reassigned
to Headquarters, Navy Recruiting Command.
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