Diego E . Hernández Vice Admiral Diego E . Hernandez ( born c . 1930 ) is a retired United States Navy officer who was the first Hispanic to be named Vice Commander , North American Aerospace Defense Command ( NORAD ) . Early years . Hernandez ( birth name : Diego Hernandez Sanfeliz ) was born and raised in San Juan , Puerto Rico , the Capital of Puerto Rico where he received his primary education . Upon his high school graduation , he was able to attend Illinois Institute of Technology with a Navy ROTC scholarship . In 1955 , he earned a degree in Physics and was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy upon his graduation . He then underwent flight training and on August 1956 , was designated a Naval Aviator . Military career . Hernandez served in carrier - based fighter squadrons at sea in a variety of assignments . He flew two combat tours in Vietnam during the Vietnam War . He also served as Aide and Flag Lieutenant to Commander , Carrier Division 14 . At sea , he was the commander of Fighter Squadron 84 , Carrier Air Wing Six , and a fleet oiler ( the USS Truckee ) . On June 27 , 1980 , Captain Diego E . Hernandez relieved outgoing Captain Myers and took command of the aircraft carrier USS " John F . Kennedy " ( CVA / CV - 67 ) . It was capable of anti - submarine warfare ( ASW ) , making it an all - purpose carrier . On September 19 , 1980 , Libyan Air Force planes engaged in an unprecedented number of sorties in the vicinity of USS " John F . Kennedy " ’ s Battle Group over international waters . F - 14 ’ s under E - 2 control intercepted two Libyan sections , and six and eighteen sections , respectively , on September 20 and 21 . On August 29 , 1981 , after a change of command ceremony , Captain D . Bruce Cargill relieved Captain Hernandez as commander of the USS " John F . Kennedy " . In 1988 , Vice Admiral Diego E . Hernandez as Commander , Third Fleet , coordinated RIMPAC ' 88 , a massive naval exercise which included more than 40 ships , approximately 200 aircraft and more than 50 , 000 sailors , airmen and Marines from the United States , Japan , Australia and Canada . This exercise marked the first inclusion of a battleship , USS " Missouri " , as a component in RIMPAC . Vice Commander , North American Aerospace Defense Command . His last assignment on active duty was as Deputy Commander in Chief U . S . Space Command , dual hatted as Vice Commander , North American Aerospace Defense Command . In 1987 , Hernandez was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Puerto Rican Coalition . In 1988 , he was named the distinguished graduate of his class by Illinois Institute of Technology and presented with the institutions Professional Achievement Award . Hernandez , retired from the Navy in 1991 , after having served for a total of 36 years . Later years . Diego E . Hernandez resides in Miami , Florida . He serves as management consultant to private and public companies . In 1997 he was named to the board of directors of the Taylor Energy Company LLC . He is also a member of the Veterans Administration Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans . Hernandez is also a member of the Companions of the Naval Order , the oldest , exclusively naval , American society . Awards and decorations . Among Vice Admiral Diego E . Hernandez ' decorations and medals were the following : Badges :