Patrick H . Brady ( Navy ) Patrick H . Brady ( born 1959 ) is a United States Navy rear admiral who in July 2007 became the first person of Hispanic descent to be named Commander of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center . He is one of four admirals of Hispanic descent who are currently serving in the United States Navy . Early years . Brady was born in San Antonio , Texas . In 1966 , Brady ' s father , a former United States Army soldier of Irish - American and Hispanic descent was offered a position at NASA Headquarters in Washington , D . C . in the procurement field and the family moved to Camp Springs , Maryland . There he received his primary and secondary education . In 1977 , Brady received his appointment to the United States Naval Academy from U . S . Congresswoman Marjorie Sewell Holt upon his graduation from Crossland High School . Military career . During his four years at the academy , Brady belonged to the wrestling team where he excelled as an athlete . In 1981 , Brady earned a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering degree and was commissioned an Ensign . He underwent Navy Nuclear Power training in 1982 . In 1983 , Brady was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade and served aboard the USS Lewis and Clark ( SSBN - 644 ) , a Benjamin Franklin - class ballistic missile submarine , until 1985 the same year which he was promoted to Lieutenant . He was reassigned in 1986 to the USS Omaha ( SSN - 692 ) , a Los Angeles - class submarine , until 1989 when he was assigned to serve aboard the USS San Francisco ( SSN - 711 ) , a Los Angeles - class nuclear attack submarine . In 1991 , Brady was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and in 1992 earned his Master of Arts in National Security Affairs degree from the Naval Postgraduate School . From 1993 to 1995 , he served on the USS Drum ( SSN - 677 ) , a nuclear attack submarine . In 1995 , Brady was on the staff of Commander Submarine Force , of the U . S . Pacific Fleet as a member of the Tactical Readiness Evaluation Team . During this period he undertook courses from the Air Force Command and Staff College via correspondence . In 1997 , Brady was promoted to the rank of Commander and he served as the commanding officer of the USS Portsmouth ( SSN - 707 ) , a Los Angeles - class nuclear attack submarine . Under his command , the Portsmouth under his leadership received various recognitions . Among the recognition ' s received after completing a Western Pacific Deployment were the COMSUBPAC ( Commander , Submarine ( forces ) , Pacific ( Ocean ) ) Silver Anchor Award and the Squadron Battle Efficiency , Engineering , Navigation , Communications and Damage Control Awards . Brady served aboard the USS Postsmouth until August 2000 when he became a member of the Acquisition Professional Corps . As a member of the Acquisition Professional Corps , he served in various positions , among them Deputy Design Manager and Warfare Requirements Manager ; Program Manager for the Virginia Class Submarine Program Office ; Major Program Manager for Submarine Combat and Weapons Control Program Office ; Executive Assistant to the Commander , Naval Sea Systems Command ; and the Major Program Manager for Advanced Undersea Systems . During this period of time Brady received Level Three acquisition training and in 2002 a promotion to Captain . On April 27 , 2007 , Secretary of Defense Robert M . Gates announced that President George W . Bush had nominated Brady for the rank of Rear Admiral . Upon his promotion to rear admiral ( lower half ) , Brady joined Rear Admiral ' s Albert Garcia , Will Rodriguez and George E . Mayer as one of the four admirals of Hispanic descent who are currently serving in the United States Navy . In July of that same year he became the 44th commander of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center . According to his official naval biography he is responsible for the Navy ’ s full - spectrum research , development , test and evaluation , engineering and fleet support center for submarines , autonomous underwater systems , and offensive and defensive weapons systems associated with undersea warfare . Motivational speaker . Brady and Clarise , his wife , have two children , Ashley and Andrew . He has been the motivational keynote speaker in various Hispanic related conferences . According to Brady , one of his passions with his involvement with Hispanic organizations , such as HENAAC and MAES , is to ensure that other Hispanics know the great opportunities that are available through education ; and to ensure that no one has to change who they are ( like his father did ) in order to fit in and achieve the " American Dream . " In 2006 , HENAAC ( Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference ) convened an Executive Roundtable in Anaheim , California . Brady , who was a Roundtable Participant , emphasized in his speech the importance of recognizing and accepting ones Hispanic heritage . He recommended the following : Military awards and decorations . Among Brady ' s military awards are the following : Badges :