New Naval Academy Superintendent Nominated, Would Be 1st Woman To Lead College

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The U.S. Naval Academy may soon have a new top leader, who would make history as the first woman to lead the institution.

The college announced Friday that Rear Adm. Yvette Davids was nominated to serve as the college's 64th superintendent. The Navy would also promote Davids, who graduated from the Naval Academy in 1989, to the rank of vice admiral.

Davids would also replace Vice Adm. Sean Buck, who has been the superintendent since 2019.

Patch asked the Naval Academy how long Davids would serve as superintendent and why Buck was leaving the office. The college has not yet responded to our questions. We will update this story if we hear back.

Davids' nomination came from Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael M. Gilday.

The U.S. Senate will now vote on whether to confirm Davids. If confirmed, the Naval Academy said Davids could take office this summer.

Davids is a career surface warfare officer. She is currently the director of the Learning to Action Drive Team.

The Naval Academy alumna has commanded USS Curts (FFG 38), USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and Carrier Strike Group 11.

Davids' assignment to Curts made her the first Hispanic-American woman to command a Navy warship. This earned her the Las Primeras Award from the Mexican American Women's National Association in 2008. The honor recognizes Latinas for important 'firsts' in their fields with a national impact.

Davids' biography and photo are posted here.