When Keith Davids was in the fourth grade he was a child prodigy in sailing. By age 13, the United States Naval Academy had heard about his exploits on the water and began recruiting him for Annapolis.
Currently, he is the Director of the White House Military Office, his second tour of duty with a U.S. President.
It seems that Admiral Davids and his wife Yvette Gonzalez Davids are good at setting precedents. They are the only husband and wife admiral team in the 249-year history of the United States Navy. Yvette was the Commanding Officer of the USS Curts, a guided missile frigate, and USS Bunker Hill, a guided missile cruiser. She is the first woman of Hispanic heritage to command a United States naval war ship.
Keith Davids is the product of some of Miami’s best-known schools. He attended prestigious Cushman and Ransom as a youngster but was in public school for grades 11 and 12, graduating from Coral Gables High School. He was on the cross county and wrestling teams at Gables in addition to running marathons and competing in — and winning — numerous sailing events around the world.
Keith’s mother, Renate Ryan, a well-known interior designer and activist for the South Florida music and arts scene, said, “He fell in love with sailing when he was 8 years old, took part in the junior sailing program at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club and began racing competitively at age 9.” Young Davids won more than his share of those early races and before long was representing the United States in the International Optimists Dinghy world championship competitions.
His experiences in wrestling at Gables High stood in marked contrast and to some of his Annapolis classmates, many of whom had private school backgrounds, and supplied some of the mental toughness needed for future assignments.
This came in handy when upon graduation from the Academy. Keith was chosen to take part in the grueling BUDS (Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL) training to become a Navy SEAL. He graduated as a member of training class 177, survived hazardous duty in Asian and European-Middle Eastern combat zones and became a SEAL Team One Commander.
During an interview, a question was posed to Davids about his command presence with the troops. “Navy SEALS come in all shapes and sizes,” said the future admiral.
Admiral Davids is a highly decorated naval officer. Among other decorations, he was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star Medal With Combat V (for valor).
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