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Wikipedia

List of Puerto Ricans

March 15, 2023

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

This is a list of notable people from Puerto Rico which includes people who were born in Puerto Rico (Borinquen) and people who are of full or partial Puerto Rican descent. The government of Puerto Rico has been issuing "Certificates of Puerto Rican Citizenship" to anyone born in Puerto Rico or to anyone born outside of Puerto Rico with at least one parent who was born in Puerto Rico since 2007.[1][2] Also included in the list are some long-term continental American and other residents or immigrants of other ethnic heritages who have made Puerto Rico their home and consider themselves to be Puerto Ricans.

Location of the island of Puerto Rico (green)

The list is divided into categories and, in some cases, sub-categories, which best describe the field for which the subject is most noted. Some categories such as "Actors, actresses, comedians and directors" are relative since a subject who is a comedian may also be an actor or director. In some cases a subject may be notable in more than one field, such as Luis A. Ferré, who is notable both as a former governor and as an industrialist. However, the custom is to place the subject's name under the category for which the subject is most noted.

Actors, actresses, comedians and directors

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  • Luis Oliva (born 1951), actor, comedian and mime[28]
  • Tony Oliver (born 1958), voice actor
  • Karen Olivo (born 1976), actress (Puerto Rican father); winner of 2009 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress[29]
  • Angel Oquendo, actor
  • Ana Ortiz (born 1971), actress
  • Claudette Ortiz (born 1981), singer and model
  • Elín Ortiz (1934–2016), actor, television producer
  • John Ortiz (born 1968), actor
  • Irad Ortiz Jr (born 1992), jockey, three times winner of the Eclipse Award for best jockey in USA (2018,2019,2020)
  • Jose Ortiz (born 1993), jockey, 2017 winner of the Eclipse Award for best jockey in USA
  • Ozuna (born 1993), musician, singer, rapper

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  • Ivy Queen (born 1972), singer, lyricist, rapper, musician, fashion icon; one of the early founders and creators of the reggaeton style
  • Adolfo Quiñones (1955–2020), actor, dancer, choreographer

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  • Peggy Walker (born 1942), actress
  • Otilio Warrington (born 1944), also known as "Bizcocho", comedian
  • Walter Mercado, (born 1932–2019) astrologer, dancer, telenovela actor, writer
  • Jessica Wild (born 1980), female impersonator, reality television personality, starred on second season of RuPaul's Drag Race
  • Holly Woodlawn (1946–2015), transgender actress and Warhol superstar[41]

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Adult film entertainers

Hosts/presenters

Architects

For a more comprehensive list, see List of Puerto Rican architects.
 
Andrés Mignucci, architect

Authors, playwrights and poets

 
José Rivera, playwright

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  • Pura Belpré (1899–1982), author; first Puerto Rican librarian in New York City[63]
  • Samuel Beníquez (born 1971), author of the autobiographical book Tu alto precio ... Mi gran valor[64]
  • María Bibiana Benítez (1783–1873), playwright, poet[65]
  • Alejandrina Benítez de Gautier (1819–1879), poet whose collaboration with the "Aguinaldo Puertorriqueño" (collection of Puerto Rican poetry) gave her recognition as a great poet[66]
  • Tomás Blanco (1896–1975), writer and historian; author of Prontuario Historico de Puerto Rico and El Prejuicio Racial en Puerto Rico (Racial Prejudice in Puerto Rico)[67]
  • Juan Boria (1906–1995), Afro-Caribbean poet, also known as the Negro Verse Pharaoh; known for his Afro-Caribbean poetry[68]
  • Giannina Braschi, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellow; author of the bestselling Spanglish classic Yo-Yo Boing! and United States of Banana[69][70][71][72]
  • Julia de Burgos (1914–1953) was a poet and activist who advocated for Puerto Rican independence. She was a civil rights advocate and a brilliantly intellectual poet. She was an early literary trailblazer for the Nuyorican movement. She defied social norms within her poetry and delved into topics such as the colonial past of her island and the effects of slavery, the imperialist legacy, and feminist ideology.

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  • Héctor Feliciano (born 1952), author; his book The Lost Museum: The Nazi Conspiracy to Steal the World's Greatest Works of Art has shed light on an estimated 20,000 looted works; each one is owned by a museum or a collector somewhere[89]
  • Isabel Freire de Matos (1915–2004), writer, educator and advocate of Puerto Rican independence[90]
  • Rosario Ferré (1938–2016), writer[91]
  • Shaggy Flores (born 1973), Nuyorican writer, poet; African diaspora scholar; founder of Voices for the Voiceless[92]
  • Félix Franco Oppenheimer (1912–2004), poet and writer; works include Contornos, Imagen y visión edénica de Puerto Rico, and Antología poética[93]

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  • Richie Narvaez (born 1965), short story writer and novelist, author of Hipster Death Rattle (2019) and Noiryorican (2020)[123]
  • Mercedes Negrón Muñoz (1895–1973), a.k.a. "Clara Lair"; poet whose work dealt with the everyday struggles of the common Puerto Rican[124]

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  • Judith Ortiz Cofer (1952–2016), poet, writer and essayist; in 1994, became the first Hispanic to win the O. Henry Prize for her story "The Latin Deli"; in 1996, she and illustrator Susan Guevara became the first recipients of the Pura Belpre Award for Hispanic children's literature[99][125]
  • Micol Ostow (born 1976), author of Mind Your Manners, Dick and Jane and Emily Goldberg Learns to Salsa[126]

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Beauty queens and fashion models

Business people and industrialists

 
José Ramon Fernández, "Marqués de La Esperanza"
 
Juan Serrallés, industrialist, founder of Destilería Serralles, makers of Don Q rum
 
Eduardo Georgetti, wealthy sugar baron

Cartoonists

Civil rights and political activists

 
Helen Rodriguez-Trias, women's rights activist and recipient of the Presidential Citizen's Medal
  • María de las Mercedes Barbudo (1773–1849), political activist; often called the first female Puerto Rican "Independentista"[198]
  • Rosario Bellber González (1881–1948), educator, social worker, women's rights activist, suffragist, and philanthropist; initiator, vice president and one of the founders of the Puerto Rico Teachers Association (Spanish: Asociación de Maestros de Puerto Rico). Bellber is also one of the founders of the Children's Hospital of Puerto Rico (Spanish: Hospital del Niño de Puerto Rico)[199] [200] [201] [202]
  • Mariana Bracetti (1825–1903) a.k.a. "Brazo de Oro" ("Golden Arm"), political activist; leader of the Lares's Revolutionary Council during the Grito de Lares; knit the first flag of the future Republic of Puerto Rico
  • Mathias Brugman (1811–1868), political activist; leader of the Grito de Lares; founded the first revolutionary committee in the City of Mayagüez; his revolutionary cell was code named "Capa Prieta" (Black Cape)
  • María Cadilla (1884–1951), women's rights activist; one of the first women in Puerto Rico to earn a doctoral degree
  • Luisa Capetillo (1879–1922), labor activist; one of Puerto Rico's most famous labor organizers; writer and an anarchist who fought for workers and women's rights
  • Alice Cardona (1930–2011), activist and community organizer[203]
  • Dennis Flores, activist and filmmaker.[204]
  • Tito Kayak (born 1958), political activist; gained notoriety when a group of Vieques natives and other Puerto Ricans began protesting and squatting on U.S. Navy bombing zones after the 1999 death of Puerto Rican civilian and Vieques native David Sanes, who was killed during a U.S. Navy bombing exercise[205][206][207][208][209][210][211]
  • Sylvia del Villard (1928–1990), Afro-Puerto Rican activist, founder of the Afro-Boricua El Coquí Theater; an outspoken activist who fought for the equal rights of the Black Puerto Rican artist; in 1981, she became the first and only director of the Office of Afro-Puerto Rican Affairs of the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña (Puerto Rican Institute of Culture) (see also "Actresses")
  • Isabel González (1882–1971), civil rights activist; young Puerto Rican mother who paved the way for Puerto Ricans to be given United States citizenship[212]
  • Lillian López (1925–2005), librarian and labor activist; founder of the New York Public Library South Bronx Project; advocate for library and education services for Spanish-speaking communities[213]
  • Óscar López Rivera (born 1943), pro-independence activist; the longest incarcerated FALN member[214]
  • José Maldonado Román (1874–1932), a.k.a. "Aguila Blanca" (White Eagle), revolutionary[215]
  • Rosa Martínez (b. 1952) and Eliana Martínez (1981–1989), AIDS activist; was involved in a notable Florida court case regarding the rights of HIV+ children in public schools[216]
  • Felícitas Méndez (1916–1998) (née Gómez), activist; with her husband, in 1946, led a community battle which set an important legal precedent for ending de jure segregation in the United States (see Mendez v. Westminster);[217] credited with paving the way for integration and the American civil rights movement[218]
  • Ana María O'Neill (1894–1981), women's rights activist and educator; in 1929, became the first female professor in the field of commerce in the University of Puerto Rico, which she taught until 1951; urged women to participate in every aspect of civic life and to defend their right to vote[219]
  • Manuel Olivieri Sánchez (1888–?), civil rights activist; court interpreter and a civil rights activist who led the legal battle which granted U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans living in Hawaii[220]
  • Olivia Paoli (1855–1942), suffragist and activist who fought for the rights of women in Puerto Rico. She was also the founder of the first theosophist lodge in Puerto Rico.[221][222][223][224]
  • César A. Perales (born 1940), civil rights lawyer; founder of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (now LatinoJustice PRLDEF); won precedent-setting lawsuits combating discrimination; New York Secretary of State[225]
  • Sylvia Rae Rivera (1951–2002), transgender activist; veteran of the 1969 Stonewall riots[226]
  • Anthony Romero (born 1965), civil rights leader; executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union[227]
  • Helen Rodríguez Trías (1929–2001), physician and women's rights activist; first Latina president of the American Public Health Association; a founding member of the Women's Caucus of the American Public Health Association; recipient of the Presidential Citizen's Medal; credited with helping to expand the range of public health services for women and children in minority and low-income populations in the US, Central and South America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East[228] (see also "Educators" and "Scientists")
  • Manuel Rojas (1831-1903), Venezuelan born Puerto Rican independence leader in the El Grito de Lares revolt against Spanish colonial rule
  • Ana Roque (1853–1933), women's rights activist, educator and suffragist; one of the founders of the University of Puerto Rico[229]
  • Soraya Santiago Solla (1947–2020), transgender activist; first person in Puerto Rico to change the gender designation on their birth certificate following gender reassignment surgery[230]
  • Arturo Alfonso Schomburg (1874–1938), civil rights and pro-independence activist; pioneer in black history who helped raise awareness of the contributions by Afro-Latin Americans and Afro-Americans to society[231]
  • Pedro Julio Serrano (born 1974), human rights activist; President of Puerto Rico Para Tod@s, which strives for inclusion of LGBT community and for social justice for all in Puerto Rico; Communication Manager at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force[232]
  • Marcos Xiorro, house slave; in 1821, planned and conspired to lead a slave revolt against the sugar plantation owners and the Spanish Colonial government in Puerto Rico[233]

Nationalists

Political activists who were members of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party:

  • Elías Beauchamp (1908–1936), political activist and nationalist; in 1936, assassinated Elisha Francis Riggs, the United States-appointed police chief of Puerto Rico; considered a hero by the members of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement[234]
  • Blanca Canales (1906–1996), political activist; nationalist leader who led the Jayuya Uprising in 1950 against US colonial rule of Puerto Rico
  • Rafael Cancel Miranda (1930–2020), political activist; member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party and advocate of Puerto Rican independence who attacked the United States House of Representatives in 1954
  • Óscar Collazo (1914–1994), political activist; one of two nationalists who attempted to assassinate President Harry S. Truman
  • Rosa Collazo (1904–1988) a.k.a. Rosa Cortéz Collazo, political activist and treasurer of the New York City branch of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party[235]
  • Raimundo Díaz Pacheco (1906–1950), political activist; Commander-in-Chief of the Cadets of the Republic (Cadetes de la República), a quasi-military organization and official youth organization within the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party[236]
  • Andrés Figueroa Cordero (1924–1979), political activist; member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party; one of four nationalists who attacked the United States House of Representatives in 1954[237]
  • Irvin Flores Ramírez (1925–1994), political activist; Nationalist leader and activist; one of four nationalists who attacked the United States House of Representatives in 1954[238]
  • Lolita Lebrón (1919–2009), political activist; Nationalist leader and activist; the leader of four nationalists who attacked the United States House of Representatives in 1954[238]
  • Tomás López de Victoria (1911–?), political activist and Sub-Commander of the Cadets of the Republic; the captain in charge of the cadets who participated in the peaceful march which ended up as the Ponce massacre, he led the Nationalists in the Arecibo revolt in the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Revolt of 1950[239]
  • Isolina Rondón (1913–1990), political activist and Treasurer of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party; one of the few witnesses of the October 24, 1935 killing of four Nationalists by local police officers in Puerto Rico during a confrontation with the supporters of the Nationalist Party, known as the Río Piedras massacre[240]
  • Hiram Rosado (1911–1936), political activist and nationalist; in 1936 participated in the assassination of Elisha Francis Riggs, the United States-appointed police chief of Puerto Rico; he and his comrade Elías Beauchamp are considered heroes by the members of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement[234]
  • Isabel Rosado (1907–2015), political activist; imprisoned multiple times[241]
  • Vidal Santiago Díaz (1910–1982), political activist; barber of Pedro Albizu Campos and uncle of the novelist Esmeralda Santiago; made Puerto Rican media history when numerous police officers and National Guardsmen attacked him at his barbershop during the 1950 Nationalist Revolt; this was the first time in Puerto Rican history that such an attack was transmitted via radio to the public[242]
  • Griselio Torresola (1925–1950), political activist; Nationalist who died in an attempt to assassinate President Harry S. Truman in 1950
  • Carlos Vélez Rieckehoff (1907–2005), political activist, former President of the New York chapter of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party in the 1930s; in the 1990s was among the pro-independence activists who protested against the United States Navy's use of his birthplace, Vieques, as a bombing range[243]
  • Olga Viscal Garriga (1929–1995), political activist, member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party; in the late 1940s became a student leader at the University of Puerto Rico and spokesperson of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party's branch in Río Piedras[244]

Clergy, religion

 
Painting of Santa Rosa de Lima
 
Painting of Alejo de Arizmendi

Pre–20th century

20th century

21st century

Composers, singers, musicians and opera performers

 
Marc Anthony, singer
 
José Feliciano, singer and composer of "Feliz Navidad"
 
Jim Jones, rapper
 
Ricky Martin, singer
 
Melanie Martinez, singer
 
Elsa Miranda, singer
 
Yolandita Monge, singer
 
Carli Muñoz, pianist
 
Rubén Colón Tarrats, orchestra conductor

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Opera

Criminals and outlaws

 
Antonio Correa Cotto

Pre-20th century

  • Roberto Cofresí, a.k.a. '"El Pirata Cofresí"' (Cofresí the Pirate); his exploits as a pirate are part of Puerto Rico's folklore

20th century

21st century

Diplomats

 
Hans Hertell

20th century

21st century

Educators

 
Rafael Cordero
 
Eugenio María de Hostos
 
Angel M. Ramos
 
Drawing of Angelo Falcón

Governors of Puerto Rico

See also: List of Governors of Puerto Rico
 
Juan Ponce de León II

Pre-20th century

20th century

21st century

First Ladies of Puerto Rico

Further information: First Ladies and Gentlemen of Puerto Rico

First Lady or First Gentleman of Puerto Rico, a.k.a. Primera Dama o Primer Caballero de Puerto Rico in Spanish, is the official title given by the government of Puerto Rico to the spouse of the governor of Puerto Rico or the relatives of the governor, should the holder be unmarried. The governor's spouse leads the Office of the First Lady or First Gentleman of Puerto Rico. The position of First Lady or First Gentleman carries no official duty and receives no compensation for their service. They generally oversee the administration of La Fortaleza, the mansion that serves as the governor's residence and office. They also organize events and civic programs, and typically get involved in different charities and social causes.[355][356]

First Gentleman of Puerto Rico

Historians

 
Salvador Brau
 
Tony Santiago Rodríguez a.k.a. Tony "the Marine" Santiago

Journalists

 
Geraldo Rivera

Judges, law enforcement and firefighters

Judges

 
Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court

Laws in the U.S. inspired by Puerto Ricans

  • Briana's Law – Briana Ojeda was an 11-year-old girl who died in the summer of 2010 when a police officer did not perform CPR on her after she suffered from an asthma attack. Briana's Law, which requires that every police officer and member of the State Police, including police officer trainees and state police cadets, receive CPR training prior to employment as well as during employment every two years, was named in her honor.[397]
  • Gonzales v. Williams – Isabel González was a Puerto Rican activist who helped pave the way for Puerto Ricans to be given United States citizenship. González challenged the Government of the United States in the groundbreaking case Gonzales v. Williams (192 U.S. 1 (1904)). Her Supreme Court case is the first time that the Court confronted the citizenship status of inhabitants of territories acquired by the United States. González actively pursued the cause of U.S. citizenship for all Puerto Ricans by writing letters published in The New York Times.[398]
  • Mendez v. Westminster – Felicitas Gomez Mendez was a pioneer of the American civil rights movement. In 1946, Mendez and her husband led an educational civil rights battle that changed California and set an important legal precedent for ending de jure segregation in the United States. Their landmark desegregation case, known as Mendez v. Westminster, paved the way for meaningful integration, public school reform, and the American civil rights movement.[399][218]

Law enforcement

 
Nick Estavillo
  • Nicholas Estavillo, NYPD Chief of Patrol (Ret.); in 2002, became first Puerto Rican and first Hispanic in the history of the NYPD to reach the three-star rank of Chief of Patrol[400]
  • Faith Evans, Hawaiian-Puerto Rican, first woman to be named U.S. Marshal[401]
  • Alejandro González Malavé, controversial undercover police officer
  • Irma Lozada, New York City transit police; first female police officer to die in the line of duty in New York City[402]
  • José Meléndez-Pérez, INS officer who was named in 9/11 Commission Report; denied entry to terrorist in August 2001[403]
  • Benito Romano, United States Attorney in New York; first Puerto Rican to hold the United States Attorney's post in New York on an interim basis[404]
  • Joe Sánchez, former New York City police officer and author whose books give an insight as to the corruption within the department[405]
  • Pedro Toledo, retired FBI senior agent and longest-serving state police superintendent
  • Alex Villanueva, Los Angeles County Sheriff[406]

Firefighters

Military

 
Lizbeth Robles
 
Frances M. Vega
 
Rafael O'Ferrall
 
Brigadier General Marta Carcana
 
Brigadier General Irene M. Zoppi

16th century

17th century

  • Juan de Amézqueta, Captain, Puerto Rican Militia; defeated Captain Balduino Enrico (Boudewijn Hendricksz), who in 1625 was ordered by the Dutch to capture Puerto Rico[410]

18th century

  • Rafael Conti, Colonel, Spanish Army; in 1790, captured 11 enemy ships involved in smuggling stolen goods. In 1797, he helped defeat Sir Ralph Abercromby and defend Puerto Rico from a British invasion in his hometown, Aguadilla. In 1809, he organized a military expedition fight with the aim of returning Hispaniola, which now comprise the nations of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, back to Spanish rule.[411]
  • Antonio de los Reyes Correa, Captain, Spanish Army; Puerto Rican hero who defended the town Arecibo in 1702 from an invasion by defeating the British; was awarded La Medalla de Oro de la Real Efigie (The Gold Medal of the Royal Image), by King Philip V of Spain and given the title "Captain of Infantry"[412]
  • José and Francisco Díaz, Sergeants, Puerto Rican militia; cousins in the Toa Baja Militia who helped defeat Sir Ralph Abercromby and defend Puerto Rico from a British invasion in 1797[413]
  • Miguel Henríquez, Captain, Spanish Navy; in 1713, defeated the British in Vieques and was awarded the La Medalla de Oro de la Real Efigie (The Gold Medal of the Royal Effigy)[414]

19th century

20th century

  • Ricardo Aponte, Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force; fighter pilot in F-111s, politico-military affairs, former Director of the Innovation and Experimentation Directorate, United States Southern Command; first Puerto Rican to hold this position[426]
  • Janet Álvarez González, Major, Public Affairs Officer, Texas Military Forces; first Puerto Rican to receive the Texas Medal of Merit for Outstanding Service to the Texas Military Forces, awarded 2010 in Camp Mabry Austin, Texas.[427]
  • Félix Arenas Gaspar, Captain, Spanish Army; posthumously awarded the Cruz Laureada de San Fernando (Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand – Spain's version of the Medal of Honor) for his actions in the Rif War[428]
  • Joseph (José) B. Aviles Sr., CWO2, U.S. Coast Guard; on September 28, 1925, became the first Hispanic Chief Petty Officer in the United States Coast Guard; during World War II received a wartime promotion to Chief Warrant Officer, becoming the first Hispanic to reach that level as well[429]
  • Rafael Celestino Benítez, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy; a highly decorated submarine commander who led the rescue effort of the crew members of the USS Cochino, which was involved in the first American undersea spy mission of the Cold War[430]
  • Carlos Betances Ramírez, Colonel, U.S. Army; first Puerto Rican to command a battalion in the Korean War; in 1952, he assumed the command of the 2nd Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment[431]
  • José M. Cabanillas, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy; in World War II he was Executive Officer of the USS Texas (BB-35) and participated in the invasions of Africa and Normandy (D-Day)[432]
  • Richard Carmona, Vice Admiral, Public Health Service Commissioned Corps; served as the 17th Surgeon General of the United States under President George W. Bush[433]
  • Modesto Cartagena, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army; the most decorated Hispanic soldier in history; distinguished himself in combat during the Korean War as a member of Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry and is being considered for the Medal of Honor[434]
  • Carlos Fernando Chardón, Major General, Puerto Rico National Guard; Secretary of State of Puerto Rico 1969–73; Puerto Rico Adjutant General 1973–75[435]
  • Felix M. Conde-Falcon, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army; received the Medal of Honor posthumously on March 18, 2014, for his courageous actions while serving as an acting Platoon Leader in Company D, 1st Battalion, 505th Infantry Regiment, 3d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Ap Tan Hoa, Republic of Vietnam on April 4, 1969[436]
  • Carmen Contreras-Bozak, Tech4, U.S. Women's Army Corps; first Hispanic to serve in the U.S. Women's Army Corps; served as an interpreter and in numerous administrative positions during World War II[437]
  • Virgilio N. Cordero Jr., Brigadier General, U.S. Army; a Battalion Commander of the 31st Infantry Regiment who documented his experiences as a prisoner of war and his participation in the infamous Bataan Death March of World War II.[438]
  • Juan César Cordero Dávila, Major General, U.S. Army; commanding officer of the 65th Infantry Regiment during the Korean War, thus becoming one of the highest ranking ethnic officers in the Army[439]
  • Encarnación Correa, Sergeant, U.S. Army; the person who fired the first warning shots in World War I on behalf of the United States against a ship flying the colors of the Central Powers, when on March 21, 1915, under the orders of then-Lieutenant Teófilo Marxuach, he manned a machine gun and opened fire on the Odenwald, an armed German supply ship trying to force its way out of the San Juan Bay[440]
  • Ruben A. Cubero, Brigadier General U.S. Air Force; of Puerto Rican descent; highly decorated member of the United States Air Force; in 1991 became the first Hispanic graduate of the United States Air Force Academy to be named Dean of the Faculty of the Academy[441]
  • Pedro del Valle, Lieutenant General, U.S. Marine Corps; first Hispanic three-star Marine general; his military career included service in World War I, Haiti and Nicaragua during the so-called Banana Wars of the 1920s, and in the seizure of Guadalcanal and later as Commanding General of the U.S. 1st Marine Division during World War II played an instrumental role in the defeat of the Japanese forces in Okinawa[442]
  • Carmelo Delgado Delgado, Lieutenant, Abraham Lincoln International Brigade; first Puerto Rican and one of the first U.S. citizens to fight and to die in the Spanish Civil War against General Francisco Franco and the Spanish Nationalists[443]
  • Alberto Díaz Jr., Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy; first Hispanic to become the Director of the San Diego Naval Medical District[444]
  • Luis R. Esteves, Major General, U.S. Army; in 1915, became the first Puerto Rican and therefore the first Hispanic to graduate from the United States Military Academy; organized the Puerto Rican National Guard[445]
  • Salvador E. Felices, Major General, U.S. Air Force; first Puerto Rican general in the U.S. Air Force; in 1953, he flew in 19 combat missions over North Korea during the Korean War; in 1957, he participated in a historic project that was given to Fifteenth Air Force by the Strategic Air Command headquarters known as "Operation Power Flite", the first around the world non-stop flight by all-jet aircraft[446]
  • Michelle Fraley (née Hernández), Colonel, U.S. Army; became in 1984 the first Puerto Rican woman to graduate from West Point Military Academy; former chief of staff of the Army Network Enterprise Technology Command[447][448]
  • Rose Franco, CWO3, U.S. Marine Corps; first female Hispanic Chief Warrant Officer in the Marine Corps; in 1965 was named Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy, Paul Henry Nitze by the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson[449]
  • Edmund Ernest García, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy; during World War II he was commander of the destroyer USS Sloat (DE-245) and saw action in the invasions of Africa, Sicily, and France[450]
  • Fernando Luis García, Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps; first Puerto Rican awarded the Medal of Honor; posthumously awarded the medal for his actions against enemy aggressor forces in the Korean War on September 5, 1952.[451]
  • Linda Garcia Cubero, Captain, U.S. Air Force; of Mexican-Puerto Rican heritage; in 1980 became the first female Hispanic graduate of any of the U.S. military academies when she graduated from the United States Air Force Academy[452]
  • Carmen García Rosado, Private First Class, U.S. Women's Army Corps; was among the first 200 Puerto Rican women to be recruited into the WAC's during World War II; author of Las WACS-Participacion de la Mujer Boricua en la Segunda Guerra Mundial (The WACs – The participation of the Puerto Rican women in the Second World War), the first book which documents the experiences of the first 200 Puerto Rican women to participate in said conflict as members of the armed forces of the United States[453]
  • Mihiel Gilormini, Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force; World War II hero, recipient of 5 Distinguished Flying Crosses; together with Brig. General Alberto A. Nido and Lt. Col. Jose Antonio Muñiz, founded the Puerto Rico Air National Guard; previously flew for the Royal Canadian Air Force (1941) and the Royal Air Force (1941–1942)[454]
  • Manuel Goded Llopis, General, Spanish Army; a Puerto Rican in the Spanish Army; one of the first generales to join General Francisco Franco in the revolt against the Spanish Republican government (also known as Spanish loyalists) in the Spanish Civil War; previously distinguished himself in the Battle of Alhucemas of the Rif War[455]
  • César Luis González, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Force; first Puerto Rican pilot in the United States Army Air Force; first Puerto Rican pilot to die in World War II.[456]
  • Diego E. Hernández, Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy; first Hispanic to be named Vice Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command; flew two combat tours in Vietnam during the Vietnam War; in 1980, took command of the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)[457]
  • Haydee Javier Kimmich, Captain, U.S. Navy; highest ranking Hispanic female in the Navy; Chief of Orthopedics at the Navy Medical Center in Bethesda and she reorganized Reservist Department of the medical center during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm[458]
  • Orlando Llenza, Major General, U.S. Air Force; second Puerto Rican to reach the rank of Major General (two-star General) in the United States Air Force; Adjutant General of the Puerto Rico National Guard[459]
  • Carlos Lozada, Private First Class, U.S. Army; posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 20, 1967, at Dak To in the Republic of Vietnam[460]
  • Carmen Lozano Dumler, 2nd Lieutenant, U.S. Women's Army Corps; one of the first Puerto Rican women Army officers; in 1944, she was sworn in as a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to the 161st General Hospital in San Juan[458]
  • Antonio Maldonado, Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force; in 1965, became the youngest person to pilot a B-52 aircraft; his active participation in the Vietnam War included 183 air combat missions[461]
  • Joseph (José) R. Martínez, Private First Class, U.S. Army; destroyed a German Infantry unit and tank in Tuniz by providing heavy artillery fire, saving his platoon from being attacked in the process; received the Distinguished Service Cross from General George S. Patton, becoming the first Puerto Rican recipient of said military decoration[462]
  • Lester Martínez López, MPH, Major General, U.S. Army; first Hispanic to head the Army Medical and Research Command[463]
  • Gilberto José Marxuach, Colonel, U.S. Army[464]
  • Teófilo Marxuach, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army; fired a hostile shot from a cannon located at the Santa Rosa battery of El Morro fort, in what is considered to be the first shot of World War I fired by the regular armed forces of the United States against any ship flying the colors of the Central Powers,[465] forcing the Odenwald to stop and to return to port where its supplies were confiscated[466]
  • George E. Mayer, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy; first Hispanic Commander of the Naval Safety Center; led an international naval exercise known as Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2003 from his flagship, the USS Vella Gulf (CG-72); this was the first time in the 31-year history of BALTOPS that the exercise included combined ground troops from Russia, Poland, Denmark and the United States[467]
  • Angel Mendez, Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps; of Puerto Rican descent; was awarded the Navy Cross in Vietnam and is being considered for the Medal of Honor; saved the life of his lieutenant, Ronald D. Castille, who went on to become the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania[468]
  • Enrique Méndez Jr., Major General, U.S. Army; first Puerto Rican to assume the positions of Army Deputy Surgeon General, Commander of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs[469]
  • Virgil R. Miller, Colonel, U.S. Army; Regimental Commander of the 442d Regimental Combat Team (RCT), a unit which was composed of "Nisei" (second generation Americans of Japanese descent), during World War II; led the 442nd in its rescue of the Lost Texas Battalion of the 36th Infantry Division, in the forests of the Vosges Mountains in northeastern France[470]
  • José Antonio Muñiz Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force; together with then-Colonels Alberto A. Nido and Mihiel Gilormini, founded the Puerto Rico Air National Guard; in 1963, the Air National Guard Base, at the San Juan International airport in Puerto Rico, was renamed "Muñiz Air National Guard Base" in his honor[471]
  • William A. Navas Jr., Major General, U.S. Army; first Puerto Rican named Assistant Secretary of the Navy; a veteran of the Vietnam War; nominated in 2001 by President George W. Bush to serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)[472]
  • Juan E. Negrón, Master Sergeant, U.S. Army; received the Medal of Honor posthumously on March 18, 2014, for courageous actions while serving as a member of Company L, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Kalma-Eri, Korea, on April 28, 1951[436]
  • Héctor Andrés Negroni, Colonel, U.S. Air Force; first Puerto Rican graduate of the United States Air Force Academy; a veteran of the Vietnam War; was awarded the Aeronautical Merit Cross, Spai'ns highest Air Force peacetime award for his contributions to the successful implementation of the United States-Spain Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation[473]
  • Alberto A. Nido, Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force; a World War II war hero who together with Lt. Col. Jose Antonio Muñiz, co-founded the Puerto Rico Air National Guard and served as its commander for many years; served in the Royal Canadian Air Force, the British Royal Air Force and in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II[474]
  • Jorge Otero Barreto, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army; with 38 decorations, which includes 3 Silver Star Medals, 5 Bronze Star Medals with Valor, 4 Army Commendation medals, 5 Purple Heart Medals and 5 Air Medals, has been called the most decorated U.S. soldier of the Vietnam War[475]
  • Dolores Piñero, U.S. Army Medical Corps; despite the fact that she was not an active member of the military, she was the first Puerto Rican woman doctor to serve in the Army under contract during World War I; at first she was turned down, but after writing a letter to the Army Surgeon General in Washington, D.C. she was ordered to report to Camp Las Casas in Santurce, Puerto Rico; in October 1918, she signed her contract with the Army.[476]
  • José M. Portela, Brigadier General U.S. Air Force; served in the position of Assistant Adjutant General for Air while also serving as commander of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard; in 1972, became the youngest C-141 Starlifter aircraft commander and captain at age 22; the only reservist ever to serve as director of mobility forces for Bosnia[477]
  • Marion Frederic Ramírez de Arellano, Captain, U.S. Navy; first Hispanic submarine commander; awarded two Silver Stars and a Bronze Star for his actions against the Japanese Imperial Navy during World War II[478][479]
  • Antonio J. Ramos, Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force; first Hispanic to serve as commander, Air Force Security Assistance Center, Air Force Materiel Command, and dual-hatted as Assistant to the Commander for International Affairs, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command[480]
  • Agustín Ramos Calero, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army; with 22 military decorations, was the most decorated soldier in all of the United States during World War II[431]
  • Fernando L. Ribas-Dominicci, Major, U.S. Air Force; one of the pilots who participated in the Libyan air raid as member of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing; his F-111F was shot down in action over the disputed Gulf of Sidra off the Libyan coast. Ribas-Dominicci and his weapons systems officer, Capt. Paul Lorence, were the only U.S. casualties of Operation El Dorado Canyon[481]
  • Frederick Lois Riefkohl, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy; born Luis Federico Riefkohl Jaimieson; one of the first Puerto Ricans to graduate from the United States Naval Academy; in World War I became the first Puerto Rican to be awarded the Navy Cross[482]
  • Rudolph W. Riefkohl, Colonel, U.S. Army; played an instrumental role in helping the people of Poland overcome the 1919 typhus epidemic[483]
  • Demensio Rivera, Private, U.S. Army; received the Medal of Honor posthumously on March 18, 2014, for his courageous actions while serving as an automatic rifleman with 2d Platoon, Company G, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Changyong-ni, Korea on May 23, 1951[436]
  • Manuel Rivera Jr., Captain, U.S. Marine Corps; of Puerto Rican descent; first U.S. serviceman to die in Operation Desert Shield[484]
  • Pedro N. Rivera, Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force; in 1994, became the first Hispanic to be named medical commander in the Air Force; responsible for the provision of health care to more than 50,000 patients[485]
  • Horacio Rivero, Admiral, U.S. Navy; in 1964, became the first Puerto Rican and second Hispanic Admiral (four-star) in the U.S. Navy; participated in World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War; commander in 1962 of the American fleet sent by President John F. Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis to set up a quarantine (blockade) of the Soviet ships in an effort to stop the Cold War from escalating into World War III[486][487]
  • Pedro Rodríguez, Master Sergeant, U.S. Army; member of Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry; earned two Silver Stars within a seven-day period during the Korean War[488]
  • Antonio Rodríguez Balinas, Brigadier General, U.S. Army; first commander of the Office of the First U.S. Army Deputy Command; during the Korean War he fought with Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry Regiment and was awarded the Silver Star[489]
  • Fernando E. Rodríguez Vargas, Major, U.S. Army; odontologist (dentist), scientist and a Major in the U.S. Army who in 1921 discovered the bacteria which causes dental caries[490][491]
  • Eurípides Rubio, Captain, U.S. Army; posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Tây Ninh Province in the Republic of Vietnam on November 8, 1966[492]
  • Héctor Santiago-Colón, Specialist Four, U.S. Army; posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Quảng Trị Province, Vietnam as member of Company B of the 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division[493]
  • Antulio Segarra, Colonel, U.S. Army; in 1943, became the first Puerto Rican Regular Army officer to command a Regular Army Regiment when he assumed the command of Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry Regiment, which was conducting security missions in the jungles of Panama[494]
  • Miguel A. Vera, Private, U.S. Army; was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as an automatic rifleman with Company F, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division in Chorwon, Korea, on September 21, 1952[436]
  • Humbert Roque Versace, Captain, U.S. Army; of Italian and Puerto Rican descent; posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions while a prisoner of war (POW) during the Vietnam War; first member of the U.S. Army to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions performed in Southeast Asia while in captivity[495]
  • Raúl G. Villaronga, Colonel, U.S. Army; first Puerto Rican to be elected as Mayor of a Texas city (Killeen)[496]

21st century

  • Marta Carcana, Major General, U.S. Army; in 2015, became the first woman to be named Adjutant General of the Puerto Rican National Guard[497]
  • Iván Castro, Captain, U.S. Army; of Puerto Rican descent; one of three blind active-duty officers who serves in the US Army; the only blind officer serving in the United States Army Special Forces[498]
  • Hilda I. Ortiz Clayton, Specialist, U.S. Army, was a combat photographer killed in 2013 when a mortar exploded during an Afghan training exercise; she was able to photograph the explosion that killed her and four Afghan soldiers. The 55th Signal Company named their annual competitive award for combat camera work "The Spc. Hilda I. Clayton Best Combat Camera (COMCAM) Competition" in her honor.[499][500]
  • Ramón Colón-López, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman, U.S. Air Force; a pararescueman; on June 13, 2007, was the first and only Hispanic among the first six airmen to be awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal; Commandant of the Pararescue and Combat Rescue Officer School[501]
  • Olga E. Custodio, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force; first female Hispanic U.S. military pilot; first Latina to complete U.S. Air Force military pilot training; after retiring, became the first Latina commercial airline captain[502]
  • Emilio Díaz Colón, Major General, U.S. Army; PRNG; first Superintendent of the Puerto Rican Police; served as the Adjutant General of the Puerto Rican National Guard[503][504]
  • Rafael O'Ferrall, Brigadier General, U.S. Army; first Hispanic and person of Puerto Rican descent to become the Deputy Commanding General for the Joint Task Force at Guantanamo, Cuba while simultaneously serving as Assistant Adjutant General (Army) and Deputy Commanding General of the Joint Force Headquarters at San Juan, Puerto Rico[505]
  • María Inés Ortiz, Captain, U.S. Army; of Puerto Rican descent; first United States Army nurse to die in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom and the first to die in combat since the Vietnam War
  • Hector E. Pagan, Brigadier General, U.S. Army; first Hispanic of Puerto Rican descent to become Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina[506]
  • Maritza Sáenz Ryan, Colonel, U.S. Army; of Puerto Ricana and Spanish descent; head of the Department of Law at the United States Military Academy; first woman and first Hispanic (Puerto Rican and Spanish heritage) West Point graduate to serve as an academic department head; the most senior ranking Hispanic Judge Advocate[507][508]
  • Marc H. Sasseville, Major General, U.S. Air Force; Puerto Rican mother; on September 11, 2001,[509] was acting operations group commander under the 113th Wing of the DC Air National Guard; one of four fighter pilots commissioned with finding and destroying United Flight 93 by any means necessary, including ramming the aircraft in midair[510]
  • Noel Zamot, Colonel, U.S. Air Force, a native of Rio Piedras, was the first Hispanic commandant of the Air Force's elite Test Pilot School. He is also a former combat and test aviator with over 1900 hours in B-52, B-1B, B-2A, F-16D and over 20 other aircraft.[511][512]
  • Irene M. Zoppi, Brigadier General, U.S. Army; first Puerto Rican woman to reach the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Army; Deputy Commanding General – Support under the 200th Military Police Command at Fort Meade, Maryland; Bronze Star Medal recipient[513][514]

Physicians, scientists and inventors

 
Agustin Stahl
 
Fermín Tangüis
 
Joseph Acaba
 
Antonia Novello – Surgeon General of the United States
 
Joxel García – Assistant Secretary of Health for President George W. Bush
 
Olga D. González-Sanabria – member of the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame

Politicians

 
José de Diego – the "father of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement"
 
Federico Degetau – writer, author, and resident commissioner
 
Pedro Albizu Campos – President and principal leader of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
 
Nydia Velázquez – Congresswoman from New York City
 
Luis Gutiérrez – Congressman from Chicago
 
Kenneth McClintock – Secretary of State of Puerto Rico
 
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, representing parts of The Bronx and Queens, is the youngest woman ever to be elected to Congress in November 2018.

19th century

20th century

21st century

Sports

 
Orlando Cepeda – MLB first baseman, second Puerto Rican in Baseball Hall of Fame
 
José Juan Barea – professional basketball player with the Dallas Mavericks
 
Carlos Delgado – MLB player, New York Mets
 
Edgar Martínez – MLB player with the Seattle Mariners
 
Iván Rodríguez – MLB catcher for the Washington Nationals
 
Alfredo L. Escalera – Kansas City Royals outfielder; youngest player ever drafted
 
Monica Puig – Olympic gold medalist
 
Juan Evangelista Venegas – Olympic medalist

A

B

C

D

E

F

  • Gigi Fernández, tennis player, in 1992 became the first female athlete from her native Puerto Rico win an Olympic gold medal; first female athlete from Puerto Rico to turn professional;[641] first Puerto Rican woman inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame[642]
  • Lisa Fernandez, softball player, Olympic gold medalist (Puerto Rican mother)
  • Orlando Fernández a.k.a. "the Puerto Rican Aquaman"; swimmer; first Puerto Rican to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar[643]
  • Ed Figueroa, baseball pitcher, first Puerto Rican to win 20 games in Major League
  • Enrique Figueroa, sailing

G

H

J

  • Reggie Jackson, baseball player, member of Baseball Hall of Fame (Puerto Rican father)

K

L

M

N

O

  • Luis Olmo, first Puerto Rican to hit a home run in the World Series
  • Fres Oquendo, professional boxer
  • John Orozco, Olympic gymnast
  • Carlos Ortiz, boxer, former, junior welterweight and lightweight champion; member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
  • José Ortiz, former basketball player, PDP candidate for elective office in 2008
  • Luis Ortiz, boxer, first Puerto Rican to win a silver Olympic medal

P

Q

  • Carlos Quintana, professional boxer, former World Boxing Organization's welterweight champion

R

S

T

V

W

Taínos

 
Agüeybaná II (The Brave)

Visual artists

 
José Campeche
 
Francisco Oller

Miscellaneous

Gallery

list, puerto, ricans, this, dynamic, list, never, able, satisfy, particular, standards, completeness, help, adding, missing, items, with, reliable, sources, this, list, notable, people, from, puerto, rico, which, includes, people, were, born, puerto, rico, bor. This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources This is a list of notable people from Puerto Rico which includes people who were born in Puerto Rico Borinquen and people who are of full or partial Puerto Rican descent The government of Puerto Rico has been issuing Certificates of Puerto Rican Citizenship to anyone born in Puerto Rico or to anyone born outside of Puerto Rico with at least one parent who was born in Puerto Rico since 2007 1 2 Also included in the list are some long term continental American and other residents or immigrants of other ethnic heritages who have made Puerto Rico their home and consider themselves to be Puerto Ricans Location of the island of Puerto Rico green The list is divided into categories and in some cases sub categories which best describe the field for which the subject is most noted Some categories such as Actors actresses comedians and directors are relative since a subject who is a comedian may also be an actor or director In some cases a subject may be notable in more than one field such as Luis A Ferre who is notable both as a former governor and as an industrialist However the custom is to place the subject s name under the category for which the subject is most noted Contents 1 Actors actresses comedians and directors 1 1 Adult film entertainers 1 2 Hosts presenters 2 Architects 3 Authors playwrights and poets 4 Beauty queens and fashion models 5 Business people and industrialists 6 Cartoonists 7 Civil rights and political activists 7 1 Nationalists 8 Clergy religion 9 Composers singers musicians and opera performers 9 1 Opera 10 Criminals and outlaws 11 Diplomats 12 Educators 13 Governors of Puerto Rico 13 1 First Ladies of Puerto Rico 13 2 First Gentleman of Puerto Rico 14 Historians 15 Journalists 16 Judges law enforcement and firefighters 17 Military 18 Physicians scientists and inventors 19 Politicians 20 Sports 21 Tainos 22 Visual artists 23 Miscellaneous 24 Gallery 25 See also 26 References 27 BibliographyActors actresses comedians and directors Edit Henry Darrow Benicio del Toro Erik Estrada Jose Ferrer Juano Hernandez Jennifer Lopez Lin Manuel Miranda Rita Moreno Lymari Nadal Rosie Perez Joaquin Phoenix Marquita Rivera Jon Seda Jimmy Smits Liz Torres David Zayas A Anuel AA born 1993 musician rapper singer Kirk Acevedo born 1971 Jose Miguel Agrelot a k a Don Cholito comedian Jorge Alberti born 1977 actor Trini Alvarado born 1967 actress Robert Avellanet born 1975 singer actor songwriter and producer Janet Alvarez Gonzalez born 1965 actress writer director and producer Miguel Angel Alvarez 1928 2011 actor and comedian La La Anthony born 1982 actress MTV VJ Amanda Ayala born 1997 singer Marc Anthony born 1968 singer and actor Victor Argo 1934 2004 actor Yancey Arias born 1971 actor Raymond Arrieta born 1965 comedian and television host Miguel Arteta born 1965 film television director 3 Rick Aviles 1952 1995 actor and comedian Charlotte Ayanna born 1976 actress B Ivonne Belen born 1955 documentary director and producer Rosa Blasi born 1972 theatrical actress Giselle Blondet born 1966 actress and television host Diego Boneta born 1990 actor singer songwriter Puerto Rican grandfather Lucy Boscana 1915 2001 television and theatrical actress C Paul Calderon born 1959 actor Armando Calvo 1919 1996 actor Norma Candal 1930 2006 actress and comedian Irene Cara born 1959 actress and singer Awilda Carbia 1938 2009 actress and comedian 4 Raulito Carbonell actor and comedian 5 April Carrion born 1989 Drag queen performer star of RuPaul s Drag Race Braulio Castillo 1933 2015 actor Braulio Castillo hijo born 1958 actor David Castro born 1996 actor Puerto Rican father Raquel Castro born 1994 actress Puerto Rican father 6 Melwin Cedeno born 1964 comedian Iris Chacon born 1950 singer and dancer Abdiel Colberg born 1957 film director and television producer Ivonne Coll born 1947 actress Miriam Colon 1936 2017 actress and founder of the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre Liza Colon Zayas born 1972 film and theatrical actress Kevin Corrigan born 1969 actor 7 Luis Antonio Cosme actor singer musician writer and cook 8 Paquito Cordero 1932 2009 comedian and television producer 9 Mapita Cortes 1939 2006 actress Mapy Cortes 1910 1998 actress Auliʻi Cravalho born 2000 actress and singer 10 Mara Croatto born 1969 actress Alexis Cruz born 1974 actor Wilson Cruz born 1973 actor Ismael Cruz Cordova born 1987 actor 11 Monique Gabriela Curnen born 1970 film and television actress 12 D Daddy Yankee born 1977 musician rapper singer entrepreneur Dagmar born 1955 actress singer and television host Henry Darrow 1933 2021 actor Raul Davila 1931 2006 actor Rosario Dawson born 1979 actress Blanca de Castejon 1906 1969 actress Kamar de los Reyes born 1967 actor Joey Dedio born 1963 actor writer producer 13 14 Idalis DeLeon born 1969 actress former MTV VJ singer Seduction Benicio del Toro born 1967 Academy Award winning actor Sylvia del Villard 1928 1990 actress choreographer and dancer Michael DeLorenzo born 1959 actor Nelson Antonio Denis born 1955 feature film director screenwriter Alba Nydia Diaz born 1955 actress Melonie Diaz born 1984 actress 15 E Lydia Echevarria born 1931 actress convicted for her role in the death of producer Luis Vigoreaux Hector Elizondo born 1936 actor Erik Estrada born 1949 actor F Antonio Fargas born 1946 actor Jose Ferrer 1912 1992 first Hispanic actor to win an Academy Award Miguel Ferrer 1955 2017 actor Nina Flowers born 1974 female impersonator and singer DJ starred on premiere season of RuPaul s Drag Race and placed in second Luz Odilia Font 1929 2022 actress 16 Cynthia Lee Fontaine born 1981 drag queen performer star of RuPaul s Drag Race G Gloria Garayua born 1978 actress 17 Aimee Garcia born 1978 actress Mayte Garcia born 1973 actress dancer Luis Gatica born 1961 actor Marilyn Ghigliotti born 1961 actress Julian Gil born 1970 television and film actor model Joyce Giraud born 1975 actress former Miss Puerto Rico Universe titleholder Ian Gomez born 1964 actor Marga Gomez born 1960 actress playwright Reagan Gomez Preston born 1980 actress Rick Gonzalez born 1979 actor Meagan Good born 1981 actress 18 Javier Grillo Marxuach born 1969 television and film producer Luis Guzman born 1956 actor Luis Roberto Guzman born 1973 television and film actor H April Lee Hernandez born 1980 actress Juano Hernandez 1896 1970 actor William Hernandez actor Jon Huertas born 1976 actor Huertas is best known for his role as witch hunter Brad Alcerro in Sabrina the Teenage Witch 19 Lillian Hurst born 1943 comedian actress television series Dharma and Greg I Ironmouse 20 VTuber Mark Indelicato born 1994 actor Vincent Irizarry born 1959 actor Corinne Irizarry born 1978 actress comedian writerJ Shar Jackson born 1976 actress singer Puerto Rican father Raul Julia 1940 1995 actor Victoria Justice born 1993 singer television actress Victorious Puerto Rican mother Jeremy Shada born 1997 actor and television host Jeff Sutphen born 1977 actor and television hostL Eva LaRue born 1966 actress Sunshine Logrono born 1951 comedian Adamari Lopez born 1978 actress Jennifer Lopez born 1969 singer actress and dancer Priscilla Lopez born 1948 actress singer and dancer 21 M Justina Machado born 1972 actress Sonia Manzano born 1950 actress Tere Marichal born 1956 actress writer Maria Chuzema 22 Eddie Marrero born 1962 actor singer Ricky Martin born 1971 singer actor Tony Martinez 1920 2002 actor singer and bandleader remembered for having played Pepino Garcia in The Real McCoys television series 23 Alexis Mateo born 1979 female impersonator reality television personality Claribel Medina born 1959 actress Maritza Medina born 1967 actress Von Marie Mendez actress and businesswoman 24 Jorge Merced born 1965 theatre actor and director 25 Angela Meyer born 1947 actress comedian and producer Ari Meyers born 1969 actress Kenya Michaels born 1995 former drag queen current choreographer performer dancer fashion designer star of season four of RuPaul s Drag Race Lin Manuel Miranda born 1980 actor composer rapper and writer best known for creating and starring in the Broadway musicals Hamilton and In the Heights has won a Pulitzer Prize two Grammys an Emmy a MacArthur Genius Award and three Tony awards 26 Rene Monclova born 1965 actor and comedian Mario Montez 1935 2013 female impersonator actor member of Warhol superstars Indya Moore 1995 actor and model Esai Morales born 1962 actor Jacobo Morales born 1934 comedian director and actor Alicia Moreda 1912 1983 actress comedian Rita Moreno born 1931 actress first Hispanic woman to win the following four major awards an Oscar a Tony Award an Emmy Award and a Grammy Award Frankie Muniz born 1985 actor Puerto Rican father Tommy Muniz 1922 2009 television producer comedian Rafo Muniz born 1956 comedian and producer N Lymari Nadal born 1978 actress Taylor Negron 1957 2015 actor comedian Frances Negron Muntaner born 1966 filmmaker writer and scholar 27 Micaela Nevarez born 1972 actress first Puerto Rican to win a Goya Award Amaury Nolasco born 1970 actorO Luis Oliva born 1951 actor comedian and mime 28 Tony Oliver born 1958 voice actor Karen Olivo born 1976 actress Puerto Rican father winner of 2009 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress 29 Angel Oquendo actor Ana Ortiz born 1971 actress Claudette Ortiz born 1981 singer and model Elin Ortiz 1934 2016 actor television producer John Ortiz born 1968 actor Irad Ortiz Jr born 1992 jockey three times winner of the Eclipse Award for best jockey in USA 2018 2019 2020 Jose Ortiz born 1993 jockey 2017 winner of the Eclipse Award for best jockey in USA Ozuna born 1993 musician singer rapperP Marian Pabon born 1957 actress singer and comedian Antonio Pantojas 1948 2017 drag queen Lana Parrilla born 1977 actress Puerto Rican father 30 Rosie Perez born 1964 actress Joaquin Phoenix born 1974 actor 31 32 Aubrey Plaza born 1984 actress Freddie Prinze Jr born 1976 actor Puerto Rican grandmother Freddie Prinze 1954 1977 comedian actor Puerto Rican mother Q Ivy Queen born 1972 singer lyricist rapper musician fashion icon one of the early founders and creators of the reggaeton style Adolfo Quinones 1955 2020 actor dancer choreographerR Anthony Ramos Luis Antonio Ramos born 1973 actor Gina Ravera born 1966 actress Carmen Belen Richardson 1930 2012 comedian actress Armando Riesco born 1977 actor Osvaldo Rios born 1960 actor and singer Chita Rivera born 1933 actress singer and dancer winner of two Tony Awards Jose Rivera born 1955 playwright first Puerto Rican nominated for an Oscar in Best Adapted Screenplay category Luis Antonio Rivera born 1930 a k a Yoyo Boing comedian Marquita Rivera 1922 2002 first Puerto Rican actress to appear in a major Hollywood motion picture Naya Rivera 1987 2020 actress 33 Puerto Rican father Ramon Rivero 1909 1956 also known as Diplo comedian organized the world s first known Walk A Thon in 1953 citation needed Adalberto Rodriguez 1934 1995 a k a Machuchal comedian Adam Rodriguez born 1975 actor Freddy Rodriguez born 1975 actor Gina Rodriguez born 1984 actress Gladys Rodriguez born 1943 comedian actress Jai Rodriguez born 1979 television personality Queer Eye for the Straight Guy Michelle Rodriguez born 1978 actress MJ Rodriguez born 1991 actress and singer Ramon Rodriguez born 1979 Marta Romero 1928 2013 actress and singer Robi Draco Rosa born 1970 singer Johanna Rosaly born 1948 actress S Zoe Saldana born 1978 actress Puerto Rican mother 34 Olga San Juan 1927 2009 film actress and dancer 35 Jaime Sanchez born 1938 actor musical West Side Story film The Wild Bunch Kiele Sanchez born 1977 actress Marcelino Sanchez 1957 1986 actor Roselyn Sanchez born 1973 actress Esther Sandoval 1927 2006 actress Renoly Santiago born 1974 actor Saundra Santiago born 1957 actress Ruben Santiago Hudson born 1956 actor and playwright Jon Seda born 1970 actor Jimmy Smits born 1955 actor Puerto Rican mother Yara Sofia born 1984 female impersonator reality television personality Luis F Soto director 36 Talisa Soto born 1967 actress model Miguel Angel Suarez 1939 2009 actor playwright stage director T Rachel Ticotin born 1958 actress Liz Torres born 1947 actress Myke Towers born 1994 musician singer Rose Troche born 1964 film television director 37 38 U Alanna Ubach born 1975 actress Puerto Rican mother V Amirah Vann born 1978 actress Puerto Rican mother 39 Joseph Vasquez 1962 1995 film director screenwriter John Velazquez born 1971 Champion jockey leading money earning jockey in the history of horse racing and inducted into Racing Hall of Fame in 2012 Nadine Velazquez born 1978 actress Lauren Velez born 1964 actress Loraine Velez born 1964 actress Christina Vidal born 1981 actress and singer Lisa Vidal born 1965 actress Juan Emilio Viguie 1891 1966 pioneer movie producer produced Romance Tropical the first Puerto Rican film with sound 40 W Peggy Walker born 1942 actress Otilio Warrington born 1944 also known as Bizcocho comedian Walter Mercado born 1932 2019 astrologer dancer telenovela actor writer Jessica Wild born 1980 female impersonator reality television personality starred on second season of RuPaul s Drag Race Holly Woodlawn 1946 2015 transgender actress and Warhol superstar 41 Z David Zayas born 1962 actor Marcos Zurinaga born 1952 film director screenwriterAdult film entertainers Edit Vanessa del Rio born 1952 adult film actress 42 Gina Lynn born 1974 adult film actress 43 Mercedes Carrera born 1982 adult film actress and blogger 44 Hosts presenters Edit Paul Bouche television host TV producer A Oscuras Pero Encendidos Mairym Monti Carlo born 1975 television host chef 45 Alfred D Herger born 1942 television host psychologist Daisy Martinez host of PBS cooking show Daisy Cooks John Melendez born 1965 once known as Stuttering John Howard Stern Show and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Rogelio Mills television host author and recording artist Eddie Miro born 1936 television host comedian hosted El Show de las 12 The 12 pm Show for over 40 years Silverio Perez born 1948 show host musician and author Antonio Sanchez born 1961 radio and television personality Alani Vazquez born 1981 also known as La La MTV veejay Luis Vigoreaux 1928 1983 created Sube Nene Sube Go up Man Go up and Pa rriba Papi Pa rriba Higher Daddy Higher Luisito Vigoreaux born 1951 hosted Sabado en Grande Big Saturday also with Roberto El Show del Mediodia The Midday Show and De Magazin Roberto Vigoreaux born 1956 hosted Parejo Doble y Triple Square Double and Triple Architects EditFor a more comprehensive list see List of Puerto Rican architects Andres Mignucci architect Jesus Eduardo Amaral 1927 2020 architect educator first director of the School of Architecture at the University of Puerto Rico Fellow of the American Institute of Architects Felix Benitez Rexach 1886 1975 architect and engineer designed the Normandie Hotel located in San Juan Puerto Rico Segundo Cardona FAIA born 1950 San Juan PR architect developer Fellow of the American Institute of Architects since 2006 46 47 Pedro Adolfo de Castro y Besosa 1895 1936 architect first Puerto Rican to graduate from an American architecture university work highlights include Casa de Espana Castillo Serralles 48 Toro Ferrer pioneering Puerto Rican architectural firm led by Osvaldo Toro FAIA and Miguel Ferrer FAIA both Fellows of the American Institute of Architects and responsible for such landmarks as the Caribe Hilton the Supreme Court the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport and the Hotel La Concha 49 Henry Klumb 1905 1984 German born architect responsible for many Puerto Rico designs from 1944 to 1984 Fellow of the American Institute of Architects 50 Andres Mignucci born 1957 architect urbanist Fellow of the American Institute of Architects Henry Klumb Award 2012 51 Antonio Miro Montilla born 1937 architect educator first architect appointed head of a government agency the Puerto Rico Public Buildings Authority 1969 to 1971 first dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus 1971 to 1978 Chancellor of the Rio Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico 1978 to 1985 52 Antonin Nechodoma 1877 1928 Czech architect working in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic at the turn of the 20th century major works include the Georgetti Mansion the Casa Korber in Miramar and Casa Roig in Humacao 53 Francisco Porrata Doria 1890 1971 designed the Ponce Cathedral Banco de Ponce and Banco Credito y Ahorro Ponceno 54 Jorge Rigau born 1953 architect educator first dean of the School of Architecture at the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico Fellow of the American Institute of Architects Blas Silva 1869 1949 creator of the Ponce Creole architectural style designed among many others the Casa de la Masacre Font Ubides House and the Subira House 55 Alfredo Wiechers Pieretti 1881 1964 early 20th century architect from Ponce designed many historical buildings now listed in the National Register of Historic Places including his own home the Wiechers Villaronga Residence in the Ponce Historic Zone which today is home to the Puerto Rico Museum of Architecture 56 Authors playwrights and poets Edit Alejandro Tapia y Rivera Nelson Denis Jose Rivera playwright A Jack Agueros 1934 2014 author playwright poet and translator 57 Quiara Alegria Hudes born 1977 author playwright wrote the book for the Broadway musical In the Heights winner of 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama her play Elliot a Soldier s Fugue was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2007 and has been performed around the country and in Romania and Brazil 58 Miguel Algarin 1941 2020 poet writer co founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe 59 Manuel A Alonso 1822 1889 poet and author considered by many to be the first Puerto Rican writer of notable importance 60 Francisco Arrivi 1915 2007 writer poet and playwright known as the father of the Puerto Rican theater 61 Rane Arroyo 1954 2010 poet playwright and scholar 62 B Pura Belpre 1899 1982 author first Puerto Rican librarian in New York City 63 Samuel Beniquez born 1971 author of the autobiographical book Tu alto precio Mi gran valor 64 Maria Bibiana Benitez 1783 1873 playwright poet 65 Alejandrina Benitez de Gautier 1819 1879 poet whose collaboration with the Aguinaldo Puertorriqueno collection of Puerto Rican poetry gave her recognition as a great poet 66 Tomas Blanco 1896 1975 writer and historian author of Prontuario Historico de Puerto Rico and El Prejuicio Racial en Puerto Rico Racial Prejudice in Puerto Rico 67 Juan Boria 1906 1995 Afro Caribbean poet also known as the Negro Verse Pharaoh known for his Afro Caribbean poetry 68 Giannina Braschi a National Endowment for the Arts Fellow author of the bestselling Spanglish classic Yo Yo Boing and United States of Banana 69 70 71 72 Julia de Burgos 1914 1953 was a poet and activist who advocated for Puerto Rican independence She was a civil rights advocate and a brilliantly intellectual poet She was an early literary trailblazer for the Nuyorican movement She defied social norms within her poetry and delved into topics such as the colonial past of her island and the effects of slavery the imperialist legacy and feminist ideology C Maria Cadilla Colon de Martinez 1884 1951 writer educator and women s rights activist 73 Zenobia Camprubi 1887 1956 writer poet Puerto Rican mother wife of Nobel Prize winning author Juan Ramon Jimenez 74 Nemesio Canales 1878 1923 essayist and poet 75 Jesus Colon 1901 1974 writer father of the Nuyorican Movement 76 Manuel Corchado y Juarbe 1840 1884 poet journalist and politician defended the abolition of slavery and the establishment of a University in Puerto Rico 77 Juan Antonio Corretjer 1908 1985 poet journalist and pro independence political activist member of the Nationalist Party who opposed United States rule in Puerto Rico 78 D Nicholas Dante 1941 1991 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning playwright who is best known for the worldwide musical hit A Chorus Line 79 Jose Antonio Davila 1898 1941 well known poet during Puerto Rico s postmodern era of poetry Virgilio Davila 1869 1943 poet considered by many to be one of Puerto Rico s greatest representatives of the modern literary era 80 Julia de Burgos 1914 1953 poet 81 Eugenio Maria de Hostos 1839 1903 wrote La Peregrinacion de Bayoan the founding text of Puerto Rican literature see also Educators and Politicians 82 83 Caridad de la Luz born 1977 a k a La Bruja poet writer actor of Boogie Rican Blvd 84 Nelson Denis born 1955 author novelist Editorial Director of El Diario La Prensa New York State Assemblyman Jaquira Diaz writer journalist 85 Abelardo Diaz Alfaro 1916 1999 writer 86 Emilio Diaz Valcarcel 1929 2015 writer 87 Sandra Maria Esteves born 1948 Nuyorican poet 88 F Hector Feliciano born 1952 author his book The Lost Museum The Nazi Conspiracy to Steal the World s Greatest Works of Art has shed light on an estimated 20 000 looted works each one is owned by a museum or a collector somewhere 89 Isabel Freire de Matos 1915 2004 writer educator and advocate of Puerto Rican independence 90 Rosario Ferre 1938 2016 writer 91 Shaggy Flores born 1973 Nuyorican writer poet African diaspora scholar founder of Voices for the Voiceless 92 Felix Franco Oppenheimer 1912 2004 poet and writer works include Contornos Imagen y vision edenica de Puerto Rico and Antologia poetica 93 G Magali Garcia Ramis born 1946 writer 94 Jose Gautier Benitez 1851 1880 leading Puerto Rican poet of the Romantic Era 95 Jose Luis Gonzalez 1926 1997 one of the most prominent writers of the 20th century particularly for his El pais de cuatro pisos 1980 96 Migene Gonzalez Wippler born 1936 new age author Santeria researcher 97 H Victor Hernandez Cruz born 1949 poet in 1969 became the first Hispanic to be published by a mainstream publishing house when Random House published his poem Snaps 98 in 1981 Life Magazine named him one of America s greatest poets 99 L Lawrence La Fountain Stokes writer author of Unas pintadas de azul Blue Fingernails 100 Enrique A Laguerre 1906 2005 writer nominated in 1998 for the Nobel Prize in literature 101 Tato Laviera 1950 2013 poet author of AmeRican 102 Eduardo Lalo writer author of Simone Georgina Lazaro born 1965 children s poet 103 Muna Lee 1895 1965 Mississippi born writer first wife of Luis Munoz Marin 104 Aurora Levins Morales born 1954 writer and poet author of Medicine Stories 1998 and Remedios Stories of Earth and Iron from the History of Puertorriquenas 1998 105 Teresita A Levy author of The History of Tobacco Cultivation in Puerto Rico 1898 1940 a study of the tobacco growing regions in the eastern and western highlands of Puerto Rico from 1898 to 1940 106 107 Luis Llorens Torres 1876 1944 poet 108 Washington Llorens 1899 1989 journalist writer linguist and scholar 109 110 Luis Lopez Nieves writer 111 M Hugo Margenat 1933 1957 poet founder of the political youth pro independence organizations Accion Juventud Independentista and Federacion de Universitarios Pro Independencia 112 Rene Marques 1919 1979 playwright wrote La Carreta The Oxcart which helped secure his reputation as a leading literary figure in Puerto Rico 113 Nemir Matos Cintron born 1949 poet novelist 114 Francisco Matos Paoli 1915 2000 poet critic and essayist nominated for the Nobel Prize in literature in 1977 a Secretary General of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party 115 Concha Melendez 1895 1983 poet writer 116 Manuel Mendez Ballester 1909 2002 writer 117 Nancy Mercado born 1959 poet playwright author of It Concerns the Madness seven theatre plays and a number of essays her work has been extensively anthologized 118 Pedro Mir 1913 2000 Poet Laureate of the Dominican Republic Puerto Rican mother 119 Nicholasa Mohr born 1938 writer her works among which is the novel Nilda tell of growing up in the Bronx and El Barrio and of the difficulties Puerto Rican women face in the United States 120 121 in 1973 became the first Hispanic woman in modern times to have her literary works published by the major commercial publishing houses has had the longest career as a creative writer for these publishing houses of any Hispanic female writer 99 Rosario Morales 1930 2011 author co author of Getting Home Alive 1986 with her daughter Aurora Levins Morales 122 N Richie Narvaez born 1965 short story writer and novelist author of Hipster Death Rattle 2019 and Noiryorican 2020 123 Mercedes Negron Munoz 1895 1973 a k a Clara Lair poet whose work dealt with the everyday struggles of the common Puerto Rican 124 O Judith Ortiz Cofer 1952 2016 poet writer and essayist in 1994 became the first Hispanic to win the O Henry Prize for her story The Latin Deli in 1996 she and illustrator Susan Guevara became the first recipients of the Pura Belpre Award for Hispanic children s literature 99 125 Micol Ostow born 1976 author of Mind Your Manners Dick and Jane and Emily Goldberg Learns to Salsa 126 P Jose Gualberto Padilla 1829 1896 a k a El Caribe poet physician journalist and politician advocate for Puerto Rico s independence was imprisoned for his role in the El Grito de Lares revolt 127 Luis Pales Matos 1898 1959 poet of Afro Caribbean themes 128 Antonio S Pedreira 1899 1939 writer and educator whose most important book was Insularismo in which he explores the meaning of being Puerto Rican 129 Pedro Pietri 1944 2004 poet playwright co founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe 130 Miguel Pinero 1946 1988 playwright writer co founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe 131 R Manuel Ramos Otero 1948 1990 writer poet 132 Evaristo Ribera Chevremont 1896 1976 poet 133 Jose Rivera born 1955 playwright first Puerto Rican screenwriter to be nominated for an Oscar 134 Marie Teresa Rios 1917 1999 author of the novel The Fifteenth Pelican which was the basis for the popular 1960s television sitcom The Flying Nun Lola Rodriguez de Tio 1843 1924 poet wrote the lyrics to the revolutionary La Borinquena Francisco Rojas Tollinchi 1911 1965 poet civic leader and journalist 135 S Luis Rafael Sanchez born 1936 novelist playwright 136 Wilfredo Santa Gomez born 1949 writer journalist 137 Esmeralda Santiago born 1948 author 138 Mayra Santos Febres born 1966 poet novelist 139 Pedro Juan Soto 1928 2002 writer novelist father of slain independence activist Carlos Soto Arrivi 140 Clemente Soto Velez 1905 1993 poet and pro independence activist member of the Nationalist Party 141 T Alejandro Tapia y Rivera 1826 1882 writer and poet the father of Puerto Rican literature 142 Piri Thomas 1928 2011 writer poet whose autobiography Down These Mean Streets was a best seller 143 Edwin Torres born 1958 Nuyorican Movement poet 144 Judge Edwin Torres born 1931 writer New York Supreme Court Justice wrote Carlito s Way 145 J L Torres born 1954 writer and poet wrote The Accidental Native 146 147 Justin Torres born 1980 writer wrote We the Animals also adapted to a film 148 U Luz Maria Umpierre born 1947 poet scholar 149 V Lourdes Vazquez born 1953 writer and poet 150 Edgardo Vega Yunque 1936 2008 novelist also known as Ed Vega 151 Irene Vilar born 1969 author and literary agent granddaughter of independence activist Lolita Lebron 152 W William Carlos Williams 1883 1963 Puerto Rican mother Modernist poet 153 X Emanuel Xavier born 1971 Puerto Rican father poet and authorZ Manuel Zeno Gandia 1855 1930 writer wrote La Charca the first Puerto Rican novel 154 Beauty queens and fashion models Edit Susie Castillo Miss USA Zuleyka Rivera Miss Universe Valeria Vazquez Latorre Miss Supranational 2018 Deborah Carthy Deu born 1966 Miss Universe 1985 Susie Castillo born 1979 Miss USA 2003 Puerto Rican mother Vanessa De Roide born 1987 Nuestra Belleza Latina 2012 Stephanie Del Valle born 1996 second Puerto Rican Miss World 2016 155 Noris Diaz La Taina born 1975 model Valerie Hernandez born 1993 Miss International 2014 Stella Diaz born 1984 fashion model Jaslene Gonzalez born 1986 fashion model winner of America s Next Top Model Cycle 8 Marisol Malaret born 1949 first Puerto Rican Miss Universe 1970 Marisol Maldonado born 1970 fashion model Melissa Marty born 1984 Nuestra Belleza Latina 2008 Wilnelia Merced born 1957 first Puerto Rican Miss World 1975 Astrid Munoz born 1974 fashion model Cynthia Olavarria born 1986 Miss Puerto Rico 2005 Aleyda Ortiz born 1988 Nuestra Belleza Latina 2014 Miriam Pabon born 1985 beauty queen first contestant in half a century to represent Puerto Rico in the Miss America pageant 156 Ada Perkins 1959 1980 Miss Puerto Rico 1978 Denise Quinones born 1980 Miss Universe 2001 Ingrid Marie Rivera born 1983 Miss Puerto Rico World 2005 Zuleyka Rivera born 1987 Miss Universe 2006 Chay Santini born 1976 fashion model Laurie Tamara Simpson born 1968 Miss International 1987 Joan Smalls born 1985 fashion model and host of MTV s series House of Style Dayanara Torres born 1974 Miss Universe 1993 Irma Nydia Vazquez 1929 2019 first Miss Puerto Rico in the Miss America pageant breaking the color barrier 1948 Valeria Vazquez Latorre born 1994 first Puerto Rican to win the Miss Supranational pageant 2018 157 Business people and industrialists Edit Jose Ramon Fernandez Marques de La Esperanza Juan Serralles industrialist founder of Destileria Serralles makers of Don Q rum Eduardo Georgetti wealthy sugar baron Carlota Alfaro born 1933 fashion designer Aida Alvarez born 1950 first Puerto Rican and first Hispanic woman to hold a sub cabinet level position in the White House Small Business Administrator 1997 2000 Jose Berrocal 1957 2000 youngest president of PR Government Development Bank annual scholarships are awarded in his memory Orlando Bravo co founder and managing partner of private equity investment firm Thoma Bravo called the first Puerto Rican born billionaire by Forbes 158 Rafael Carrion Sr 1891 1964 patriarch of one Puerto Rico s financial dynasties a founding father of Banco Popular de Puerto Rico the largest bank in Puerto Rico and the largest Hispanic bank in the United States 159 Arturo L Carrion Munoz born 1933 Former executive vice president of the Puerto Rico Bankers Association Richard Carrion born 1952 Chairman of the Board Banco Popular chairman International Olympic Committee s finance committee Kimberly Casiano born 1957 member of the Board of Directors of the Ford Motor Company Ramiro L Colon 1904 1983 first administrator of Cooperativa de Cafeteros de Puerto Rico Cafe Rico official coffee of the Vatican Francisco J Collazo born 1931 founder of COLSA Corporation a first rate provider of engineering and support services in Huntsville Alabama 160 Deirdre Connelly born 1961 President of North America Pharmaceuticals for GlaxoSmithKline member of the global Corporate Executive Team and co chairs the Portfolio Management Board along with the Chairman of Research and Development 161 Atilano Cordero Badillo born 1943 founder of Supermercados Grande Carmen Ana Culpeper former SBA Regional Director first female PR Treasury Secretary and PR Telephone Company President oscar de la Renta 1932 2014 fashion designer Puerto Rican father from Cabo Rojo Puerto Rico 162 Fernando Fernandez 1850 1940 founder of Ron del Barrilito and Alcoholado Santa Ana Jose Ramon Fernandez 1808 1883 Marques de La Esperanza the wealthiest sugar baron in Puerto Rico in the 19th century considered one of the most powerful men of the entire Spanish Caribbean 163 Antonio Luis Ferre owner of the Ferre Rangel media emporium Jaime Fonalledas born 1946 President and CEO of Empresas Fonalledas which owns Plaza Las Americas the largest shopping mall in the Caribbean and one of the top retail and entertainment venues in the world Fonalledas companies include Plaza Del Caribe Tres Monjitas Vaqueria Tres Monjitas Ganaderia Tres Monjitas and franchise Soft amp Creamy 164 Jose Juan Garcia 1940 2002 founder of Hogares Crea Eduardo Georgetti 1866 1937 agriculturist businessman philanthropist politician and sugar baron 165 Victoria Hernandez 1897 1998 music entrepreneur and businesswoman in 1927 she opened the first Latin music store in New York City one of only sixteen businesses owned by Puerto Rican migrant women sister of Rafael Hernandez Marin 166 167 Maria Elena Holly born 1932 widow of rock legend Buddy Holly owns the rights to Buddy s name image trademarks and other intellectual property Teofilo Jose Jaime Maria Le Guillou 1790 1843 a k a the Father of Vieques founder of the municipality of Vieques one of the wealthiest sugar barons in Puerto Rico 168 Ramon Lopez Irizarry 1897 1982 inventor of Coco Lopez Hector Maisonave organized 7 000 salsa concerts owned the Casa Blanca dance club managed Hector Lavoe and other salsa artists Miguel A Garcia Mendez 1902 1998 founder of Western Federal Savings Bank which later became the Westernbank Puerto Rico now defunct Gildo Masso 1926 2007 founder of Masso Enterprises and Casa s Masso Ralph Mercado 1941 2009 founder of RMM Records and music producer 169 Luis Miranda Casanas 1937 or 1938 2019 CEO of the multi state Universal insurance emporium Lisette Nieves born 1970 founder of ATREVETE Rafael Antonio Nazario born 1952 is a pianist composer and arranger and actor who is the Co founder of Guzman y Gomez an Australian licensed casual dining restaurant chain specialising in authentic Mexican dishes and other specialty items It is a franchised business with 107 restaurants in operation throughout Australia 170 171 Singapore 172 and Japan 173 The company continues to expand with new stores around Australia 174 175 176 and occasional wine writer 177 Luis D Ortiz born 1986 real estate broker and reality television personality series Million Dollar Listing New York Wilbert Parkhurst in 1921 founded Empresas La Famosa Inc a fruit processing company that by 1971 consisted of Frozen Fruits Concentrates Inc Toa Canning Co La Concentradora de Puerto Rico and Bayamon Can Company Rafael Perez Perry 1911 1978 in 1960 founded television channel 11 also known as Telecadena Perez Perry and became known as Tele Once in 1986 178 Samuel A Ramirez Sr born 1941 years President and founder of Ramirez and Co an investment banking firm on Wall Street Angel Ramos 1902 1960 founder of the Telemundo television network Gaspar Roca 1926 2007 founder of newspaper El Vocero Amaury Rivera born 1962 Chairman and CEO of Kinetics Systems Caribe 179 180 Miguel Ruiz 1856 1912 founder of Cafe Yaucono Herb Scannell born 1957 former Chairman of MTV Networks and president of Nickelodeon Juan Serralles 1845 1921 founder of Don Q rum Nina Tassler President of CBS Entertainment the highest profile Latina in network television and one of the few executives who has the power to greenlight series 181 Joseph A Unanue 1925 2013 president and CEO of Goya Foods son of the company s founder Alfonso Valdes Cobian 1890 1988 co founder of Cerveceria India Inc and the Puerto Rican winter baseball league owner of the Indios de Mayaguez Mayaguez Indians 182 Camalia Valdes born 1972 President and CEO of Cerveceria India Inc Puerto Rico s largest brewery 183 Salvador Vassallo 1942 2007 founder of Vassallo Industries Inc and subsidiaries 184 Richard Velazquez born 1973 businessman and community leader former President of NSHMBA Puerto Rico co founder and former President of NSHMBA Seattle 185 first Puerto Rican automotive designer for Porsche 186 first Puerto Rican product planner for Xbox 360 citation needed Maria Vizcarrondo De Soto born 1951 first woman and Latina to become the President and CEO of the United Way of Essex and West Hudson 187 Cartoonists Edit John Rivas David Alvarez creator of the comic strip Yenny illustrator and storyboard artist for DC Comics Looney Tunes series 188 Ricardo Alvarez Rivon creator of the comic Turey 189 Carmelo Filardi 190 191 192 Rags Morales comic book artist co creator along with Brian Augustyn of the 1990s version of Black Condor 193 George Perez Marvel and DC Comics comic book artist 194 John Rivas creator of the comic strip Bonzzo 195 Kenneth Rocafort Marvel and DC Comics comic book artist 196 Jose Vega Santana creator of the Remi comic and impersonator of Remi The Clown 197 Alex Schomburg comic book cover artist Angelo Torres Mad magazine artistCivil rights and political activists Edit Maria de las Mercedes Barbudo Jose Maldonado Roman Helen Rodriguez Trias women s rights activist and recipient of the Presidential Citizen s Medal Sylvia Mendez Arturo Alfonso Schomburg Elias Beauchamp Olga Viscal Garriga Maria de las Mercedes Barbudo 1773 1849 political activist often called the first female Puerto Rican Independentista 198 Rosario Bellber Gonzalez 1881 1948 educator social worker women s rights activist suffragist and philanthropist initiator vice president and one of the founders of the Puerto Rico Teachers Association Spanish Asociacion de Maestros de Puerto Rico Bellber is also one of the founders of the Children s Hospital of Puerto Rico Spanish Hospital del Nino de Puerto Rico 199 200 201 202 Mariana Bracetti 1825 1903 a k a Brazo de Oro Golden Arm political activist leader of the Lares s Revolutionary Council during the Grito de Lares knit the first flag of the future Republic of Puerto Rico Mathias Brugman 1811 1868 political activist leader of the Grito de Lares founded the first revolutionary committee in the City of Mayaguez his revolutionary cell was code named Capa Prieta Black Cape Maria Cadilla 1884 1951 women s rights activist one of the first women in Puerto Rico to earn a doctoral degree Luisa Capetillo 1879 1922 labor activist one of Puerto Rico s most famous labor organizers writer and an anarchist who fought for workers and women s rights Alice Cardona 1930 2011 activist and community organizer 203 Dennis Flores activist and filmmaker 204 Tito Kayak born 1958 political activist gained notoriety when a group of Vieques natives and other Puerto Ricans began protesting and squatting on U S Navy bombing zones after the 1999 death of Puerto Rican civilian and Vieques native David Sanes who was killed during a U S Navy bombing exercise 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 Sylvia del Villard 1928 1990 Afro Puerto Rican activist founder of the Afro Boricua El Coqui Theater an outspoken activist who fought for the equal rights of the Black Puerto Rican artist in 1981 she became the first and only director of the Office of Afro Puerto Rican Affairs of the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriquena Puerto Rican Institute of Culture see also Actresses Isabel Gonzalez 1882 1971 civil rights activist young Puerto Rican mother who paved the way for Puerto Ricans to be given United States citizenship 212 Lillian Lopez 1925 2005 librarian and labor activist founder of the New York Public Library South Bronx Project advocate for library and education services for Spanish speaking communities 213 oscar Lopez Rivera born 1943 pro independence activist the longest incarcerated FALN member 214 Jose Maldonado Roman 1874 1932 a k a Aguila Blanca White Eagle revolutionary 215 Rosa Martinez b 1952 and Eliana Martinez 1981 1989 AIDS activist was involved in a notable Florida court case regarding the rights of HIV children in public schools 216 Felicitas Mendez 1916 1998 nee Gomez activist with her husband in 1946 led a community battle which set an important legal precedent for ending de jure segregation in the United States see Mendez v Westminster 217 credited with paving the way for integration and the American civil rights movement 218 Ana Maria O Neill 1894 1981 women s rights activist and educator in 1929 became the first female professor in the field of commerce in the University of Puerto Rico which she taught until 1951 urged women to participate in every aspect of civic life and to defend their right to vote 219 Manuel Olivieri Sanchez 1888 civil rights activist court interpreter and a civil rights activist who led the legal battle which granted U S citizenship to Puerto Ricans living in Hawaii 220 Olivia Paoli 1855 1942 suffragist and activist who fought for the rights of women in Puerto Rico She was also the founder of the first theosophist lodge in Puerto Rico 221 222 223 224 Cesar A Perales born 1940 civil rights lawyer founder of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund now LatinoJustice PRLDEF won precedent setting lawsuits combating discrimination New York Secretary of State 225 Sylvia Rae Rivera 1951 2002 transgender activist veteran of the 1969 Stonewall riots 226 Anthony Romero born 1965 civil rights leader executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union 227 Helen Rodriguez Trias 1929 2001 physician and women s rights activist first Latina president of the American Public Health Association a founding member of the Women s Caucus of the American Public Health Association recipient of the Presidential Citizen s Medal credited with helping to expand the range of public health services for women and children in minority and low income populations in the US Central and South America Africa Asia and the Middle East 228 see also Educators and Scientists Manuel Rojas 1831 1903 Venezuelan born Puerto Rican independence leader in the El Grito de Lares revolt against Spanish colonial rule Ana Roque 1853 1933 women s rights activist educator and suffragist one of the founders of the University of Puerto Rico 229 Soraya Santiago Solla 1947 2020 transgender activist first person in Puerto Rico to change the gender designation on their birth certificate following gender reassignment surgery 230 Arturo Alfonso Schomburg 1874 1938 civil rights and pro independence activist pioneer in black history who helped raise awareness of the contributions by Afro Latin Americans and Afro Americans to society 231 Pedro Julio Serrano born 1974 human rights activist President of Puerto Rico Para Tod s which strives for inclusion of LGBT community and for social justice for all in Puerto Rico Communication Manager at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force 232 Marcos Xiorro house slave in 1821 planned and conspired to lead a slave revolt against the sugar plantation owners and the Spanish Colonial government in Puerto Rico 233 Nationalists Edit Political activists who were members of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Elias Beauchamp 1908 1936 political activist and nationalist in 1936 assassinated Elisha Francis Riggs the United States appointed police chief of Puerto Rico considered a hero by the members of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement 234 Blanca Canales 1906 1996 political activist nationalist leader who led the Jayuya Uprising in 1950 against US colonial rule of Puerto Rico Rafael Cancel Miranda 1930 2020 political activist member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party and advocate of Puerto Rican independence who attacked the United States House of Representatives in 1954 oscar Collazo 1914 1994 political activist one of two nationalists who attempted to assassinate President Harry S Truman Rosa Collazo 1904 1988 a k a Rosa Cortez Collazo political activist and treasurer of the New York City branch of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party 235 Raimundo Diaz Pacheco 1906 1950 political activist Commander in Chief of the Cadets of the Republic Cadetes de la Republica a quasi military organization and official youth organization within the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party 236 Andres Figueroa Cordero 1924 1979 political activist member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party one of four nationalists who attacked the United States House of Representatives in 1954 237 Irvin Flores Ramirez 1925 1994 political activist Nationalist leader and activist one of four nationalists who attacked the United States House of Representatives in 1954 238 Lolita Lebron 1919 2009 political activist Nationalist leader and activist the leader of four nationalists who attacked the United States House of Representatives in 1954 238 Tomas Lopez de Victoria 1911 political activist and Sub Commander of the Cadets of the Republic the captain in charge of the cadets who participated in the peaceful march which ended up as the Ponce massacre he led the Nationalists in the Arecibo revolt in the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Revolt of 1950 239 Isolina Rondon 1913 1990 political activist and Treasurer of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party one of the few witnesses of the October 24 1935 killing of four Nationalists by local police officers in Puerto Rico during a confrontation with the supporters of the Nationalist Party known as the Rio Piedras massacre 240 Hiram Rosado 1911 1936 political activist and nationalist in 1936 participated in the assassination of Elisha Francis Riggs the United States appointed police chief of Puerto Rico he and his comrade Elias Beauchamp are considered heroes by the members of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement 234 Isabel Rosado 1907 2015 political activist imprisoned multiple times 241 Vidal Santiago Diaz 1910 1982 political activist barber of Pedro Albizu Campos and uncle of the novelist Esmeralda Santiago made Puerto Rican media history when numerous police officers and National Guardsmen attacked him at his barbershop during the 1950 Nationalist Revolt this was the first time in Puerto Rican history that such an attack was transmitted via radio to the public 242 Griselio Torresola 1925 1950 political activist Nationalist who died in an attempt to assassinate President Harry S Truman in 1950 Carlos Velez Rieckehoff 1907 2005 political activist former President of the New York chapter of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party in the 1930s in the 1990s was among the pro independence activists who protested against the United States Navy s use of his birthplace Vieques as a bombing range 243 Olga Viscal Garriga 1929 1995 political activist member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party in the late 1940s became a student leader at the University of Puerto Rico and spokesperson of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party s branch in Rio Piedras 244 Clergy religion Edit Painting of Santa Rosa de Lima Painting of Alejo de Arizmendi Pre 20th century Juan Alejo de Arizmendi first Puerto Rican Roman Catholic bishop 245 Francisco Ayerra de Santa Maria priest and poet 246 St Rose of Lima Santa Rosa de Lima her father was a Puerto Rican 247 Diego de Torres Vargas first priest to write about the history of Puerto Rico 248 20th century David Andres Alvarez Velazquez second native Puerto Rican to serve as bishop of the Diocese of Puerto Rico of the Episcopal Church Luis Aponte Martinez Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of San Juan the only Puerto Rican cleric to date to be named cardinal 249 Yiye Avila Pentecostal leader Nicky Cruz former gangster turned minister Sor Isolina Ferre Aguayo Roman Catholic nun awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom sister of former governor Luis Ferre Aguayo 250 Juanita Garcia Peraza founder of the Mita religion 251 Roberto Gonzalez Nieves Archbishop of San Juan Jorge Raschke outspoken Pentecostal pastor Francisco Reus Froylan first native Puerto Rican bishop of the Episcopal Church Carlos Manuel Rodriguez Santiago beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2001 first Puerto Rican and first Caribbean born layperson to be beatified 252 21st century Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda controversial religious leader Bavi Edna Rivera 12th woman and first Hispanic woman to become a bishop of the Episcopal Church 253 Composers singers musicians and opera performers Edit Chayanne Marc Anthony singer Jose Feliciano singer and composer of Feliz Navidad Felipe Rose Village People Jim Jones rapper Bruno Mars Ricky Martin singer Melanie Martinez singer Elsa Miranda singer Yolandita Monge singer Carli Munoz pianist Nedra Talley Ruben Colon Tarrats orchestra conductor A Anuel AA born 1992 rapper and singer songwriter 254 255 Mary Ann Acevedo Rivera born 1987 singer songwriter Juan F Acosta 1890 1968 danza composer Johnny Albino 1919 2011 singer Rauw Alejandro born 1993 singer musician Rafael Alers 1903 1978 danza composer first Puerto Rican to compose a Hollywood musical score Carlos Alomar born 1951 guitarist composer arranger producer 256 Zayra Alvarez born 1974 rock singer songwriter 257 258 259 Miguel Angel Amadeo composer 260 Marc Anthony born 1968 singer Henry Arana 1921 2008 composer 261 Chucho Avellanet born 1941 singerB Bad Bunny born 1994 rapper 262 Manolo Badrena born 1952 percussionist Adrienne Bailon born 1983 singer actress songwriter part of the former girl group trio 3LW and of The Cheetah Girls Puchi Balseiro 1926 2007 composer Lloyd Banks born 1982 rapper Puerto Rican mother Ray Barretto 1929 2006 percussionist jazz and salsa leader Eddie Benitez 1956 2019 guitarist John Benitez born 1957 a k a Jellybean Benitez music producer and remixer Lucecita Benitez born 1942 a k a Lucecita singer Samuel Beniquez born 1971 music producer composer and musician Obie Bermudez born 1980 singer and composer Big Pun 1971 2000 rapper Willie Bobo 1934 1983 Latin jazz musician and bandleader This was his stage name His real name was William Correa Angela Bofill born 1954 singer Americo Boschetti born 1951 singer and composer Roy Brown born 1945 folklore singer composerC Antonio Caban Vale born 1942 a k a El Topo folklore singer composer Tego Calderon born 1972 rapper reggaeton artist Hector Campos Parsi 1922 1998 singer composer Bobby Capo 1921 1989 singer composer Nydia Caro born 1948 singer Vicente Carattini 1939 2005 singer and composer composed many of Puerto Rico s Christmas themes Joseph Cartagena born 1970 a k a Fat Joe rapper Marta Casals Istomin born 1936 cellist former President of the Manhattan School of Music Pablo Casals 1876 1973 cellist Puerto Rican mother classical musician Kevin Ceballo born 1977 salsa music singer Rafael Cepeda 1910 1996 composer a k a Patriarch of the Bomba and Plena Iris Chacon born 1950 singer and vedette Keshia Chante born 1988 R amp B and pop singer songwriter 263 Aristides Chavier Arevalo 1867 1942 pianist and composer 264 265 Jose Miguel Class 1938 2017 a k a El Gallito de Manati singer Robert Clivilles born 1964 freestyle producer founder and member of C C Music Factory 266 Javier Colon born 1978 singer and winner of the first season of U S reality series The Voice Santos Colon 1922 1998 singer 267 Willie Colon born 1950 salsa composer Ruben Colon Tarrats born 1940 band director 268 Cesar Concepcion 1909 1974 orchestra leader Ernesto Cordero born 1946 composer and classical guitarist 269 Federico A Cordero 1928 2012 composer and classical guitarist Millie Corretjer born 1974 singer She is the granddaughter of Juan Antonio Corretjer poet and a leader of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Rafael Cortijo 1928 1982 bandleader founder of Cortijo y Su Combo forerunner of El Gran Combo Jose Cosculluela born 1980 hip hop and reggaeton artist Elvis Crespo born 1971 merengue singer Tony Croatto 1940 2005 singer composer of Puerto Rican folk songs Bobby Cruz born 1937 salsa singer bandleader Joe Cuba 1931 2009 bandleader a k a The Father of the Boogaloo This is his stage name His birth name is Jose Calderon Tite Curet Alonso 1926 2003 ballad and salsa composer 270 D Christian Daniel born 1984 singer songwriter 271 Iluminado Davila Medina born 1918 cuatrista 272 Hector Delgado born 1979 a k a el Father reggaeton singer Rafael Jose Diaz born 1955 a k a Rafael Jose singer and television host Carmen Delia Dipini 1927 1998 bolero singer Edgardo Diaz born 1960 founder of the boy band Menudo 273 Braulio Dueno Colon 1854 1934 composer of Canciones Escolares Huey Dunbar born 1974 singer member of DLG Puerto Rican mother E Rafi Escudero born 1945 musician singer composer Noel Estrada 1918 1979 composer of En Mi Viejo San Juan Cano Estremera 1958 2020 singer composer and poetF Lucy Fabery 1931 2015 singer Rene Farrait born 1967 singer former member of Menudo Cheo Feliciano 1935 2014 salsa singer singer for Joe Cuba Sextet Jose Feliciano born 1945 singer composed Feliz Navidad Ruth Fernandez 1919 2012 singer Claudio Ferrer guitarist singer composer and bandleader he was equally adept at playing popular dance music and musica jibara A member of Cuarteto Marcano and Cuarteto Mayari he was known as El Mas Jibaro de Todos los Jibaros Elmer Figueroa born 1968 a k a Chayanne singer Narciso Figueroa 1906 2004 composer Pedro Flores 1894 1979 composer and bandleader Hector Fonseca born 1980 producer musician 274 Luis Fonsi born 1978 singerG Angelo Garcia born 1976 singer former member of Menudo Kany Garcia born 1982 singer songwriter Jenilca Giusti born 1981 singer songwriter actress model 275 Eddie Gomez born 1944 jazz musician and composer Tito Gomez 1948 2007 composer Kenny Dope Gonzales born 1970 producer musician member of Masters At Work 276 H Jazz Hamilton born 1965 recording artist arranger composer saxophonist producer Edward W Hardy born 1992 composer violinist violist producer and actor known for his off Broadway musical The Woodsman 277 Hex Hector born 1965 Grammy Award winning remixer and producer 278 Oscar Hernandez born 1954 salsa musician composed the musical theme for the television series Sex and the City Rafael Hernandez Marin 1891 1965 composer Giovanni Hidalgo born 1963 percussionist Lee Holdridge born 1944 television and film score composerI Rafael Ithier born 1926 musician founder of El Gran Combo orchestraJ Nicky Jam born 1981 singer songwriter Janid singer songwriter reality TV personality Orlando Javier Valle Vega a k a Chencho singer producer Carmita Jimenez 1939 2003 a k a La Dama de la Cancion singer Jim Jones rapper Born 1976 Father is Puerto RicanK Kane amp Abel rap duo Tori Kelly born 1992 singer father is half Puerto Rican 279 L La India born 1970 salsa singer Her birth name is Linda Caballero George Lamond born 1967 pop salsa singer William Landron born 1978 a k a Don Omar reggaeton singer Tito Lara 1932 1987 singer Hector Lavoe 1946 1993 salsa singer Raphy Leavitt 1948 2015 composer musical director Elizabeth le Fey singer songwriter Manny Lehman music producer DJ Lisa M born 1974 rapper Jennifer Lopez born 1969 singer both parents are Puerto Rican Johnny Lozada born 1967 singer Luis Lozada born 1971 rapper Papo Lucca born 1946 pianist Lunna born 1947 singerM Manny Manuel born 1972 singer Victor Manuelle born 1968 salsa singer Bruno Mars born 1985 singer and songwriter father is Puerto Rican 280 Ricky Martin born 1971 singer former member of Menudo 281 Angie Martinez born 1972 singer actress radio personality Ladislao Martinez 1898 1979 virtuoso cuatro player known as El Maestro Ladi Melanie Martinez born 1995 Puerto Rican Dominican singer songwriter 282 Carolyne Mas born 1955 singer songwriter musician and performer 283 Charlie Masso born 1969 singer former member of Menudo Paul Masvidal born 1971 guitarist singer and songwriter with international recording artists Cynic Maxwell born 1973 R amp B and neo soul singer Puerto Rican father Lisette Melendez born 1967 freestyle Latin pop singer Ricky Melendez born 1967 singer former member of Menudo Syesha Mercado born 1987 singer and finalist on American Idol Puerto Rican father Julia Michaels singer songwriter Mexican Puerto Rican Father 284 Luis Miguel born 1970 a k a sol de Mexico singer and songwriter Elsa Miranda 1922 2007 singer who was featured on radio and television in the United States during the Golden Age of Radio in the 1940s 285 Ismael Miranda born 1950 El Nino Bonito de la Salsa singer and composer Fania All Star Lin Manuel Miranda born 1980 Grammy Tony and MacArthur Genius Award winning composer lyricist and actor known for his Broadway musicals In the Heights and Hamilton 286 Angel Mislan 1862 1911 composer of danzas Jose Luis Monero 1921 2011 composer and band leader Yolandita Monge born 1955 singer television host and theatrical actress 287 Gilberto Monroig 1930 1996 bolero singer Glenn Monroig born 1957 composer singer sang the first rap song in Spanish Andy Montanez born 1942 salsa singer David Morales born 1962 deejay composer and music producer 288 Florencio Morales Ramos 1915 1989 a k a Ramito composer of plenas and one of the foremost singers of musica jibara composed Que Bonita Bandera which on March 19 2009 served as the wake up call for Puerto Rican astronaut Joseph M Acaba and the crew aboard the Discovery Space Shuttle 289 Mark Morales born 1960 a k a Prince Markie Dee rapper and producer Noro Morales 1911 1964 pianist composer arranger and bandleader Juan Morel Campos 1857 1896 composer of danzas uncle of Pedro Albizu Campos Carli Munoz born 1948 pianist composer arranger bandleader and producer 290 Rafael Munoz 1900 1961 orchestra leader In 1934 he composed the musical score for Romance Tropical the first Puerto Rican movie with sound and the second Spanish movie with sound in the world 291 N Ednita Nazario born 1955 singer Rafael Nazario born 1952 pianist composer and arranger and actor He has had a parallel career as chef author 175 176 and occasional wine writer 177 Joe Negroni 1940 1978 Rock and Roll Hall of Famer member of The Teenagers Tito Nieves born 1958 salsa singer his version of I Like it Like That was part of a national Burger King commercial Noelia born 1979 singer songwriter and actress Nova y Jory reggaeton duoO Tommy Olivencia 1938 2006 salsa bandleader trumpet player singer Tony Orlando born 1944 singer Puerto Rican mother Choco Orta born 1977 salsa singer Jeannie Ortega born 1986 R amp B and reggaeton singer Claudette Ortiz born 1981 singer R amp B group City High Joell Ortiz born 1980 rapper Luis Perico Ortiz born 1949 salsa singer trumpeter composer musical arranger and producer Shalim Ortiz born 1979 a k a Shalim singer actor Pedro Ortiz Davila 1912 1986 a k a Davilita bolero singer he was an advocate of Puerto Rican independence Juan Carlos Ozuna Rosado born 1992 a k a Ozuna reggaeton and Latin trap singerP Charlie Palmieri 1926 1988 pianist bandleader Eddie Palmieri born 1936 pianist composer bandleader 2013 National Endowment of Arts Jazz Master nine time Grammy Award winner Jose Enrique Pedreira 1904 1959 danza composer Angel Cuco Pena born 1948 musician composer and producer Rene Perez born 1978 singer member of Calle 13 Lourdes Perez born 1961 singer songwriter folk nueva cancion and nueva trova singer 292 Martha Pesante born 1972 a k a Ivy Queen and The Queen of Reggaeton reggaeton singer Plan B reggaeton duo Carlos Ponce born 1972 singer Rebeca Pous Del Toro born 1978 Spanish pop singer cousin of Benicio del Toro Miguel Poventud 1942 1983 a k a El Nino Prodigio de Guayama and Miguelito musician singer and composer of boleros 293 Tito Puente 1923 2000 musician composer arranger and producer a k a the King of Latin Music or the Mambo King Q Ismael Quintana 1937 2016 salsa singer lead vocalist with Eddie Palmeri s original band La Perfecta Jose Ignacio Quinton 1881 1925 pianist and composer of danzas Domingo Quinones born 1963 singer actor Luciano Quinones born 1948 danza composerR Chamaco Ramirez 1941 1983 salsa singer Val Ramos born 1958 international flamenco guitarist Richie Ray born 1945 a k a The King of Salsa singer composer Sylvia Rexach 1922 1961 singer composer Ray Reyes 1970 2021 singer member of Menudo and Proyecto M Ron Reyes born 1960 singer for Black Flag 1979 1980 Juan Rios Ovalle 1863 1928 composer of danzas musician and orchestra director 294 Gabriel Rios born 1978 musician Gerardo Rivas born 1982 salsa singer Danny Rivera born 1945 singer Ismael Rivera 1931 1987 a k a El Sonero Mayor salsa singer Jerry Rivera born 1973 salsa singer first salsa artist to perform on The Tonight Show Mon Rivera 1899 1978 trombonist and singer Tomas Rivera Morales 1927 2001 a k a Maso Rivera composer child music prodigy who composed over 1 000 instrumental compositions for the cuatro among which he treasured the waltz He is considered to be a virtuoso cuatrista Augusto Rodriguez 1904 1993 composer and chorus director founder of the choir of the University of Puerto Rico Chino Rodriguez born 1954 salsa musician trombonist composer artist manager producer talent agent founder of Oriente Music Group and Latin Music Booking Puerto Rican mother Chinese father 295 Daniel Rodriguez born 1964 former police officer turned operatic tenor Felipe Rodriguez 1926 1999 a k a La Voz singer of boleros Julito Rodriguez 1925 2013 singer and leader of one of the most important trios Lalo Rodriguez born 1958 salsa singer was part of the first two records to win the first two Latin Grammy Awards first artist to sell over one million salsa records in Spain Pellin Rodriguez 1926 1984 salsa singer member of the musical group El Gran Combo Toured with the group all over Europe and Latin America 296 He was related to Gilberto Concepcion de Gracia founder of the Partido Independentista Puertorriqueno Puerto Rican Independence Party Tito Rodriguez 1923 1973 singer and bandleader Pete El Conde Rodriguez 1933 2000 salsa singer Fania All Star Omar Rodriguez Lopez born 1975 composer and guitarist Roberto Roena born 1940 percussionist and band leader Kelis Rogers born 1979 singer and television host Chinese Puerto Rican mother Tito Rojas 1955 2020 salsa singer Ivette Roman Roberto experimental vocalist 297 Marta Romero 1928 2013 singer and actress Draco Rosa singer composer Ralphi Rosario born 1959 producer DJ musician Willie Rosario born 1930 composer timbalero bandleader Felipe Rose born 1954 singer Julita Ross 1919 1981 singer of danzas Roy Rossello born 1971 singer former member of Menudo Frankie Ruiz 1958 1998 salsa singer Maelo Ruiz born 1966 salsa singer Hilton Ruiz 1952 2006 jazz composer musicianS Jimmy Sabater Sr 1936 2012 musician three time winner of the ACE Awards 298 Fernando and Nefty Sallaberry born 1964 born 1965 singers former members of Menudo Bobby Sanabria born 1957 Latin jazz musician drummer percussionist composer arranger 8X Grammy nominee as a leader educator documentary film producer 299 Claudio Sanchez born 1978 singer lead singer lyricist and guitarist of Coheed and Cambria Jesus Maria Sanroma 1902 1984 composer first person ever to be named official pianist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra Gilberto Santa Rosa born 1962 salsa singer Daniel Santos 1916 1992 composer singer of boleros and Cuban guarachas he was an advocate of Puerto Rican independence Ray Santos 1928 2019 arranger and composer saxophonist Grammy winner The Mambo Kings 300 Romeo Santos born 1981 bachata singer former member of Aventura Puerto Rican mother 301 302 303 Adalberto Santiago born 1937 salsa singer Eddie Santiago born 1955 salsa singer Herman Santiago born 1941 rock n roll singer and Hall of Famer composed song Why Do Fools Fall in Love Marvin Santiago 1947 2004 salsa singer Dr Zoraida Santiago born 1952 singer and composer Nino Segarra born 1954 salsa singer Ray Sepulveda salsa singer Xavier Serbia born 1968 singer former member of Menudo Roberto Sierra born 1953 classical music composer famous for his Missa Latina 304 Myrta Silva 1917 1987 a k a La Gorda de Oro and Madame Chencha singer composer Arturo Somohano 1910 1977 composer symphony orchestra conductor Ivette Sosa born 1976 singer member of Eden s Crush Brenda K Starr born 1966 salsa singer Puerto Rican mother Michael Stuart born 1975 salsa singer Sweet Sensation freestyle trioT Nedra Talley born 1946 singer member of The Ronettes who were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 2007 305 Olga Tanon born 1967 singer composer Manuel Gregorio Tavarez 1843 1883 composer known as The Father of the Puerto Rican danza Gerardo Teissonniere born 1961 classical pianist and teacher Daniel Ticotin born 1969 singer and musician 306 Juan Tizol 1900 1984 jazz musician and composer extended period with Duke Ellington TKA freestyle trio Ray Toro born 1977 lead guitarist My Chemical Romance Yomo Toro 1933 2012 musician guitarist and cuatrista Manoella Torres born 1954 singer Eladio Torres born 1950 musician singer and composer 307 Nestor Torres born 1957 musician Latin Grammy Award winning preeminent flautist in the Latin jazz genre 308 Tommy Torres born 1971 singer composer musician Tony Touch born 1969 singerV Yolanda Vadiz 1959 1987 gospel singer Gary Valenciano born 1964 Filipino musician Puerto Rican mother Bobby Valentin born 1941 musician bandleader Jose Vazquez Cofresi born 1975 bandleader musician composer and producer Mario Vazquez born 1977 pop and R amp B singer 2005 American Idol contestant 309 Myrna Vazquez 1935 1975 actress and activist 310 Little Louie Vega born 1965 producer musician member of Masters At Work Tony Vega born 1957 salsa singer Lisa Velez born 1967 singer of Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam Norberto Velez born 1979 salsa singer composer producer arranger and entertainer Wilkins Velez born 1953 a k a Wilkins singer and composerW Wisin amp Yandel reggaeton duo known as El Duo de la Historia Y Yaga y Mackie reggaeton duo Daddy Yankee born Ramon Ayala born 1977 reggaeton singer Yomo born 1981 reggaeton artistZ Zabdiel de Jesus Singer Miguel Zenon born 1976 jazz saxophonist Zion y Lennox reggaeton duoOpera Edit Antonio Paoli Martina Arroyo born 1936 operatic soprano part of the first generation of black opera singers to achieve wide success 311 Justino Diaz born 1940 opera singer Pablo Elvira 1937 2000 baritone opera singer Benjamin Marcantoni operatic countertenor Ana Maria Martinez born 1971 soprano 312 Julia Migenes born 1949 soprano Amalia Paoli 1861 1941 soprano Antonio Paoli 1871 1946 tenor Melliangee Perez born 1976 opera soprano awarded Soprano of the Year by UNESCO 313 Graciela Rivera 1921 2011 soprano first Puerto Rican to sing a lead role in the Metropolitan Opera 314 Criminals and outlaws Edit Antonio Correa Cotto Pre 20th century Roberto Cofresi a k a El Pirata Cofresi Cofresi the Pirate his exploits as a pirate are part of Puerto Rico s folklore20th century Salvador Agron a k a The Capeman criminal and poet Antonio Correa Cotto bandit outlaw 315 Jose Garcia Cosme a k a Papo Cachete drug kingpin 316 Antonio Garcia Lopez a k a Tono Bicicleta outlaw Raymond Marquez a k a Spanish Raymond Harlem numbers kingpin 317 318 Isabel la Negra madam of a brothel Edsel Torres Gomez a k a Negri drug kingpin Tony Tursi mobster21st century Jose Figueroa Agosto drug kingpin 319 and porn star 320 known as the Pablo Escobar of the Caribbean Ariel Castro kidnapper 321 Jose Padilla convicted Al Qaeda operative 322 Esteban Santiago Fort Lauderdale shooter 323 Alex Trujillo drug dealer and preacher 324 Diplomats Edit Hans Hertell 20th century Adrian A Basora former U S Ambassador to the Czech Republic 325 Gabriel Guerra Mondragon former U S Ambassador to Chile Luis Guinot former U S Ambassador to Costa Rica Victor Marrero former U S Ambassador to the OAS 325 Spencer Matthews King former U S Ambassador to Guyana Edward G Miller Jr lawyer who served as Assistant Secretary of State for Inter American Affairs from 1949 to 1952 326 Teodoro Moscoso former U S Ambassador to Venezuela and head of Alliance for Progress see also Politicians Horacio Rivero Admiral Ret former U S Ambassador to Spain see also Military 21st century Mari Carmen Aponte U S Ambassador to El Salvador Cesar Benito Cabrera former U S Ambassador to Mauritius and the Seychelles Hans Hertell former U S Ambassador to the Dominican RepublicEducators Edit Rafael Cordero Eugenio Maria de Hostos Angel M Ramos Drawing of Angelo Falcon Ursula Acosta educator one of the founding members of the Sociedad Puertorriquena de Genealogia Puerto Rican Genealogical Society 327 Alfredo M Aguayo educator and writer established the first laboratory of child psychology at the University of Havana 328 Carlos Albizu Miranda psychologist educator first Hispanic educator to have a North American university renamed in his honor and one of the first Hispanics to earn a PhD in psychology in the US 329 Margot Arce de Vazquez educator founder of the department of Hispanic studies in the University of Puerto Rico Rosario Bellber Gonzalez educator social worker women s rights activist suffragist and philanthropist initiator vice president and one of the founders of the Puerto Rico Teachers Association Spanish Asociacion de Maestros de Puerto Rico Bellber is also one of the founders of the Children s Hospital of Puerto Rico Spanish Hospital del Nino de Puerto Rico 330 331 332 333 Jaime Benitez former resident commissioner longest serving chancellor and president of the University of Puerto Rico Frank Bonilla educator academic who became a leading figure in Puerto Rican studies 334 Emma Brossard professor of politics and government at the Louisiana State University and noted expert on the Venezuelan oil industry Carlos E Chardon Palacios first Puerto Rican mycologist and first Puerto Rican appointed as chancellor of the University of Puerto Rico Carlos A Chardon Lopez educator and public administrator the only Puerto Rican to serve twice as Puerto Rico Secretary of Education Edna Coll educator and author president of the Society of Puerto Rican Authors in San Juan founder of the Academy of Fine Arts in Puerto Rico 335 Celestina Cordero educator in 1820 founded the first school for girls in Puerto Rico 336 Rafael Cordero educator declared venerable in 2004 by Pope John Paul II the process for beatification is now in motion with Benedictine Fr Oscar Rivera as Procurator of the Cause citation needed Waded Cruzado first Hispanic president of Montana State University 337 Eugenio Maria de Hostos educator in Peru he helped to develop that country s educational system and spoke against the harsh treatment given to the Chinese who lived there He stayed in Chile from 1870 to 1873 During his stay there he taught at the University of Chile and gave a speech titled The Scientific Education of Women he proposed that governments permit women in their colleges soon after Chile allowed women to enter its college educational system see also Politicians and Authors Angelo Falcon political scientist author of Atlas of Stateside Puerto Ricans 2004 co editor of Boricuas in Gotham Puerto Ricans in the Making of Modern New York City 2004 Jose Ferrer Canales educator writer and activist 338 Megh R Goyal professor historian scientist father of irrigation engineering in Puerto Rico professor in agricultural and biomedical engineering at University of Puerto Rico 339 Sonia Gutierrez American educator and Hispanic rights activist principal counselor and advocate for adult students at the Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School an adult charter school in Washington D C Felix V Matos Rodriguez educator chancellor of the City University of New York 340 Concha Melendez educator writer poet Ana G Mendez educator founder of the Ana G Mendez University System Ingrid Montes educator professor of chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras 341 Antonio Miro Montilla architect educator first architect appointed head of a government agency the Puerto Rico Public Buildings Authority 1969 71 first dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus 1971 78 chancellor of the Rio Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico 1978 85 52 Antonia Pantoja educator founder of ASPIRA 342 awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom Angel Ramos educator superintendent of the Sequoia Schools for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing one of the few deaf Hispanics to earn a doctorate from Gallaudet University 343 Juan A Rivero educator founded the Dr Juan A Rivero Zoo in Mayaguez discovered numerous animal species and has written several books Havidan Rodriguez educator and scholar president of the University at Albany SUNY 2017 present 344 first Latino Hispanic President of any four year SUNY institution 345 Ana Roque educator and suffragist one of the founders of the University of Puerto Rico 346 Carlos E Santiago economist and educator chancellor of the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee 347 Ninfa Segarra New York City Council member president of the New York City Board of Education 2000 02 348 Victoria Leigh Soto educator who emerged as a hero in the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut when she hid students and died trying to protect them from alleged shooter Adam Lanza her father is Puerto Rican 349 Lolita Tizol early 1900s educator at a time when most people in Ponce as most of Puerto Rico did not know how to read and write and when teachers were paid only 50 per month even in the large cities Tizol took it upon herself to overcome all challenges to help others 350 Nilita Vientos Gaston educator first female lawyer to work for the Department of Justice of Puerto Rico defended the use of the Spanish language in the courts of Puerto Rico before the Supreme Court and won Mariano Villaronga Toro educator and public servant first commissioner of public instruction after the creation of the Estado Libre Asociado instituted the use of Spanish as the official language of instruction in the Puerto Rico public education system displacing English which had been pushed by the US appointed colonial governors 351 Governors of Puerto Rico EditSee also List of Governors of Puerto Rico Juan Ponce de Leon II Pre 20th century Juan Ponce de Leon lived with his family in Puerto Rico Spanish explorer and conquistador became the first Governor of Puerto Rico by appointment of the Spanish crown led the first European expedition to Florida which he named 352 353 his remains are buried in a crypt in the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista in San Juan Juan Ponce de Leon II first Puerto Rican acting governor 1579 20th century Luis A Ferre third elected governor of Puerto Rico 1969 1973 philanthropist who donated Museo de Arte de Ponce to the people of Puerto Rico industrialist who founded the Puerto Rico Cement Company and Ponce Cement Inc and developed Puerto Rico Iron Works into a successful foundry Rafael Hernandez Colon fourth elected governor of Puerto Rico 1973 1977 and 1985 1993 Juan Bernardo Huyke second Puerto Rican native to serve as temporary Governor of Puerto Rico in 1923 he served as interim governor between the administrations of Emmet Montgomery Reily and Horace Mann Towner 354 Luis Munoz Marin first elected governor of Puerto Rico 1949 1965 Jesus T Pinero first Puerto Rican to be named governor of the Island by a U S President 1946 1949 Carlos Romero Barcelo fifth elected governor of Puerto Rico 1977 1985 Pedro Rossello sixth elected governor of Puerto Rico 1993 2001 Roberto Sanchez Vilella second elected governor of Puerto Rico 1965 1969 21st century Anibal Acevedo Vila eighth elected governor of Puerto Rico 2005 2009 Sila Calderon seventh elected and first female governor of Puerto Rico 2001 2005 Luis Fortuno ninth elected governor of Puerto Rico 2009 2013 Alejandro Garcia Padilla tenth elected governor of Puerto Rico 2013 2017 Ricky Rossello 11th elected governor of Puerto Rico 2017 2019 Pedro Pierluisi served as de facto governor of Puerto Rico from August 2 to August 7 2019 judicially annulled Wanda Vazquez Garced 13th governor of Puerto Rico 2019 2021 Pedro Pierluisi the 14th Governor of Puerto Rico 2021 Present First Ladies of Puerto Rico Edit Further information First Ladies and Gentlemen of Puerto Rico First Lady or First Gentleman of Puerto Rico a k a Primera Dama o Primer Caballero de Puerto Rico in Spanish is the official title given by the government of Puerto Rico to the spouse of the governor of Puerto Rico or the relatives of the governor should the holder be unmarried The governor s spouse leads the Office of the First Lady or First Gentleman of Puerto Rico The position of First Lady or First Gentleman carries no official duty and receives no compensation for their service They generally oversee the administration of La Fortaleza the mansion that serves as the governor s residence and office They also organize events and civic programs and typically get involved in different charities and social causes 355 356 Conchita Dapena First Lady of Puerto Rico 1965 1966 Luisa Gandara First Lady of Puerto Rico 2005 2009 Lila Mayoral Wirshing youngest First Lady of Puerto Rico 1973 1977 1985 1992 Ines Mendoza First Lady of Puerto Rico 1949 1965 revered teacher and cultural leader Jeannette Ramos First Lady of Puerto Rico 1967 1969 Kate de Romero First Lady of Puerto Rico 1977 1985 Trustee of the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico Luce Vela First Lady of Puerto Rico 2009 2013 Wilma Pastrana First Lady of Puerto Rico 2013 2017 Beatriz Areizaga First Lady of Puerto Rico 2017 2019 Irma Margarita Maga Nevares First Lady of Puerto Rico 1993 2001 First Gentleman of Puerto Rico Edit Jorge Diaz Reveron First Gentleman of Puerto Rico August 7 2019 2021 married to Governor Wanda Vazquez Garced Historians Edit Salvador Brau Tony Santiago Rodriguez a k a Tony the Marine Santiago Inigo Abbad y Lasierra first historian Spanish to extensively document Puerto Rico s history nationality and culture Delma S Arrigoitia historian author first person in the University of Puerto Rico to earn a master s degree in the field of history in 2010 her book Puerto Rico Por Encima de Todo Vida y Obra de Antonio R Barcelo 1868 1938 was recognized among the best in the category of research and criticism and awarded a first place prize by the Ateneo Puertorriqueno 357 failed verification Pilar Barbosa University of Puerto Rico professor author first modern day Official Historian of Puerto Rico Salvador Brau historian first Official Historian of Puerto Rico Cayetano Coll y Toste historian best known for his classic work Boletin Historico de Puerto Rico Adolfo de Hostos historian Luis Gonzalez Vale historian Francisco Lluch Mora known for his legendary book Origenes y Fundacion de Ponce y Otras Noticias Relativas a su Desarrollo Urbano Demografico y Cultural Siglos XVI XIX 358 Eduardo Neumann Gandia historian known for his 19th century History of Ponce 359 Francisco Mariano Quinones historian first Official Historian of Puerto Rico 360 Antonio Mirabal historian poet and writer Andres Ramos Mattei historian 361 Tony Santiago military historian 362 Journalists Edit Geraldo Rivera Veronica Cintron Award Winning primetime solo anchor 363 Jose Julian Acosta journalist and advocate of the abolition of slavery Jose Andino y Amezquita first Puerto Rican journalist 364 Maria Celeste Arraras anchor for Al Rojo Vivo 365 Isabel Cuchi Coll journalist and author granddaughter of Cayetano Coll y Toste and niece of Jose Coll y Cuchi served as Director of the Sociedad de Autores Puertorriquenos 335 Lynda Baquero reporter WNBC in New York City 366 Barbara Bermudo journalist co host of Univision s Primer Impacto 367 Marysol Castro co host of ABC s Good Morning America 368 Antonio Corton late 19th century writer journalist literary critic and editor of newspaper in Barcelona Spain He wrote Las Antillas and the biography of Jose de Espronceda a 19th century poet 369 Christopher Crommett Atlanta based Executive Vice President of CNN en Espanol Carmen Dominicci co host of Univision s Primer Impacto Malin Falu Spanish language radio and television host 370 Manuel Fernandez Juncos journalist and short story writer lyricist who wrote the lyrics to La Borinquena Juan Gonzalez New York City investigative journalist Anibal Gonzalez Irizarry former newscaster for Telenoticias en accion Jackie Guerrido journalist and meteorologist for Univision s Despierta America Kimberly Guilfoyle Court TV journalist former First Lady of San Francisco Puerto Rican mother 371 Cesar Andreu Iglesias founding editor of Claridad newspaper novelist independence activist Carmen Jovet journalist first Puerto Rican woman named a news anchor in Puerto Rico 372 Michele LaFountain anchor for the Spanish version of ESPN Sports Center 373 Alycia Lane journalist and news anchor on KYW TV in Philadelphia 374 Lynda Lopez New York City television news personality sister of Jennifer Lopez 375 Natalie Morales journalist and news anchor on NBC s The Today Show 376 Denisse Oller Emmy Award winning New York City television news anchor 377 Audrey Puente New York City meteorologist daughter of Tito Puente Carlos D Ramirez publisher of El Diario La Prensa New York City s largest Spanish language newspaper 378 Jorge L Ramos Emmy Award winning New York City television news anchor 379 Geraldo Rivera attorney journalist writer reporter and former talk show host hosts the newsmagazine program Geraldo at Large and appears regularly on Fox News Channel 380 Darlene Rodriguez New York City television news anchor 381 Ruben Sanchez radio and television journalist 382 Edna Schmidt anchor for Telefutura 383 Ray Suarez Senior Correspondent for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer 384 Guillermo Jose Torres journalist and news anchor for WAPA TV Elizabeth Vargas television journalist former co anchor of ABC World News Tonight 385 Antonio Velez Alvarado journalist father of the Puerto Rican flag 386 Jane Velez Mitchell anchor for the HLN news network Puerto Rican mother 387 Judges law enforcement and firefighters EditJudges Sonia Sotomayor Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court Cathy Bissoon judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania first Hispanic female Article III judge in Pennsylvania 388 Jose Andreu Garcia former PR Chief Justice and sports official Jose A Cabranes 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals Judge first Puerto Rican to serve as a federal judge in the continental United States Albert Diaz Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit first Puerto Rican and first Hispanic Judge to serve the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals former Appellate Judge for the Navy Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals Luis Estrella Martinez youngest associate justice at 39 of the current 9 member Puerto Rico Supreme Court Julio M Fuentes Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit first Puerto Rican and first Hispanic judge to serve the Third Circuit Court of Appeals Gustavo Gelpi Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico 2006 present Angel G Hermida Superior Court Judge Commonwealth of Puerto Rico 1976 1997 visiting professor in Comparative Law at Boston University 1984 Chief Clerk of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico 1974 1976 Physics professor at the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus 1964 1966 author of MIRIAM J RAMIREZ DE FERRER Recurrente Vs JUAN MARI BRAS which decided that citizens of Puerto Rico have a right to vote in Puerto Rican elections whether or not they are citizens of the United States 389 Federico Hernandez Denton former Chief Justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court Puerto Rico s first Consumer Affairs Secretary Dora Irizarry Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York first female Hispanic state judge in New York Erick Kolthoff Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico first Puerto Rican of African descent to be named Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico 390 Victor Marrero Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York 391 Maite Oronoz Rodriguez first openly LGBTQ female Chief Justice in United States history the third woman to preside the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico and the youngest person to do so 392 Nitza Quinones Alejandro Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania first lesbian Latina ever to be nominated by a U S president in this case President Obama to serve as a federal judge 393 Roberto Rivera Soto first Puerto Rican and Latino New Jersey State Supreme Court Justice Clemente Ruiz Nazario first Puerto Rican U S Federal Judge of Puerto Rico Vanessa Ruiz Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals the highest court for the District of Columbia A Cecil Snyder controversial Chief Justice and U S attorney in Puerto Rico Sonia Sotomayor first Puerto Rican woman to serve as an 2nd Cir U S Circuit Court of Appeals judge and first Hispanic to be nominated and confirmed as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Juan R Torruella first Puerto Rican to serve as Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit Edgardo Ramos United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York since 2011 Jose Trias Monge former Chief Justice Attorney General of Puerto Rico author Carmen Consuelo Cerezo first female Puerto Rican federal district judge and Chief Judge Marilyn Zayas first Latina and Puerto Rican judge elected to an Ohio State Court of Appeals 394 395 396 Laws in the U S inspired by Puerto Ricans Briana s Law Briana Ojeda was an 11 year old girl who died in the summer of 2010 when a police officer did not perform CPR on her after she suffered from an asthma attack Briana s Law which requires that every police officer and member of the State Police including police officer trainees and state police cadets receive CPR training prior to employment as well as during employment every two years was named in her honor 397 Gonzales v Williams Isabel Gonzalez was a Puerto Rican activist who helped pave the way for Puerto Ricans to be given United States citizenship Gonzalez challenged the Government of the United States in the groundbreaking case Gonzales v Williams 192 U S 1 1904 Her Supreme Court case is the first time that the Court confronted the citizenship status of inhabitants of territories acquired by the United States Gonzalez actively pursued the cause of U S citizenship for all Puerto Ricans by writing letters published in The New York Times 398 Mendez v Westminster Felicitas Gomez Mendez was a pioneer of the American civil rights movement In 1946 Mendez and her husband led an educational civil rights battle that changed California and set an important legal precedent for ending de jure segregation in the United States Their landmark desegregation case known as Mendez v Westminster paved the way for meaningful integration public school reform and the American civil rights movement 399 218 Law enforcement Nick Estavillo Nicholas Estavillo NYPD Chief of Patrol Ret in 2002 became first Puerto Rican and first Hispanic in the history of the NYPD to reach the three star rank of Chief of Patrol 400 Faith Evans Hawaiian Puerto Rican first woman to be named U S Marshal 401 Alejandro Gonzalez Malave controversial undercover police officer Irma Lozada New York City transit police first female police officer to die in the line of duty in New York City 402 Jose Melendez Perez INS officer who was named in 9 11 Commission Report denied entry to terrorist in August 2001 403 Benito Romano United States Attorney in New York first Puerto Rican to hold the United States Attorney s post in New York on an interim basis 404 Joe Sanchez former New York City police officer and author whose books give an insight as to the corruption within the department 405 Pedro Toledo retired FBI senior agent and longest serving state police superintendent Alex Villanueva Los Angeles County Sheriff 406 Firefighters Raul Gandara Cartagena first and longest serving Commonwealth fire chief in Puerto Rico 1942 1972 407 Carlos M Rivera former Fire Commissioner of the City of New York first Hispanic commissioner in the New York City Fire Department s 127 year history 408 Military Edit Miguel Enriquez Demetrio O Daly Antonio Valero de Bernabe Manuel Rojas Augusto Rodriguez Juan Rius Rivera Jose Semidei Rodriguez Angel Rivero Mendez Luis R Esteves Teofilo Marxuach Fernando E Rodriguez Vargas Mihiel Gilormini Frederick Lois Riefkohl Joseph B Aviles Sr Carmen Dumler Virgil R Miller Pedro del Valle Agustin Ramos Calero Marion Frederic Ramirez de Arellano Carmen Contreras Bozak Jose Antonio Muniz Modesto Cartagena Rose Franco Fernando Luis Garcia Horacio Rivero Jr Carlos James Lozada Antonio Maldonado Angel Mendez Hector Andres Negroni Hector Santiago Colon Jorge Otero Barreto Humbert Roque Rocky Versace Euripides Rubio Lizbeth Robles Frances M Vega Rafael O Ferrall Maritza Saenz Ryan Brigadier General Marta Carcana Brigadier General Irene M Zoppi 16th century Agueybana II Cacique of Boriken Puerto Rico led the Tainos in the fight against Juan Ponce de Leon and the conquistadores in the Taino Rebellion of 1511 409 17th century Juan de Amezqueta Captain Puerto Rican Militia defeated Captain Balduino Enrico Boudewijn Hendricksz who in 1625 was ordered by the Dutch to capture Puerto Rico 410 18th century Rafael Conti Colonel Spanish Army in 1790 captured 11 enemy ships involved in smuggling stolen goods In 1797 he helped defeat Sir Ralph Abercromby and defend Puerto Rico from a British invasion in his hometown Aguadilla In 1809 he organized a military expedition fight with the aim of returning Hispaniola which now comprise the nations of the Dominican Republic and Haiti back to Spanish rule 411 Antonio de los Reyes Correa Captain Spanish Army Puerto Rican hero who defended the town Arecibo in 1702 from an invasion by defeating the British was awarded La Medalla de Oro de la Real Efigie The Gold Medal of the Royal Image by King Philip V of Spain and given the title Captain of Infantry 412 Jose and Francisco Diaz Sergeants Puerto Rican militia cousins in the Toa Baja Militia who helped defeat Sir Ralph Abercromby and defend Puerto Rico from a British invasion in 1797 413 Miguel Henriquez Captain Spanish Navy in 1713 defeated the British in Vieques and was awarded the La Medalla de Oro de la Real Efigie The Gold Medal of the Royal Effigy 414 19th century Ramon Acha Caamano Brigadier General Spanish Army defended the city of San Juan against the U S attack of Puerto Rico during the Spanish American War awarded the Cruz de la Orden de Merito Naval 1ra clase The Cross of the Order of the Naval Merit 1st class by the Spanish government for his role in the rescue of the cargo of the Spanish transoceanic steamer SS Antonio Lopez 415 Juan Alonso Zayas 2nd Lieutenant Spanish Army commander of the 2nd Expeditionary Battalion of the Spanish Army stationed in Baler which fought in the Siege of Baler in the Philippines 416 Francisco Gonzalo Marin Lieutenant Cuban Liberation Army considered by many as the designer of the Puerto Rican flag a poet and journalist fought alongside Jose Marti for Cuba s independence 417 Demetrio O Daly first Puerto Rican to reach the rank of Field Marshal in the Spanish Army first Puerto Rican to be awarded the Cruz Laureada de San Fernando Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand Spain s version of the Medal of Honor elected as delegate to the Spanish Courts in representation of Puerto Rico 418 Luis Padial Brigadier General Spanish Army in 1863 his battalion was deployed with the intention of squashing a pro independence rebellion in the Dominican Republic in which he was wounded played an essential role in the abolishment of slavery in Puerto Rico Ramon Power y Giralt Captain Spanish Navy distinguished naval officer who from 1808 to 1809 led the defense of the Spanish Colony of Santo Domingo Dominican Republic against an invasion from Napoleon s French forces by enforcing a blockade in support of the Spanish ground troops 419 Angel Rivero Mendez Captain Spanish Army fired the first shot against the United States in the Spanish American War in Puerto Rico later invented Kola Champagne a soft drink 420 Juan Rius Rivera Commander in Chief of the Cuban Liberation Army fought in El Grito de Lares under the command of Mathias Brugman fought in Cuba s Ten Years War 1868 1878 against Spain under the command of General Maximo Gomez and became the General of the Cuban Liberation Army of the West upon the death of General Antonio Maceo Grajales 421 Augusto Rodriguez Lieutenant United States Union Army member of the 15th Connecticut Regiment a k a Lyon Regiment served in the defenses of Washington D C led his men in the Battles of Fredericksburg and Wyse Fork in the American Civil War 422 Manuel Rojas Commander in Chief of the Puerto Rican Liberation Army on September 28 1868 he led 800 men and women in a revolt against Spanish rule and took the town of Lares in the Grito de Lares 423 Jose Semidei Rodriguez Brigadier General Cuban Liberation Army fought in Cuba s War of Independence 1895 1898 after Cuba gained its independence he continued to serve there as a diplomat 424 Antonio Valero de Bernabe Brigadier General in the Latin American wars of independence fought against the forces of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Siege of Saragossa joined the Mexican Revolutionary Army headed by Agustin de Iturbide and was named Chief of Staff successfully fought for Mexico s independence from Spain fought alongside Simon Bolivar and helped liberate South America from Spanish Colonial rule known as the Puerto Rican Liberator 425 20th century Ricardo Aponte Brigadier General U S Air Force fighter pilot in F 111s politico military affairs former Director of the Innovation and Experimentation Directorate United States Southern Command first Puerto Rican to hold this position 426 Janet Alvarez Gonzalez Major Public Affairs Officer Texas Military Forces first Puerto Rican to receive the Texas Medal of Merit for Outstanding Service to the Texas Military Forces awarded 2010 in Camp Mabry Austin Texas 427 Felix Arenas Gaspar Captain Spanish Army posthumously awarded the Cruz Laureada de San Fernando Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand Spain s version of the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Rif War 428 Joseph Jose B Aviles Sr CWO2 U S Coast Guard on September 28 1925 became the first Hispanic Chief Petty Officer in the United States Coast Guard during World War II received a wartime promotion to Chief Warrant Officer becoming the first Hispanic to reach that level as well 429 Rafael Celestino Benitez Rear Admiral U S Navy a highly decorated submarine commander who led the rescue effort of the crew members of the USS Cochino which was involved in the first American undersea spy mission of the Cold War 430 Carlos Betances Ramirez Colonel U S Army first Puerto Rican to command a battalion in the Korean War in 1952 he assumed the command of the 2nd Battalion 65th Infantry Regiment 431 Jose M Cabanillas Rear Admiral U S Navy in World War II he was Executive Officer of the USS Texas BB 35 and participated in the invasions of Africa and Normandy D Day 432 Richard Carmona Vice Admiral Public Health Service Commissioned Corps served as the 17th Surgeon General of the United States under President George W Bush 433 Modesto Cartagena Sergeant First Class U S Army the most decorated Hispanic soldier in history distinguished himself in combat during the Korean War as a member of Puerto Rico s 65th Infantry and is being considered for the Medal of Honor 434 Carlos Fernando Chardon Major General Puerto Rico National Guard Secretary of State of Puerto Rico 1969 73 Puerto Rico Adjutant General 1973 75 435 Felix M Conde Falcon Staff Sergeant U S Army received the Medal of Honor posthumously on March 18 2014 for his courageous actions while serving as an acting Platoon Leader in Company D 1st Battalion 505th Infantry Regiment 3d Brigade 82d Airborne Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Ap Tan Hoa Republic of Vietnam on April 4 1969 436 Carmen Contreras Bozak Tech4 U S Women s Army Corps first Hispanic to serve in the U S Women s Army Corps served as an interpreter and in numerous administrative positions during World War II 437 Virgilio N Cordero Jr Brigadier General U S Army a Battalion Commander of the 31st Infantry Regiment who documented his experiences as a prisoner of war and his participation in the infamous Bataan Death March of World War II 438 Juan Cesar Cordero Davila Major General U S Army commanding officer of the 65th Infantry Regiment during the Korean War thus becoming one of the highest ranking ethnic officers in the Army 439 Encarnacion Correa Sergeant U S Army the person who fired the first warning shots in World War I on behalf of the United States against a ship flying the colors of the Central Powers when on March 21 1915 under the orders of then Lieutenant Teofilo Marxuach he manned a machine gun and opened fire on the Odenwald an armed German supply ship trying to force its way out of the San Juan Bay 440 Ruben A Cubero Brigadier General U S Air Force of Puerto Rican descent highly decorated member of the United States Air Force in 1991 became the first Hispanic graduate of the United States Air Force Academy to be named Dean of the Faculty of the Academy 441 Pedro del Valle Lieutenant General U S Marine Corps first Hispanic three star Marine general his military career included service in World War I Haiti and Nicaragua during the so called Banana Wars of the 1920s and in the seizure of Guadalcanal and later as Commanding General of the U S 1st Marine Division during World War II played an instrumental role in the defeat of the Japanese forces in Okinawa 442 Carmelo Delgado Delgado Lieutenant Abraham Lincoln International Brigade first Puerto Rican and one of the first U S citizens to fight and to die in the Spanish Civil War against General Francisco Franco and the Spanish Nationalists 443 Alberto Diaz Jr Rear Admiral U S Navy first Hispanic to become the Director of the San Diego Naval Medical District 444 Luis R Esteves Major General U S Army in 1915 became the first Puerto Rican and therefore the first Hispanic to graduate from the United States Military Academy organized the Puerto Rican National Guard 445 Salvador E Felices Major General U S Air Force first Puerto Rican general in the U S Air Force in 1953 he flew in 19 combat missions over North Korea during the Korean War in 1957 he participated in a historic project that was given to Fifteenth Air Force by the Strategic Air Command headquarters known as Operation Power Flite the first around the world non stop flight by all jet aircraft 446 Michelle Fraley nee Hernandez Colonel U S Army became in 1984 the first Puerto Rican woman to graduate from West Point Military Academy former chief of staff of the Army Network Enterprise Technology Command 447 448 Rose Franco CWO3 U S Marine Corps first female Hispanic Chief Warrant Officer in the Marine Corps in 1965 was named Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy Paul Henry Nitze by the administration of President Lyndon B Johnson 449 Edmund Ernest Garcia Rear Admiral U S Navy during World War II he was commander of the destroyer USS Sloat DE 245 and saw action in the invasions of Africa Sicily and France 450 Fernando Luis Garcia Private First Class U S Marine Corps first Puerto Rican awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously awarded the medal for his actions against enemy aggressor forces in the Korean War on September 5 1952 451 Linda Garcia Cubero Captain U S Air Force of Mexican Puerto Rican heritage in 1980 became the first female Hispanic graduate of any of the U S military academies when she graduated from the United States Air Force Academy 452 Carmen Garcia Rosado Private First Class U S Women s Army Corps was among the first 200 Puerto Rican women to be recruited into the WAC s during World War II author of Las WACS Participacion de la Mujer Boricua en la Segunda Guerra Mundial The WACs The participation of the Puerto Rican women in the Second World War the first book which documents the experiences of the first 200 Puerto Rican women to participate in said conflict as members of the armed forces of the United States 453 Mihiel Gilormini Brigadier General U S Air Force World War II hero recipient of 5 Distinguished Flying Crosses together with Brig General Alberto A Nido and Lt Col Jose Antonio Muniz founded the Puerto Rico Air National Guard previously flew for the Royal Canadian Air Force 1941 and the Royal Air Force 1941 1942 454 Manuel Goded Llopis General Spanish Army a Puerto Rican in the Spanish Army one of the first generales to join General Francisco Franco in the revolt against the Spanish Republican government also known as Spanish loyalists in the Spanish Civil War previously distinguished himself in the Battle of Alhucemas of the Rif War 455 Cesar Luis Gonzalez First Lieutenant U S Army Air Force first Puerto Rican pilot in the United States Army Air Force first Puerto Rican pilot to die in World War II 456 Diego E Hernandez Vice Admiral U S Navy first Hispanic to be named Vice Commander North American Aerospace Defense Command flew two combat tours in Vietnam during the Vietnam War in 1980 took command of the aircraft carrier USS John F Kennedy CV 67 457 Haydee Javier Kimmich Captain U S Navy highest ranking Hispanic female in the Navy Chief of Orthopedics at the Navy Medical Center in Bethesda and she reorganized Reservist Department of the medical center during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm 458 Orlando Llenza Major General U S Air Force second Puerto Rican to reach the rank of Major General two star General in the United States Air Force Adjutant General of the Puerto Rico National Guard 459 Carlos Lozada Private First Class U S Army posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 20 1967 at Dak To in the Republic of Vietnam 460 Carmen Lozano Dumler 2nd Lieutenant U S Women s Army Corps one of the first Puerto Rican women Army officers in 1944 she was sworn in as a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to the 161st General Hospital in San Juan 458 Antonio Maldonado Brigadier General U S Air Force in 1965 became the youngest person to pilot a B 52 aircraft his active participation in the Vietnam War included 183 air combat missions 461 Joseph Jose R Martinez Private First Class U S Army destroyed a German Infantry unit and tank in Tuniz by providing heavy artillery fire saving his platoon from being attacked in the process received the Distinguished Service Cross from General George S Patton becoming the first Puerto Rican recipient of said military decoration 462 Lester Martinez Lopez MPH Major General U S Army first Hispanic to head the Army Medical and Research Command 463 Gilberto Jose Marxuach Colonel U S Army 464 Teofilo Marxuach Lieutenant Colonel U S Army fired a hostile shot from a cannon located at the Santa Rosa battery of El Morro fort in what is considered to be the first shot of World War I fired by the regular armed forces of the United States against any ship flying the colors of the Central Powers 465 forcing the Odenwald to stop and to return to port where its supplies were confiscated 466 George E Mayer Rear Admiral U S Navy first Hispanic Commander of the Naval Safety Center led an international naval exercise known as Baltic Operations BALTOPS 2003 from his flagship the USS Vella Gulf CG 72 this was the first time in the 31 year history of BALTOPS that the exercise included combined ground troops from Russia Poland Denmark and the United States 467 Angel Mendez Sergeant U S Marine Corps of Puerto Rican descent was awarded the Navy Cross in Vietnam and is being considered for the Medal of Honor saved the life of his lieutenant Ronald D Castille who went on to become the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania 468 Enrique Mendez Jr Major General U S Army first Puerto Rican to assume the positions of Army Deputy Surgeon General Commander of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs 469 Virgil R Miller Colonel U S Army Regimental Commander of the 442d Regimental Combat Team RCT a unit which was composed of Nisei second generation Americans of Japanese descent during World War II led the 442nd in its rescue of the Lost Texas Battalion of the 36th Infantry Division in the forests of the Vosges Mountains in northeastern France 470 Jose Antonio Muniz Lieutenant Colonel U S Air Force together with then Colonels Alberto A Nido and Mihiel Gilormini founded the Puerto Rico Air National Guard in 1963 the Air National Guard Base at the San Juan International airport in Puerto Rico was renamed Muniz Air National Guard Base in his honor 471 William A Navas Jr Major General U S Army first Puerto Rican named Assistant Secretary of the Navy a veteran of the Vietnam War nominated in 2001 by President George W Bush to serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy Manpower and Reserve Affairs 472 Juan E Negron Master Sergeant U S Army received the Medal of Honor posthumously on March 18 2014 for courageous actions while serving as a member of Company L 65th Infantry Regiment 3d Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Kalma Eri Korea on April 28 1951 436 Hector Andres Negroni Colonel U S Air Force first Puerto Rican graduate of the United States Air Force Academy a veteran of the Vietnam War was awarded the Aeronautical Merit Cross Spai ns highest Air Force peacetime award for his contributions to the successful implementation of the United States Spain Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation 473 Alberto A Nido Brigadier General U S Air Force a World War II war hero who together with Lt Col Jose Antonio Muniz co founded the Puerto Rico Air National Guard and served as its commander for many years served in the Royal Canadian Air Force the British Royal Air Force and in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II 474 Jorge Otero Barreto Sergeant First Class U S Army with 38 decorations which includes 3 Silver Star Medals 5 Bronze Star Medals with Valor 4 Army Commendation medals 5 Purple Heart Medals and 5 Air Medals has been called the most decorated U S soldier of the Vietnam War 475 Dolores Pinero U S Army Medical Corps despite the fact that she was not an active member of the military she was the first Puerto Rican woman doctor to serve in the Army under contract during World War I at first she was turned down but after writing a letter to the Army Surgeon General in Washington D C she was ordered to report to Camp Las Casas in Santurce Puerto Rico in October 1918 she signed her contract with the Army 476 Jose M Portela Brigadier General U S Air Force served in the position of Assistant Adjutant General for Air while also serving as commander of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard in 1972 became the youngest C 141 Starlifter aircraft commander and captain at age 22 the only reservist ever to serve as director of mobility forces for Bosnia 477 Marion Frederic Ramirez de Arellano Captain U S Navy first Hispanic submarine commander awarded two Silver Stars and a Bronze Star for his actions against the Japanese Imperial Navy during World War II 478 479 Antonio J Ramos Brigadier General U S Air Force first Hispanic to serve as commander Air Force Security Assistance Center Air Force Materiel Command and dual hatted as Assistant to the Commander for International Affairs Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command 480 Agustin Ramos Calero Sergeant First Class U S Army with 22 military decorations was the most decorated soldier in all of the United States during World War II 431 Fernando L Ribas Dominicci Major U S Air Force one of the pilots who participated in the Libyan air raid as member of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing his F 111F was shot down in action over the disputed Gulf of Sidra off the Libyan coast Ribas Dominicci and his weapons systems officer Capt Paul Lorence were the only U S casualties of Operation El Dorado Canyon 481 Frederick Lois Riefkohl Rear Admiral U S Navy born Luis Federico Riefkohl Jaimieson one of the first Puerto Ricans to graduate from the United States Naval Academy in World War I became the first Puerto Rican to be awarded the Navy Cross 482 Rudolph W Riefkohl Colonel U S Army played an instrumental role in helping the people of Poland overcome the 1919 typhus epidemic 483 Demensio Rivera Private U S Army received the Medal of Honor posthumously on March 18 2014 for his courageous actions while serving as an automatic rifleman with 2d Platoon Company G 7th Infantry Regiment 3d Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Changyong ni Korea on May 23 1951 436 Manuel Rivera Jr Captain U S Marine Corps of Puerto Rican descent first U S serviceman to die in Operation Desert Shield 484 Pedro N Rivera Brigadier General U S Air Force in 1994 became the first Hispanic to be named medical commander in the Air Force responsible for the provision of health care to more than 50 000 patients 485 Horacio Rivero Admiral U S Navy in 1964 became the first Puerto Rican and second Hispanic Admiral four star in the U S Navy participated in World War II Korean War and Vietnam War commander in 1962 of the American fleet sent by President John F Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis to set up a quarantine blockade of the Soviet ships in an effort to stop the Cold War from escalating into World War III 486 487 Pedro Rodriguez Master Sergeant U S Army member of Puerto Rico s 65th Infantry earned two Silver Stars within a seven day period during the Korean War 488 Antonio Rodriguez Balinas Brigadier General U S Army first commander of the Office of the First U S Army Deputy Command during the Korean War he fought with Puerto Rico s 65th Infantry Regiment and was awarded the Silver Star 489 Fernando E Rodriguez Vargas Major U S Army odontologist dentist scientist and a Major in the U S Army who in 1921 discovered the bacteria which causes dental caries 490 491 Euripides Rubio Captain U S Army posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Tay Ninh Province in the Republic of Vietnam on November 8 1966 492 Hector Santiago Colon Specialist Four U S Army posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Quảng Trị Province Vietnam as member of Company B of the 5th Battalion 7th Cavalry 1st Cavalry Division 493 Antulio Segarra Colonel U S Army in 1943 became the first Puerto Rican Regular Army officer to command a Regular Army Regiment when he assumed the command of Puerto Rico s 65th Infantry Regiment which was conducting security missions in the jungles of Panama 494 Miguel A Vera Private U S Army was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as an automatic rifleman with Company F 38th Infantry Regiment 2d Infantry Division in Chorwon Korea on September 21 1952 436 Humbert Roque Versace Captain U S Army of Italian and Puerto Rican descent posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions while a prisoner of war POW during the Vietnam War first member of the U S Army to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions performed in Southeast Asia while in captivity 495 Raul G Villaronga Colonel U S Army first Puerto Rican to be elected as Mayor of a Texas city Killeen 496 21st century Marta Carcana Major General U S Army in 2015 became the first woman to be named Adjutant General of the Puerto Rican National Guard 497 Ivan Castro Captain U S Army of Puerto Rican descent one of three blind active duty officers who serves in the US Army the only blind officer serving in the United States Army Special Forces 498 Hilda I Ortiz Clayton Specialist U S Army was a combat photographer killed in 2013 when a mortar exploded during an Afghan training exercise she was able to photograph the explosion that killed her and four Afghan soldiers The 55th Signal Company named their annual competitive award for combat camera work The Spc Hilda I Clayton Best Combat Camera COMCAM Competition in her honor 499 500 Ramon Colon Lopez Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman U S Air Force a pararescueman on June 13 2007 was the first and only Hispanic among the first six airmen to be awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal Commandant of the Pararescue and Combat Rescue Officer School 501 Olga E Custodio Lieutenant Colonel U S Air Force first female Hispanic U S military pilot first Latina to complete U S Air Force military pilot training after retiring became the first Latina commercial airline captain 502 Emilio Diaz Colon Major General U S Army PRNG first Superintendent of the Puerto Rican Police served as the Adjutant General of the Puerto Rican National Guard 503 504 Rafael O Ferrall Brigadier General U S Army first Hispanic and person of Puerto Rican descent to become the Deputy Commanding General for the Joint Task Force at Guantanamo Cuba while simultaneously serving as Assistant Adjutant General Army and Deputy Commanding General of the Joint Force Headquarters at San Juan Puerto Rico 505 Maria Ines Ortiz Captain U S Army of Puerto Rican descent first United States Army nurse to die in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom and the first to die in combat since the Vietnam War Hector E Pagan Brigadier General U S Army first Hispanic of Puerto Rican descent to become Deputy Commanding General of the U S Army John F Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg North Carolina 506 Maritza Saenz Ryan Colonel U S Army of Puerto Ricana and Spanish descent head of the Department of Law at the United States Military Academy first woman and first Hispanic Puerto Rican and Spanish heritage West Point graduate to serve as an academic department head the most senior ranking Hispanic Judge Advocate 507 508 Marc H Sasseville Major General U S Air Force Puerto Rican mother on September 11 2001 509 was acting operations group commander under the 113th Wing of the DC Air National Guard one of four fighter pilots commissioned with finding and destroying United Flight 93 by any means necessary including ramming the aircraft in midair 510 Noel Zamot Colonel U S Air Force a native of Rio Piedras was the first Hispanic commandant of the Air Force s elite Test Pilot School He is also a former combat and test aviator with over 1900 hours in B 52 B 1B B 2A F 16D and over 20 other aircraft 511 512 Irene M Zoppi Brigadier General U S Army first Puerto Rican woman to reach the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Army Deputy Commanding General Support under the 200th Military Police Command at Fort Meade Maryland Bronze Star Medal recipient 513 514 Physicians scientists and inventors Edit Agustin Stahl Fermin Tanguis Joseph Acaba Antonia Novello Surgeon General of the United States Joxel Garcia Assistant Secretary of Health for President George W Bush Olga D Gonzalez Sanabria member of the Ohio Women s Hall of Fame Joseph M Acaba scientist educator first Puerto Rican astronaut Carlos Albizu Miranda psychologist first Hispanic educator to have a North American university renamed in his honor one of the first Hispanics to earn a PhD in psychology in the U S 329 Ricardo Alegria anthropologist archaeologist and educator father of modern Puerto Rican archaeology Jorge N Amely Velez electrical engineer and inventor holds various patents in the field of medical technology 515 Bailey K Ashford author physician soldier and parasitologist Colonel in the U S Army arrived in Puerto Rico during the Spanish American War and made the island his home organized and conducted a parasite treatment campaign which cured approximately 300 000 people one third of the Puerto Rico population and reduced the death rate from this anemia by 90 percent 516 Pedro Beauchamp surgeon first Puerto Rican specialist certified by the American Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Board performed the first in vitro fertilization technique on the island in 1985 517 Victor Manuel Blanco astronomer in 1959 discovered a Blanco 1 a galactic cluster 518 second Director of the Cerro Tololo Inter American Observatory in Chile which has the largest 4 m telescope in the Southern Hemisphere 519 in 1995 the telescope was dedicated in his honor as the Victor M Blanco Telescope also known as the Blanco 4m 520 Rafael L Bras former chair of Civil Engineering at MIT leading expert on hydrometeorology and global warming 521 Anthony M Busquets electronic engineer aerospace technologist involved in the development and application of multifunction control display switch technology in 1983 and development and application of a microprocessor based I O system for simulator use in 1984 522 Carlos E Chardon a k a the father of mycology in Puerto Rico first Puerto Rican mycologist discovered the aphid Aphis maidis the vector of the mosaic of sugar cane in 1922 author of the Chardon Plan first Puerto Rican to hold the position of Chancellor of the University of Puerto Rico 523 Nitza Margarita Cintron scientist Chief of NASA s JSC Space and Health Care Systems Office Pablo Clemente Colon first Puerto Rican Chief Scientist of the National Ice Center 2005 present Antonia Coello Novello physician first Hispanic and first woman U S Surgeon General 1990 93 Martin Corchado born 1839 physician medical researcher and president of the Autonomist Party of Puerto Rico 524 Jose F Cordero pediatrician founding director of the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 525 Milagros J Cordero pediatrician founder and President of Team Therapy Services For Children Maria Cordero Hardy physiologist educator and scientist did important research on vitamin E 526 Juan R Correa Perez scientist first clinical andrologist and embryologist in Puerto Rico Juan R Cruz NASA scientist played an instrumental role in the design and development of the Mars Exploration Rover parachute 527 Carlos Del Castillo NASA scientist Program Scientist for the Ocean Biology and Biogeochemistry Program at NASA recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers award the highest honor bestowed by the U S government on scientists and engineers beginning their independent careers 528 Manuel de la Pila Iglesias multi faceted physician introduced the first EKG and X ray machines into Puerto Rico founded a medical clinic which today houses a respected medical center in Ponce 529 Alfonso Eaton mechanical engineer aerospace technologist first Puerto Rican to work for NASA 530 Enectali Figueroa Feliciano astronaut applicant and astrophysicist with NASA pioneered the development of position sensitive detectors Orlando Figueroa mechanical engineer at NASA former Director for Mars Exploration and the Director for the Solar System Division in the Office of Space Science now Director Applied Engineering amp Technology at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center as Director of Engineering he manages the full scope of engineering activities at Goddard 531 Adolfo Figueroa Vinas first Puerto Rican astrophysicist at NASA working in solar plasma physics senior research scientist involved in many NASA missions such as Wind SOHO Cluster and MMS projects 532 Jose N Gandara lead physician attending to the wounded of the Ponce massacre and later an expert witness at the trials of the Nacionalistas as well as before the Hays Commission held numerous government positions including Secretary of Health of Puerto Rico co founded the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico 533 534 Joxel Garcia first Puerto Rican Assistant Secretary for Health U S Department of Health and Human Services Admiral in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps 535 Mario Garcia Palmieri cardiologist first Hispanic to be designated a Master by the American College of Cardiology 536 Sixto Gonzalez scientist first Puerto Rican Director of the Arecibo Observatory with the world s largest single dish radio telescope 537 Rosa A Gonzalez registered nurse founded the Association of Registered Nurses of Puerto Rico wrote various books related to her field in which she denounced the discrimination against women and nurses in Puerto Rico clarification needed 538 Isaac Gonzalez Martinez urologist first Puerto Rican urologist pioneer in the fight against cancer in the island 539 Olga D Gonzalez Sanabria NASA engineer highest ranking Hispanic at NASA Glenn Research Center member of the Ohio Women s Hall of Fame 540 Amri Hernandez Pellerano NASA engineer designs builds and tests the electronics that regulate the solar array power at NASA s Goddard Space Flight Center 541 Gloria Hernandez physical scientist aerospace technologist Science Manager for the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment at NASA Langley Research Center her supersonic aerodynamic research has resulted in economic advances in supersonic flight 542 Lucas G Hortas aerospace engineer and technologist author and or co author of over 35 technical papers 543 Chris Kubecka full name Christina Kubecka de Medina a Computer Scientist specialist in cyberwarfare established international business operations for Saudi Aramco after the world s most devastating Shamoon cyber warfare attacks Detected and helped halt the second wave of July 2009 cyberattacks cyberwar attacks against South Korea 544 Ramon E Lopez physicist professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Texas at Arlington Fellow of the American Physical Society recipient of the 2002 Nicholson Medal for Humanitarian Service co authored a book on space weather Storms from the Sun 545 Fernando Lopez Tuero agricultural scientist and agronomist discovered the bug believed at first to be a germ which was destroying Puerto Rico s sugar canes 546 Carlos A Liceaga electronic engineer aerospace technologist leads the development of proposal guidelines and the technical management and cost evaluation of the proposals For the Explorer Program 543 Ariel Lugo scientist and ecologist Director of the International Institute of Tropical Forestry in the U S Department of Agriculture Forest Service based in Puerto Rico founding member of the Society for Ecological Restoration member at large of the Board of the Ecological Society of America 547 Melissa Cristina Marquez Mother of Sharks marine biologist author and science communicator 548 Debbie Martinez computer engineer aerospace technologist Flight Systems and Software Branch software manager for the Cockpit Motion Facility at NASA Langley Research Center 549 Lissette Martinez electronic engineer rocket scientist lead electrical engineer for the Space Experiment Module program at NASA s Wallops Flight Facility Manuel Martinez Maldonado nephrologist educator author of numerous scientific publications discovered a natriuretic hormone 550 Antonio Mignucci marine biologist oceanographer founder of Red Caribena de Varamientos Carlos Ortiz Longo NASA engineer and scientist and pilot Joseph O Prewitt Diaz psychologist specialized in psychosocial theory recipient of the American Psychological Association s 2008 International Humanitarian Award 551 Mercedes Reaves research engineer and scientist responsible for the design of a viable full scale solar sail and the development and testing of a scale model solar sail at NASA Langley Research Center 552 Ron Rivera inventor and workshop organizer invented life saving water filters based on pottery 553 Juan A Rivero scientist and educator founded the Dr Juan A Rivero Zoo in Mayaguez has discovered numerous animal species author of several books 554 Miriam Rodon Naveira NASA scientist first Hispanic woman to hold the Deputy Directorship for the Environmental Sciences Division in the National Exposure Research Laboratory 522 Miguel Rodriguez mechanical engineer Chief of the Integration Office of the Cape Canaveral Spaceport Management Office 555 Pedro Rodriguez inventor mechanical engineer director of a test laboratory at NASA invented a portable battery operated lift seat for people suffering from knee arthritis 556 Helen Rodriguez Trias physician and activist first Latina president of the American Public Health Association a founding member of the Women s Caucus of the American Public Health Association recipient of the Presidential Citizen s Medal 228 Fernando E Rodriguez Vargas dental scientist discovered the bacteria which causes dental cavities 557 Monserrate Roman scientist microbiologist helped build the International Space Station 491 558 Gualberto Ruano biotechnology pioneer and founder of Genomas Inc pioneer in the field of personalized medicine inventor of a system used worldwide for the management of viral diseases President and founder of Genomas a genetics related company director of genetics research at Hartford Hospital s Genetic Research Center 559 Jose Francisco Salgado Emmy nominated astronomer visual artist and science communicator former astronomer at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago member of the audiovisual ensemble Bailey Salgado Project 560 Ulises Armand Sanabria of Puerto Rican and French descent developed mechanical televisions and early terrestrial television broadcasts 561 Eduardo Santiago Delpin surgeon wrote the first book in Spanish about organ transplants 562 Yajaira Sierra Sastre astronaut part of a NASA project on astronaut nutrition and health She will live for four months isolated in a planetary module at a base in Hawaii to simulate life at a future base on Mars 563 564 Diego R Solis physician performed the first simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant in Puerto Rico 565 Felix Soto Toro electrical engineer astronaut applicant developed the Advanced Payload Transfer Measurement System ASPTMS an electronic 3D measuring system Agustin Stahl scientist in the fields of botany ethnology and zoology 566 Ramon M Suarez Calderon scientist cardiologist educator and hematologist his investigations led to the identification of the proper and effective treatment of a type of anemia known as Tropical Espru the application of complex methods such as electrocardiography and radioisotope to be used in clinics and the identification and treatment of the disease which causes heart rheumatism 546 Fermin Tanguis scientist agriculturist and entrepreneur developed the Tanguis cotton in Peru and saved that nation s cotton industry 567 Dr Neil deGrasse Tyson astrophysicist television and radio host Puerto Rican mother director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City host of the PBS series Cosmos A Personal Voyage 568 Politicians Edit Jose de Diego the father of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement Federico Degetau writer author and resident commissioner Pedro Albizu Campos President and principal leader of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Nydia Velazquez Congresswoman from New York City Luis Gutierrez Congressman from Chicago Kenneth McClintock Secretary of State of Puerto Rico Jose Coll y Cuchi founder of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Alexandria Ocasio Cortez representing parts of The Bronx and Queens is the youngest woman ever to be elected to Congress in November 2018 19th century Roman Baldorioty de Castro the father of Puerto Rico s autonomy Jose Celso Barbosa the father of Puerto Rico s statehood movement Ramon Emeterio Betances y Alacan father of the Puerto Rican nation main leader of the Grito de Lares revolution Eugenio Maria de Hostos y Bonilla a k a El Gran Ciudadano de las Americas the Great Citizen of the Americas educator philosopher intellectual lawyer sociologist and independence advocate Jose M Davila Monsanto senator politician and lawyer a co founder of the Partido Popular Democratico de Puerto Rico Jose de Diego y Martinez the father of the Puerto Rican independence movement elected to the House of Delegates the only locally elected body of government allowed by the U S presided 1904 1917 569 Federico Degetau first resident commissioner to the U S Jose Maria Marxuach Echavarria the only Puerto Rican to serve as the Mayor of San Juan under both Spanish and American rule served in 1897 for the Liberal Reformista Party and 1900 01 for the Puerto Rican Republican Party 570 Antonio Mattei Lluberas leader of the second and last major revolt against Spanish colonial rule in Puerto Rico in the Intentona de Yauco of 1897 mayor of Yauco 1904 1906 571 Rosendo Matienzo Cintron political leader in his early political career favored Puerto Rican statehood and later became an advocate for Puerto Rico s independence and founder of the Independence Party of Puerto Rico 572 Luis Munoz Rivera former Resident Commissioner journalist politician father of Luis Munoz Marin Ramon Power y Giralt first Vice President of the Cortes of Cadiz 1810 1813 Francisco Mariano Quinones first president of Puerto Rico s Autonomic Cabinet Francisco Ramirez Medina President of the Republic of Puerto Rico September 23 1868 during the Grito de Lares revolt Segundo Ruiz Belvis leader of the Grito de Lares revolt Manuel Zeno Gandia novelist and leader of cooperative movement in Puerto Rico20th century Baltasar Corrada del Rio former Resident Commissioner 1977 1985 Mayor of San Juan 1985 1989 1988 NPP gubernatorial candidate Secretary of State 1992 1995 Supreme Court Justice 1995 2005 Hector Luis Acevedo former Mayor of San Juan 1996 PDP gubernatorial candidate Pedro Albizu Campos President and principal leader of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Jose S Alegria poet writer lawyer and politician a founding member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party and its president from 1928 to 1930 573 Santos P Amadeo champion of habeas corpus former Senator in the Puerto Rico legislature 574 Maria Luisa Arcelay first woman in Puerto Rico elected to a government legislative body 575 Jose Enrique Arraras politician educator attorney public servant and sports leader 576 Carmen E Arroyo first Puerto Rican woman elected to any state assembly chair New York Hispanic Legislative Caucus Herman Badillo first Puerto Rican to serve in U S Congress Joaquin Balaguer former president of Dominican Republic Puerto Rican father Antonio R Barcelo founder of the Puerto Rican Liberal Party first president of the Senate of Puerto Rico Josefina Barcelo Bird de Romero birth name Maria Antonia Josefina Barcelo Bird elected president of the Liberal Party after her father died in 1938 first woman elected to lead a major political party in Puerto Rico 577 Angel O Berrios former Mayor of Caguas Ruben Berrios Martinez President of the Puerto Rican Independence Party Juan Bosch former president of Dominican Republic Puerto Rican mother Adolfo Carrion Jr former Bronx New York City borough president Adam Clayton Powell IV former member of the New York State Assembly Severo Colberg Ramirez served as a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives and was the Speaker from 1982 to 1985 Gilberto Concepcion de Gracia founder of the Puerto Rican Independence Party Cayetano Coll y Cuchi first President of Puerto Rico House of Representatives Jose Coll y Cuchi founder of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Maria Colon Sanchez activist and politician in 1988 became the first Hispanic woman elected to the Connecticut General Assembly 578 Rafael Cordero former Mayor of Ponce Miguel del Valle Illinois State Senator first Latino City Clerk of Chicago 2011 mayoral candidate 579 Nelson Antonio Denis former New York State Assemblyman Ruben Diaz New York State Senator and religious leader Pedro Espada Jr New York State Senator Antonio Fernos Isern first Puerto Rican cardiologist and Resident Commissioner Leopoldo Figueroa co founder of the Independence Association one of three political organizations which merged to form the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party changed political ideals and in 1948 was a member of the Partido Estadista Puertorriqueno Puerto Rican Statehood Party the only member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives that year who did not belong to the Partido Popular Democratico PPD he opposed the PPD s approval of the bill that became the Ley de la Mordaza Gag Law which violated the civil rights of those who favor ed Puerto Rican independence 580 Maurice Ferre former Mayor of Miami Florida Fernando Ferrer former Bronx New York City borough president and New York City mayoral candidate Rogelio Figueroa 2008 gubernatorial candidate and founder of Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party 581 Bonnie Garcia former California State Assemblywoman Robert Garcia former New York State Assemblyman State Senator and U S Representative Oscar Garcia Rivera Sr former New York State Assemblyman in 1937 became the first Puerto Rican elected to public office in the continental U S in 1956 became the first Puerto Rican to be nominated as the Republican candidate for Justice of the City Court 582 Miguel A Garcia Mendez youngest Speaker of the House in Puerto Rico s history the Mayaguez General Post Office was named after him 583 Maria Libertad Gomez Garriga the only woman in the Constitutional Convention of Puerto Rico formed in 1951 the only woman to sign the 1952 Constitution of Puerto Rico 584 585 Luis Gutierrez United States Representative from Illinois 586 Santiago Iglesias founder of the first Puerto Rico Socialist Party labor activist and former Resident Commissioner Margarita Lopez former New York City Council member and political activist 587 Juan Francisco Luis 24th governor of the United States Virgin Islands 1978 1987 588 Martin Malave Dilan New York State Senator Evelyn Mantilla member of Connecticut House of Representatives Juan Mari Bras founder of the Movimiento Pro Independencia and the modern Puerto Rican Socialist Party Antonio Tony Mendez first native born Puerto Rican to become a district leader of a major political party in New York City 589 Olga A Mendez first Puerto Rican New York State Senator Rosie Mendez New York City councilwoman and activist Teodoro Moscoso architect of Operation Bootstrap former U S Ambassador to Venezuela 1961 1964 Victoria Munoz Mendoza 1992 PDP candidate for governor daughter of Luis Munoz Marin 590 Luis Munoz Rivera Senator last surviving drafter of the Puerto Rico Constitution 591 Felix Ortiz New York State Assemblyman author of nation s first cellphone driving ban 592 George Pabey Mayor of East Chicago Indiana 593 Hernan Padilla former Mayor of San Juan founder of the Puerto Rican Renewal Party 594 Antonio Pagan former New York City Council member 595 Eddie Perez former Mayor of Hartford Connecticut 596 Maria de Perez Almiroty first woman to be elected senator in Puerto Rico 597 Samuel R Quinones longest serving President of the Senate of Puerto Rico 598 Ernesto Ramos Antonini former Speaker of Puerto Rico s House of Representatives 599 Charles Rangel United States Congressman Puerto Rican father 600 Roberto Rexach Benitez former Senate President educator current columnist for the El Vocero newspaper 601 Felisa Rincon de Gautier first woman to be elected Mayor of a capital city in the Americas Western Hemisphere Ramon Luis Rivera Mayor of Bayamon 1977 2001 Samuel Rivera Mayor of Passaic New Jersey Manuela Santiago Collazo Mayor of Vieques 1985 2000 602 Jorge Santini former three term Mayor of San Juan and Vice President of the New Progressive Party former senator 603 604 Jose E Serrano most senior Puerto Rican congressman Chair of House Appropriations subcommittee on Financial Services 605 Gloria Tristani first Hispanic woman appointed as one of the commissioners of the Federal Communications Commission FCC 606 Nydia Velazquez first Puerto Rican congresswoman Chair of House Small Business Committee 607 Raul G Villaronga first Puerto Rican elected mayor in Texas Killeen 608 21st century Liston Bochette Olympian and politician 609 Richard Carmona 17th Surgeon General of the United States Ruth Noemi Colon 66th Secretary of State of New York Pedro Cortes Pennsylvania s former Secretary of the Commonwealth past President of National Association of Secretaries of State Lorraine Cortes Vazquez former Secretary of State of New York Ruben Diaz Jr former New York State Assemblyman Bronx Borough President 2009 present Wilda Diaz first female mayor of Perth Amboy New Jersey first Puerto Rican first woman and first Latino elected mayor in New Jersey 610 Jenniffer Gonzalez former Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives 611 Raul Labrador Congressman representing Idaho s 1st congressional district in the U S House of Representatives 612 Saige Martin Raleigh City Councilman 613 Kenneth McClintock 13th President of the Puerto Rico Senate 22nd Secretary of State Lieutenant Governor of Puerto Rico 614 Hiram Monserrate former New York State Senator 615 Antonia Novello 14th Surgeon General of the U S Vice Admiral Public Health Service Commissioned Corps 616 Alexandria Ocasio Cortez Democratic congresswoman for United States House of Representatives New York District 14 617 Cesar A Perales 67th Secretary of State of New York Pedro Pierluisi Governor of Puerto Rico 2021 present de facto governor of Puerto Rico 2019 Secretary of Justice 1993 1997 Resident Commissioner 2009 2017 618 Roberto Prats co chair of winning Hillary Clinton primary campaign Democratic State Chair former senator and PDP congressional candidate 619 John Quinones first Republican Party candidate of Puerto Rican ancestry elected to Florida House of Representatives 620 Thomas Rivera Schatz 14th President of the Senate of Puerto Rico 611 Melinda Romero Donnelly three term at large legislator two terms in House one in Senate Senate 621 Caribbean Business journalist 622 Pedro Segarra Mayor of Hartford Connecticut 623 Darren Soto Representative in Florida House of Representatives Florida Senate and the U S House of Representatives 624 Manuel A Torres Puerto Rico s first Electoral Comptroller and longest serving modern Secretary of the Senate of Puerto Rico 625 Daryl Vaz Minister of Information and Telecommunication for Jamaica Puerto Rican mother 626 Sports Edit Santos Sandy Alomar Cleveland Indians baseball player Orlando Cepeda MLB first baseman second Puerto Rican in Baseball Hall of Fame Jose Juan Barea professional basketball player with the Dallas Mavericks Carlos Delgado MLB player New York Mets Reggie Jackson Major League Baseball right fielder Maritza Correia Edgar Martinez MLB player with the Seattle Mariners Jorge Posada New York Yankees catcher Ivan Rodriguez MLB catcher for the Washington Nationals Alfredo L Escalera Kansas City Royals outfielder youngest player ever drafted Monica Puig Olympic gold medalist Juan Evangelista Venegas Olympic medalist A Benjamin Agosto figure skater and Olympic medalist Puerto Rican father Roberto Alomar baseball player MLB All Star third Puerto Rican inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame 2011 Sandy Alomar Jr baseball player Sandy Alomar Sr baseball player Carmelo Anthony NBA player Los Angeles Lakers Puerto Rican father Orlando Antigua in 1995 the first Hispanic and first non black in 52 years to play for the Harlem Globetrotters Puerto Rican mother 627 Chris Armas soccer player Puerto Rican mother Carlos Arroyo born 1979 former NBA player member and captain of the Puerto Rican national basketball team Harry Arroyo boxer former IBF Lightweight Champion 628 Nolan Arenado baseball player Colorado Rockies Puerto Rican mother Jake Arrieta baseball player Chicago Cubs Puerto Rican grandfather B Javier Baez baseball player Detroit Tigers Juan Baez former basketball player recipient of Puerto Rico Olympic Medal of Honor Jose Juan Barea NBA player Dallas Mavericks first Puerto Rican to play for winning team in the NBA Finals Maria Elena Batista Olympic PanAm and Central American games swimmer Bayley WWE wrestler real name Pamela Rose Martinez 629 Eddie Belmonte thoroughbred racing jockey 630 Carlos Beltran baseball player outfielder designated hitter Texas Rangers Wilfred Benitez boxer member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame David Kike Bernier retired fencer former Secretary of Sports and Recreation Hiram Bithorn baseball player first Puerto Rican in Major League Baseball Liston Bochette Olympian and politician 609 Devin Booker NBA player Phoenix Suns Puerto Rican mother Kristina Brandi tennis player Isabel Bustamante Paralympic athlete first gold medalist for Puerto Rico at a Paralympic or Olympic games competition gold at the 1988 Women s shot put 1B paralympic competition 631 C Ivan Calderon baseball player Ivan Calderon boxer world champion Hector Macho Camacho boxer former world champion and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame Jasmine Camacho Quinn hurdles won Puerto Rico s second Olympic Gold Medal in the Women s 100m Hurdles in the Olympic games which were celebrated in Tokyo Japan 632 Fernando J Canales swimmer first Puerto Rican to reach final championships Pedro Miguel Caratini baseball player born in Puerto Rico the father of Dominican baseball Orlando Cepeda baseball player member of Baseball Hall of Fame Pedro Anibal Cepeda a k a Perucho and The Bull baseball player father of Orlando Cepeda known as the Babe Ruth of Puerto Rico 633 Nero Chen Puerto Rico s first professional boxer 634 Julie Chu Olympic ice hockey player forward on the U S women s ice hockey team of Chinese and Puerto Rican descent 635 Alex Cintron former professional baseball infielder and current hitting coach for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball Conchita Cintron bullfighter Puerto Rican father Kermit Cintron boxer former International Boxing Federation welterweight champion 2006 08 636 Roberto Clemente 3 000 hit baseball player first Puerto Rican member of Baseball Hall of Fame Rebekah Colberg known as the mother of Puerto Rican women s sports participated in various athletic competitions in the 1938 Central American and Caribbean Games in Panama where she won gold medals in discus and javelin throw Carlitos Colon former professional wrestler and member of the WWE Hall of Fame Carly Colon professional wrestler Alex Cora became the first Puerto Rican to manage a World Series winning team when the Boston Red Sox defeated the LA Dodgers in 2018 637 Angel Cordero Jr jockey member of Jockey Hall of Fame Carlos Correa first pick of the 2012 MLB Draft 2015 AL Rookie of the Year Maritza Correia first Afro Puerto Rican female on the U S Olympic swimming team Joe Cortez boxing referee member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame Carla Cortijo basketball player first Puerto Rican born woman to play in the WNBA guard for the Atlanta Dream 638 Miguel Cotto professional boxer former light welterweight welterweight and junior middleweight world champion Eva Cruz volleyball player Jose Cheo Cruz baseball player whose number was retired by the Astros Orlando Cruz boxer first professional boxer to publicly announce he is gay Teofilo Cruz basketball player 639 Victor Cruz NFL football player Javier Culson Olympic athlete bronze medalist specialises in the 400 metre hurdlesD Christian Dalmau BSN basketball player Raymond Dalmau basketball player Carlos De Leon first boxer to win cruiserweight world title four times Esteban De Jesus boxer former world champion Madeline de Jesus athlete runner short track long jump triple jump gold silver and bronze medallist participant in two Olympic Games Carlos Delgado baseball player New York Mets Edwin Diaz baseball player Seattle Mariners by reaching his 50th strikeout in only 25 and a third innings Diaz became the first pitcher to do so in at least 123 years 640 E Ivelisse Echevarria inducted into the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame 2003 Alfredo Escalera boxer former world champion Alfredo L Escalera baseball player youngest player ever drafted by an MLB organization drafted in 2012 by the Kansas City Royals franchise Nino Escalera baseball player first Hispanic in the Cincinnati Reds franchise Sixto Escobar boxer first Puerto Rican world champion and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame Angel Espada boxer former championF Gigi Fernandez tennis player in 1992 became the first female athlete from her native Puerto Rico win an Olympic gold medal first female athlete from Puerto Rico to turn professional 641 first Puerto Rican woman inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame 642 Lisa Fernandez softball player Olympic gold medalist Puerto Rican mother Orlando Fernandez a k a the Puerto Rican Aquaman swimmer first Puerto Rican to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar 643 Ed Figueroa baseball pitcher first Puerto Rican to win 20 games in Major League Enrique Figueroa sailingG Ruben Gomez first Puerto Rican to pitch and win a World Series game Wilfredo Gomez boxer former world champion member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame Aristides Gonzalez boxer first Olympic medalist under the flag of Puerto Rico 1984 Summer Olympics Jorge Gonzalez marathon runner Juan Gonzalez baseball playerH Herbert Lewis Hardwick a k a Cocoa Kid boxer inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2012 644 Ivonne Harrison track and field athlete Aaron Hernandez NFL football player and former member of the New England Patriots 645 Enrique Hernandez baseball player known colloquially as Kike 646 James Chico Hernandez wrestling champion and member of the Latin American Martial Arts Hall of Fame 647 Laurie Hernandez Olympic gold and silver medalist member of the United States women s gymnastics team 648 Ramon Hernandez baseball playerJ Reggie Jackson baseball player member of Baseball Hall of Fame Puerto Rican father K Julio Kaplan chess International Master former World Junior Chess Champion Konnan professional wrestler Karrion Kross professional wrestler previously known as Killer Kross real name Kevin Kesar 649 650 L Anita Lallande former Olympic swimmer holds the island record for most medals won at CAC Games 17 and 10 gold 651 AJ Lee WWE Divas Champion 652 653 Alfred Lee basketball player first Puerto Rican to play in NBA and to play on the NBA play offs as a member of the 79 80 Los Angeles Lakers Angelita Lind track and field athlete Francisco Lindor baseball player New York Mets Laura Daniela Lloreda member of the Mexican national volleyball team Javy Lopez baseball player Atlanta Braves Mike Lowell baseball player Boston Red SoxM Felix Magath German soccer star and coach Puerto Rican father Martin Maldonado Major League Baseball catcher and Gold Glove Award winner 654 Mario Rivera Martino Boxing sports writer and eventual commissioner Member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame 655 Edgar Martinez former Major League Baseball player and fifth Puerto Rican member of Baseball Hall of Fame Denise Masino bodybuilder 656 657 Mark Medal boxer former IBF Light Middleweight Champion 658 Orlando Melendez a k a El Gato in 2008 became the first Puerto Rican born basketball player to play for the Harlem Globetrotters 659 Alberto Mercado Olympian boxer Jerome Mincy basketball player Bengie Molina Major League Baseball catcher and Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner 660 John John Molina boxer former world champion Jose Molina Major League Baseball catcher 661 Yadier Molina Major League Baseball catcher All Star and Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner 662 David Monasterio swimmer member of the 1992 Olympic team for Puerto Rico 663 Pedro Montanez boxer and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame Mario Morales BSN basketball player Pedro Morales wrestler member of WWE Hall of Fame Jonny Moseley skier first Puerto Rican member of the U S ski teamN Emilio Navarro first Puerto Rican to play in the Negro leaguesO Luis Olmo first Puerto Rican to hit a home run in the World Series Fres Oquendo professional boxer John Orozco Olympic gymnast Carlos Ortiz boxer former junior welterweight and lightweight champion member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame Jose Ortiz former basketball player PDP candidate for elective office in 2008 Luis Ortiz boxer first Puerto Rican to win a silver Olympic medalP Raul Papaleo member of Puerto Rican national volleyball team Charlie Pasarell tennis player Ernesto Pastor bullfighter only Puerto Rican member of the Bullfighting Hall of Fame Victor Pellot a k a Vic Power baseball player second Afro Puerto Rican in Major League Baseball Anthony Tony Perez boxing referee and judge 664 Jorge Posada baseball player New York Yankees Damian Priest WWE wrestler real name Luis Martinez Born in New York City to Puerto Rican parents raised in Dorado Puerto Rico Monica Puig tennis player in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro won Puerto Rico s first ever Olympic gold medal 665 Q Carlos Quintana professional boxer former World Boxing Organization s welterweight championR Peter John Ramos former NBA and international basketball player 666 Rico Ramos professional boxer Hector Ramos professional football player Puerto Rico national football team captain and top scorer German Rieckehoff former president of Puerto Rican Olympic Committee Ramon Rivas NBA and International basketball player Antonio Rivera boxer a k a El Gallo WBA Super Welterweight Champion Filiberto Rivera former UTEP star point guard and former point guard on Puerto Rico national basketball team Jorge Rivera mixed martial artist Neftali Rivera basketball player record holder for most points scored in a game in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional league with 79 points 667 Marco Rivera NFL football player first Puerto Rican selected to Pro Bowl Ron Rivera NFL football player first Puerto Rican in the National Football League and to coach an NFL team Ivan Rodriguez former baseball player for the Texas Rangers Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017 Ruben Rodriguez basketball player Jose Roman boxer first Puerto Rican to fight for the world heavyweight title Francisco Rosa Rivera the trainer of stars personal trainer and self made bodybuilding entrepreneur Edwin Rosario boxer former lightweight and junior welterweight champion member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame 2006 Juan Chi Chi Rodriguez golfer member of Golf Hall of Fame John Ruiz a k a The Quietman first Hispanic to become the heavyweight boxing champion of the worldS Natasha Sagardia bodyboarding athlete first Puerto Rican to win a gold medal at the ISA World Surfing Games 668 Alex Sanchez a k a El Nene Sanchez boxer former champion Rey Sanchez baseball player Benito Santiago former MLB 1987 Rookie of the Year Daniel Santiago former NBA basketball player O J Santiago NFL player Samuel Serrano boxer former world champion Jessica Steffens U S Olympic 2012 gold medal winner Puerto Rican father 669 Margaret Maggie Steffens U S Olympic 2012 gold medal winner sister of Jessica Steffens 669 T Julio Toro basketball coach Andres Torres baseball player San Francisco Giants Georgie Torres holds BSN scoring record Jose Torres boxer member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame Felix Tito Trinidad boxer former world champion Member of the International Boxing Hall of FameV Lisa Marie Varon WWE wrestler Jesse Vassallo swimmer current president of PR Swimming Federation member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame Javier Vazquez baseball player active leader in strikeouts Wilfredo Vazquez boxer former champion Savio Vega former WWF wrestler John Velazquez jockey member of Jockey Hall of Fame 670 671 Ada Velez first Puerto Rican female boxer to win a championship Juan Evangelista Venegas boxer first Puerto Rican to win an Olympic medal Dick Versace first person of Puerto Rican descent to coach an NBA team Juan Pachin Vicens basketball player led the Ponce Lions team to six championshipsW Mark Watring equestrian Bernie Williams baseball player New York Yankees Mary Pat Wilson Puerto Rico s first and only female Olympic skier only woman in the Puerto Rican Ski Team in the 1988 Winter Olympics 672 Tainos Edit Agueybana II The Brave Agueybana Great Sun Supreme Taino chief Supreme Cacique of Puerto Rico who welcomed Juan Ponce de Leon to the island based in Guayanilla Agueybana II The Brave cacique and brother of Agueybana led the Taino rebellion of 1511 against Juan Ponce de Leon and his men based in Guayanilla Arasibo cacique area of Arecibo Caguax cacique area of Caguas Guarionex cacique area of Utuado Hayuya cacique area of Jayuya Jumacao cacique area of Humacao Orocobix cacique area of Orocovis Urayoan cacique area that presently spans between Anasco and Mayaguez ordered the drowning of Diego SalcedoVisual artists Edit Jose Campeche Francisco Oller Alfonso Arana painter founder of the Fundacion Alfonso Arana Imna Arroyo artist 673 Myrna Baez painter and printmaker 674 675 Jean Michel Basquiat painter Puerto Rican mother Tomas Batista sculptor of El Jibaro Puertorriqueno monument and Zeno Gandia statue Isabel Bernal painter from San Sebastian Angel Botello painter and sculptor Antonio Broccoli Porto painter and sculptor from San Juan Jose Buscaglia Guillermety sculptor Luis German Cajiga painter most known for his silk screening technique 676 Javier Cambre sculptor photographer video artist 677 Jose Campeche artist Jose Caraballo artist President of Hispanic Art League 1979 678 Lindsay Daen New Zealand born artist sculptor of La Rogativa statue in San Juan Jan D Esopo painter and sculptor Elizam Escobar painter and activist James De La Vega mural artist Ramon Frade artist and architect 679 Obed Gomez contemporary artist known as the Puerto Rican Picasso Vilma G Holland painter 680 Lorenzo Homar graphic artist Antonio Lopez fashion illustrator 681 Teresa Lopez born 1957 artist graphic designer and art professor 682 683 Daniel Lind Ramos born 1953 conceptual sculptor and painter 684 Roberto Lugo Visual Artist 685 686 687 688 Soraida Martinez contemporary painter known for creating socially conscious Verdadism art since 1992 Antonio Martorell painter and graphic artist Ralph Ortiz visual artist and founder of the El Museo del Barrio 689 Francisco Oller impressionist artist and painter Maria de Mater O Neill painter educator and graphic artist Maria Luisa Penne painter educator and graphic artist 690 Manuel Rivera Ortiz photographer 691 Arnaldo Roche Rabell 1955 2018 painter 692 Julio Rosado del Valle internationally known abstract expressionist 693 Samuel E Vazquez abstract expressionist painter 694 695 Miriam Zamparelli sculptor 696 Miscellaneous Edit Felix Rigau Carrera Reynold Alexander illusionist magician Arthur Aviles dancer and choreographer Jose Baez criminal defense attorney notable for his defense of accused child murderer Casey Anthony Marie Haydee Beltran Torres nationalist convicted for a bombing in Manhattan 697 Felipe Birriel El Gigante de Carolina the tallest Puerto Rican David Blaine illusionist magician Puerto Rican father Miguel de Buria slave known as King Miguel I de Buria Elisa Colberg founder of the Puerto Rican Girl Scouts 698 699 Inez Garcia cause celebre of the feminist movement Juan Manuel Garcia Passalacqua political commentator lawyer Felix Rigau Carrera first Puerto Rican pilot first pilot to fly on air mail carrying duties in Puerto Rico 700 Crazy Legs breakdancer president of Rock Steady Crew Michael Ommy Archived August 29 2022 at the Wayback Machine Social Impact Founder of Talent4Change Inc Founder of The Talent Catalog Clara Livingston Puerto Rico s first female aviator 701 Salixto Medina lawyer assistant U S attorney 702 Emiliano Mercado del Toro World s oldest living person from December 11 2006 January 24 2007 oldest verified military veteran and Puerto Rican ever Filiberto Ojeda Rios commander in chief Responsible General of the Boricua Popular Army Richard Pena organizer of New York Film Festival professor of film studies at Columbia University Tina Ramirez dancer and choreographer born in Venezuela best known as the Founder and Artistic Director of Ballet Hispanico of New York Jose Rodriguez head of CIA division 2004 2008 Antulio Kobbo Santarrosa La Chachara La Condesa La Comay 703 704 Jock Soto principal ballet dancer with the New York City Ballet 705 Filipo Tirado puppeteer Carlos Alberto Torres nationalist and former political prisoner 706 707 Gallery Edit Lauren Velez Tego Calderon Olga Tanon Adrienne Bailon Daddy Yankee Victor Manuelle Gilberto Santa Rosa Tito Nieves Tito El Bambino Ivy Queen Luis Fonsi Ednita Nazario span, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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