Rear Admiral Anatolio B. "A.B." Cruz, III

Rear Admiral Cruz was raised in San Antonio, Texas and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1980. He reported aboard USS Gray (FF 1054) in 1981 and during his tour served as electronic materials officer, auxiliary repair electrical officer, damage control assistant, and acting Engineering Department head. In 1982, he was awarded the Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet's Shiphandler of the Year Award. In 1984, he joined the staff at the U.S. Naval Academy and served as an admissions officer and congressional liaison officer. In 1986, he accepted a commission in the U.S. Navy Reserves (NR).

Cruz has held numerous operational and staff positions in the special operations and special warfare areas, including multiple tours of duty within the Navy Expeditionary Combat Enterprise and Naval Special Warfare community. His six command tours were with Navy Region Southwest Reserve Component Command, NR Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, NR Naval Inspector General 106, Harbor Defense Command 207, NR Naval Special Warfare Unit 2, and Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Unit 206. Other assignments included tours with Naval Special Warfare Group 2, Naval Coastal Warfare Group 2, Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Unit 210, and Naval Inshore Undersea Warfare Group 2. While in command of NR Naval Special Warfare Unit 2, his unit was awarded the 2001 Leo Bilger Award for outstanding mission effectiveness. While commanding Harbor Defense Command 207, he twice served as commander, NCW Forces in support of Vieques Security Operations, where the units under his leadership received the Meritorious Unit Commendation for exceptional performance.

Cruz was selected to attend the Senior Navy Reserve Officer Orientation Course and completed the inaugural Joint Force Reserve Orientation Course. His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (3 awards), and the Navy Achievement Medal (3 awards). He is a qualified advanced military parachutist (gold wings) and basic diver.

Cruz assumed his current assignment as deputy commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and deputy commander, U.S. 4^th Fleet in Mayport, Fla. in February 2010.

As a civilian, Cruz is the executive vice president, chief legal officer & corporate secretary for Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. a leading media and entertainment company based in Cincinnati, Ohio. He holds a master’s degree in marketing from the University of Maryland and a juris doctorate degree from The Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America.