Mayaguez Native Retires from U.S. Navy after 20 years of Loyal and Dedicated Service

by Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs 

(VIRGINIA BEACH, VA.) - A Eugenio Maria De Hostos High School graduate and Mayaguez, Puerto Rico native recently retired from the U.S. Navy after 20 years of loyal and dedicated service. The ceremony took place at Shifting Sands on Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana Dam Neck Annex Virginia Beach, Virginia. 

U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Alex J. Lattore, is an intelligence specialist who last served at the Center for Surface Combat Systems Unit, Dam Neck Annex.  He enlisted in the United States Navy in January 1998 and attended basic training at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois.  Upon completion of Basic Training he successfully graduated Naval Intelligence “A” School and reported to Sea Control Squadron 24 “Scouts” S-3B Viking (VS 24) for duty November 1998 to January 2001.  He deployed with Scouts aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), during Kosovo campaign, and USS Enterprise (CVN 65), during 9/11 Enduring Freedom campaign, as the missile order of battle analyst. 

 Lattore then reported to Lackland Air Force Base “MA” School where he earned his 9545 NEC in route to U.S. Naval Station Roosevelt Roads (NSRR), Puerto Rico for law enforcement duty from February 2001 to July 2005. He became the security watch commander leading 56 Sailors and 15 DoD Civilians as a 2nd Class Petty Officer.

 Following NSRR, he then transferred and successfully graduated Naval Intelligence “C” School as a strike analyst earning his 3923 NEC and reported to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) Manama, Bahrain from July 2005 to December 2009. He then was promoted to 1st class petty officer in 2006 and was given full trust as the strike firing Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) Cell leading petty officer were he established new Standard Operating Procedures used for aimpoint mensuration and delivery of the TLAM leading 16 Sailors and 2 DoD civilians. His greatest accomplishment was the superior achievement as the first Maritime Operations Center (MOC) to accomplish all certifications with “best in the Fleet” results and delivery of the successful mission of the first Block 4E TLAM launch in support of real world operations.

 He then transferred to the Maritime Component Command (MCC) TLAM at U.S. 2nd Fleet from December 2009 to February 2012.  He was promoted to chief petty officer in 2010. He then successfully graduated Naval Intelligence “C” School as an Operational Analyst earning 3924 NEC.  He led 120 Sailors as the production and analysis leading chief petty officer and earned his Information Dominance Warfare Specialist devise in December 2011.

 Latorre then reported to USS Normandy (CG 60) in February 2012 as the ship’s intelligence officer and earned full trust of myriads of responsibilities.  In February 2014, he reported to the Center for Surface Combat Systems Unit Dam Neck as an instructor and also served as the Senior Enlisted Leader.

His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (five awards), Navy Good Conduct Medal (four awards), Navy Pistol Expert and Navy Rifle Expert, and various campaign and unit awards.

Latorre is married to Lisette Latorre, who is also from Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, and graduated from Eugenio Maria De Hostos. 

Both his parents, Luis Latorre, and, Linda Roman, also reside in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.