Captain Rivera was born and raised in the United States Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. He enlisted in the Navy in 1987, graduated from the Naval Science Institute in 1998, and earned his Commission via the Aviation Enlisted Commissioning Program in 1999. He attended the Hampton Roads NROTC University Consortium receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree with Summa Cum Laude honors. In December 2011, he graduated with a Master of Science Degree in Aeronautical Science with honorable distinction from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
His naval career began as enlisted servicemen Aviation Electrician’s Mate and included tours of duty in Strike Fighter Squadron ONE ZERO ONE (VFA-101), Sea Operations Detachment onboard the USS AMERICA (CV 66) and USS ROOSEVELT (CVN 71), and the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Departments at Naval Air Station Oceana and Naval Air Station Norfolk, Virginia. His commissioned service tours of duty include Division Officer, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department Naval Air Station Roosevelt Roads; Maintenance Material Control Officer (MMCO), Strike Fighter Squadron EIGHT SEVEN (VFA-87); Maintenance Material Control Officer, Fleet Readiness Squadron (FRS) ONE ZERO SIX (VFA-106); Carrier Air Group Maintenance Officer (CAGMO) of Carrier Air Wing FOURTEEN (CVW-14) onboard the USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76); F/A-18 & EA-18G Deputy Assistant Program Manager Logistics (DAPML), PMA-265, NAVAIR; Assistant Program Manager (APM), Naval Aviation Training Systems PMA-205, an Aviation Command Screening Board (ACSB) selection tour as AIMDO (CVN MO) onboard the Navy’s newest and first in class aircraft carrier the USS GERALD R. FORD (CVN 78), Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics (N4/FLAGMO) Carrier Strike Group FOUR and in his second ACSB selection assignment served as the Level III Depot Production Officer at Fleet Readiness Center Southeast in Jacksonville, FL. Captain Rivera was then assigned as the Executive Officer of Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW) in San Diego, CA where he currently serves at the FRCSW Commanding Officer.
Captain Rivera is the proud recipient of the DON FY 2018 Captain Virgil J. Lemmon Award for Naval Aviation Maintenance Excellence. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), and the Navy Achievement Medal (2 awards). He is a qualified Professional Aviation Maintenance Warfare Officer and an Acquisition Corps Member, certified as Life Cycle Logistics Level III, Production Quality and Manufacturing Level III, and Program Management Level I. CAPT Rivera has completed six deployments throughout his naval career serving in Operations DESERT STORM, DESERT SHIELD, DENY FLIGHT, DELIBERATE FORCE, JOINT ENDEAVOR, SOUTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, TOMODACHI, NEW DAWN and the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT).
Captain Rivera is married to the former Gisela Milagros Aponte. They reside in San Diego, California. Their four children, Keishia, Zuleika, Karelis, and Enrique Xavier are their pride and joy.