Benjamin F. Montoya

Benjamin Franklin Montoya (May 24, 1935 – December 19, 2015) was a United States Navy rear admiral. He served as commanding officer of Naval Facilities Engineering Command from 1987 to 1989. Montoya was the first Hispanic chief of naval civil engineers.

In 1974, Montoya became director of the Navy Environmental Quality Division in Washington, D.C. In 1981, he became commanding officer of the Navy Public Works Center in San Diego, California. In 1984, Montoya assumed leadership of the Western Division Engineering Command in San Bruno, California.

In 1986, Montoya was appointed director of the Shore Activities Division under the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Logistics in Washington, D.C. Approved for promotion to rear admiral on 15 May 1987, he then became commanding officer of Naval Facilities Engineering Command and chief of the Civil Engineer Corps. Montoya retired from active duty in November 1989.

Later life From 1993 to 2000, Montoya served as chief executive officer of the Public Service Company of New Mexico.

In November 1994, President Bill Clinton appointed Montoya to the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Naval Academy. He served as chairman of the board for two years.

On February 8, 1995, President Clinton nominated Montoya to be a Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commissioner. In September 2006, he was appointed to the Space Operations Committee of the NASA Advisory Council.

Montoya was diagnosed with cancer in 2013. After his death in December 2015, he was interred with full military honors at Coachella Valley Cemetery on January 6, 2016.

Awards His military awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and the Meritorious Service Medal.

Personal Montoya was the son of Benjamin Conrado Montoya (1907–1990) and Margaret (Ramirez) Montoya (1913–2007). He had three younger brothers.

Montoya married Virginia Cox on June 5, 1958. They had five sons, two daughters and seventeen grandchildren.