Meet the Division Vice Commander, Joseph Berrios

Joseph "José" Berríos is the Division Vice Commander for District 7, Division 4 (the "Fantastic Fourth"), comprised of the Lake County, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, and Sanford Flotillas.  He previously served as Flotilla Commander for Flotilla 45, Sanford.

While in High School, José enlisted in the US Navy in 1987 as a Religious Program Specialist (RP).  His assignments included NSGA Sabana Seca, PR, NS Roosevelt Roads, PR, Third Marine Expeditionary Unit in Okinawa Japan, NS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  In 1996, José was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy.  He was designated as an Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer (AEDO).  AEDO's provide professional management and technical direction in the entire air weapon system acquisition process from design to production and product improvements of Naval aircraft, spacecraft, and weapons. Over one-third of AEDO billets are flying billets. AEDOs test and evaluate new aircraft, weapons systems, and weapons in various stages of development. The AEDO will have billets in operational support activities, headquarters, research, development, test and evaluation, manufacturing and production.

José served in various assignments including Staff Officer, Naval Air Reserve Force, Staff Officer, Naval Reserve Force, Patrol Squadron 62 (VP-62), Naval Air Depot, Jacksonville, Florida, Navy Operational Support Center, Orlando, Florida, Naval Air Warfare Center - Training Systems Division (NAWC-TSD), Office of Naval Research (ONR), Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM), U.S. Embassy, Santiago, Chile, U.S. Naval Southern Command (NAVSOUTH), Combined Task Force 51 (CTF-51), and U.S. Naval Central Command (NAVCENT).  He retired in 2016 at the rank of Lieutenant Commander after 29 years of service.  His military awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, various campaign medals and unit awards, including the Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon for operational support of U.S. Coast Guard led counter-narcotics and drug interdiction operations.  José is a life member of Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Jewish War Veterans (JWV), and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

His education includes a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science (B.S.C.S.) from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, a Master's degree in Computer Science (M.S.C.S.) from the University of South Florida, a Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D.) in Computer Engineering from the University of Florida, and a Master's of Divinity (M.Div.) from Asbury Theological Seminary.   Dr. Berríos is currently pursuing rabbinical studies and a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Jewish studies at the Academy for Jewish Religion (AJR) located in Yonkers, New York.  José is a member of Eta Beta Rho, the National Scholastic Honor Society for Students of Hebrew Language and Culture and a student member of Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains. Dr. Berríos is the recipient of the 2021 Auerbach Launch Grant and the UJA Scholars Graduate Fellowship. In addition, he completed the Glean START program in 2022.  The Glean START program is an MBA-level certificate program that develops the participant's skills as a spiritual entrepreneur.  José’s authenticity is reflected in his compassionate and empathetic care for those who are excluded and marginalized.

José resides in Winter Park, FL.