List of Puerto Ricans

This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

Flag of Puerto Rico  Coat of arms of Puerto Rico

This is a list of notable Puerto Ricans which includes people who were born in Puerto Rico, people who are of full or partial Puerto Rican ancestry, and many long-term residents and/or immigrants of other ethnic heritages who have made Puerto Rico their home, and who are recognized for their life and/or work.

The list is divided into categories and in some cases sub-categories which best describes the field in which the subject is most noted for. Some categories such as "Actors, actresses, comedians and directors" are relative since a subject who is a comedian may also be an actor or director. In some cases a subject may be notable in more than one field such as "Luis A. Ferré" who is notable as a former "governor" and as an "industrialist". However, the custom is to place the subjects name under field for which he/she is most noted for.

Contents: Top – Actors, actresses, comedians and directors, Architects, Authors, playwrights and poets, Beauty queens and fashion models, Business people and industrialists, Cartoonists, Civil rights and/or political activists, Composers, musicians and singers, Criminals and outlaws, Diplomats, Educators, Governors, Historians, Journalists, Judges and law enforcement, Military, Physicians and Scientists, Politicians, Religion, Sports, Taínos, Visual Artists, Miscellaneous.

Actors, actresses, comedians and directors

A

Aviators - Gabriel Donate - Laura Pesquera B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

L

M

N

O

P

Q

• Adolfo Quiñones, actor/dancer/choreographer
  (film Breakin)

R

S

T

U

• Alanna Ubach, actress
  (films Legally Blonde; Meet the Fockers (Puerto Rican mother)

V

W

Z

Television show hosts

Architects

• Jesús Eduardo Amaral
  Architect, educator. First dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Puerto Rico. Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.
• Henry Klumb
  German-born architect responsible for many Puerto Rico designs from 1944 to 1984. Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.^[17]
• Andrés Mignucci
  Architect, urbanist. Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.^[18]
• Antonin Nechodoma
  Notable Czech architect.^[19]
• Francisco Porrata Doria
  Designed the Ponce Cathedral, Banco de Ponce (building), and Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño (building).^[20]
• Jorge Rigau
  Architect, educator. First dean of the School of Architecture at the Polythecnic University of Puerto Rico. Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.
• Blas Silva
  Creator of the Ponce Creole architectural style. Designed, among many others, the Casa de la Masacre, Font-Ubides House, and the Subira House.^[21]
• Toro Ferrer
  Pioneering Puerto Rican architectural firm led by Osvaldo Toro FAIA and Miguel Ferrer FAIA, both Fellows of the American Institute of Architects and responsible for such landmarks as the Caribe Hilton, the Supreme Court, the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport and the Hotel La Concha.^[22]
• Alfredo Wiechers Pieretti
  Early 20th-century architect from Ponce. Designed many historical buildings now listed in the National Register of Historic Places including his own home (the Wiechers-Villaronga Residence) in the Ponce Historic Zone and which today is home to the Puerto Rico Museum of Architecture.^[23]

Authors, playwrights and poets

A

• Jack Agüeros, author, playwright, poet and translator
• Quiara Alegría Hudes, author, playwright
  Wrote the book for Broadway's musical In the Heights. Her play, Elliot, a Soldier's Fugue, was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2007 and has been performed around the country and in Romania and Brazil.^[24]
• Dr. Miguel Algarín, poet, writer
  Co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.
• Dr. Manuel A. Alonso, poet and author
  Considered by many to be the first Puerto Rican writer of notable importance.
• Francisco Arriví, writer, poet, and playwright
  Arriví known as "The Father of the Puerto Rican Theater".^[25]
• Rane Arroyo, poet, playwright and scholar

B

• Pura Belpré, author
  First Puerto Rican librarian in New York City.
• María Bibiana Benítez, playwright
  Benitez is one of Puerto Rico's "first" poetesses.
• Alejandrina Benítez de Gautier, poet
  Benítez de Gautier's collaboration with the "Aguinaldo Puertorriqueño" (Collection of Puerto Rican Poetry) gave her recognition as a great poet.
• Tomás Blanco, writer and historian
  Blanco was the author of "Prontuario Historico de Puerto Rico" and "El Prejuicio Racial en Puerto Rico" (Racial Prejudice in Puerto Rico).
• Juan Boria, Afro-Caribbean poet
  Boria, also known as the Negro Verse Pharaoh, was a poet known for his Afro-Caribbean poetry.
• Giannina Braschi, poet
  Braschi is a vanguard poet, Spanglish novelist, and performer of spoken word.

C

• Mayra Calvani, writer
• Zenobia Camprubí, writer/poet (Puerto Rican mother)
  Camprubí was also the wife of Nobel Prize winning author Juan Ramón Jiménez.^[26]
• Nemesio Canales, essayist and poet
• Andrés Castro Ríos, poet
  Co-founder of literary magazine "Guajana".
• Jesús Colón, writer
  "Father of the Nuyorican Movement."
• Manuel Corchado y Juarbe, poet, journalist and politician
  Corchado y Juarbe defended the abolition of slavery and the establishment of a University in Puerto Rico.^[27]
• Juan Antonio Corretjer, poet
  Corretjer was also a journalist and pro-independence political activist who opposed United States rule in Puerto Rico.

D

• Nicholas Dante,
  Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright who is best known for the worldwide musical hit A Chorus Line^[28]
• Dr. José Antonio Dávila, poet
  Dávila was a well-known poet during Puerto Rico's postmodern era of poetry.
• Virgilio Dávila, poet
  Dávila is considered by many to be one of Puerto Rico's greatest representatives of the modern literary era.
• Julia de Burgos, poet
  Burgos is considered by many as the greatest poet to have been born in Puerto Rico.
• Eugenio María de Hostos, writer (see also Educators and Politicians)
  Wrote "La Peregrinación de Bayoán", the founding text of Puerto Rican literature.
• Caridad de la Luz a.k.a. "La Bruja", poet
  She is also the writer/actor of "Boogie Rican Blvd".
• Abelardo Díaz Alfaro, writer

E

• Sandra María Esteves, Nuyorican poet^[29]

F

• Dr. Héctor Feliciano, author
  Feliciano's book "The Lost Museum: The Nazi Conspiracy to Steal the World's Greatest Works of Art" has shed a light on an estimated 20,000 looted works; each one is owned by a museum or a collector somewhere.^[30]
• Isabel Freire de Matos, writer, educator and advocate of Puerto Rican independence.^[31]
• Dr. Rosario Ferré, writer
• Shaggy Flores, Nuyorican writer, poet
  African Diaspora Scholar, Founder of Voices for the Voiceless.
• Félix Franco-Oppenheimer, poet and writer
  His works include "Contornos", "Imagen y visión edénica de Puerto Rico", and "Antología poética".^[32]

G

• Magali García Ramis, writer
• José Gautier Benítez, poet
  Gautier Benítez is considered by many to be Puerto Rico's best poet of the Romantic Era.
• José Luis González, writer
  One of the most prominent writers of the 20th century, particularly for his "El país de cuatro pisos" (1980).^[33]
• Migene Gonzalez-Wippler, new-age author, prominent Santería expert

L

• Dr. Lawrence La Fountain-Stokes, writer
  Author of "Uñas pintadas de azul/Blue Fingernails".^[34]
• Enrique A. Laguerre, writer
  Laguerre was nominated for Nobel Prize in literature.
• Tato Laviera, poet
  Author of "AmeRícan".
• Georgina Lázaro, children's poet
• Muna Lee, writer
  Born in Mississippi, was the first wife of Luis Muñoz Marín.
• Luis Llorens Torres, poet
• Washington Llorens, journalist, writer, linguist, and scholar.^[35][36]
• Luis López Nieves, writer

M

• Hugo Margenat, poet
  Margenat was also the founder of the political youth pro-independence organizations "Acción Juventud Independentista" and "Federación de Universitarios Pro Independencia".^[37]
• Rene Marques, playwright
  Marqués wrote "La Carreta" (The Oxcart) which helped secure his reputation as a leading literary figure in Puerto Rico.
• Nemir Matos-Cintrón, poet, novelist^[38]
• Francisco Matos Paoli, poet, critic, and essayist
  Matos Paoli was nominated for the Nobel Prize in literature in 1977. He was also a Secretary General of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party.^[39]
• Dr. Concha Melendez, poet, writer
• Manuel Méndez Ballester, writer
• Pedro Mir, former Poet Laureate of the Dominican Republic (Puerto Rican mother)^[40]
• Nicholasa Mohr, writer
  Her works, among which is the novel Nilda, tell of growing up in the Puerto Rican communities of the Bronx and El Barrio and of the difficulties Puerto Rican women face in the United States.^[41][42]

N

• Mercedes Negron Muñoz, a.k.a. "Clara Lair", poet
  Negrón Muñoz was an influential poet whose work dealt with the everyday struggles of the common Puerto Rican.

O

• Judith Ortiz Cofer, poet, writer and essayist
• Micol Ostow, author
  Ostow wrote of "Mind Your Manners, Dick and Jane". Her novel, "Emily Goldberg Learns to Salsa", was named a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age.^[43]

P

• Dr. José Gualberto Padilla a.k.a. "El Caribe" poet, physician, journalistand politician
  an advocate for Puerto Rico's independence, Padilla was imprisoned for his role in El Grito de Lares revolt.^[44]
• Luis Palés Matos, poet of Afro-Caribbean themes
• Dr. Antonio S. Pedreira, writer and educator
  Pedreira's most important book was "Insularismo", in which he explores the meaning of being Puerto Rican.
• Pedro Pietri, poet, playwright
  Co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.
• Miguel Piñero, playwright, writer
  Co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.

R

• Manuel Ramos Otero, writer, poet^[45]
• Evaristo Ribera Chevremont, poet^[46]
• José Rivera, playwright
  Rivera is the first Puerto Rican screenwriter to be nominated for an Oscar.
• Marie Teresa Ríos, author
  Author of the novel "The Fifteenth Pelican," which was the basis for the popular 1960s television sitcom, "The Flying Nun".^[47]
• Lola Rodríguez de Tió, poet
  Rodríguez de Tió wrote lyrics to the revolutionary "La Borinqueña".
• Francisco Rojas Tollinchi, poet, civic leader and journalist.^[48]

S

• Luis Rafael Sánchez, playwright
• Wilfredo Santa-Gómez, writer, journalist
• Esmeralda Santiago, author
• Mayra Santos-Febres, poet, novelist
• Pedro Juan Soto, writer/novelist
  Soto is the father of slain independence activist Carlos Soto Arriví.
• Clemente Soto Vélez, poet and activist

T

• Alejandro Tapia y Rivera, writer and poet
  "The Father of Puerto Rican Literature".
• Piri Thomas, writer, poet
  Thomas' autobiography Down These Mean Streets was a best-seller.
• Edwin Torres, "Nuyorican Movement" poet
• Judge Edwin Torres, writer
  New York Supreme Court Justice who wrote "Carlito's Way".

U

• Dr. Luz María Umpierre, poet, scholar^[49]

V

• Ed Vega, novelist
• Irene Vilar, author and literary agent
  Vilar is the granddaughter of independence activist Lolita Lebrón.^[50]

W

• William Carlos Williams (Puerto Rican mother), Modernist poet

X

• Emanuel Xavier (Puerto Rican father), poet and author^[51]

Z

• Dr. Manuel Zeno Gandia, writer
  Zeno Gandia wrote "La Charca", the first Puerto Rican novel.

Beauty queens and fashion models

• Deborah Carthy Deu
  Miss Universe – 1985
• Susie Castillo
  Miss USA – 2003 (Puerto Rican mother)
• Noris Díaz ("La Taína")
  Model
• Stella Díaz
  Fashion model
• Jaslene Gonzalez
  Fashion model, Winner of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 8
• Marisol Malaret
  First Puerto Rican Miss Universe – 1970
• Marisol Maldonado
  Fashion model
• Wilnelia Merced
  First and in the present the only Puerto Rican Miss World – 1975
• Astrid Muñoz
  Fashion model
• Cynthia Olavarria
  Miss Puerto Rico – 2005
• Miriam Pabón
  beauty queen, first contestant in half a century to represent Puerto Rico in Miss America pageant^[52]
• Ada Perkins
  Miss Puerto Rico – 1978
• Denise Quiñones
  Miss Universe – 2001
• Ingrid Marie Rivera
  Miss Puerto Rico World – 2005
• Zuleyka Rivera
  Miss Universe – 2006
• Chay Santini
  Fashion model
• Laurie Tamara Simpson
  Miss International – 1987
• Dayanara Torres
  Miss Universe – 1993

Business people and industrialists

• Carlota Alfaro
  Fashion designer
• Aída Álvarez
  First Puerto Rican and first Hispanic woman to hold a sub-cabinet level position in the White House (Small Business Administrator 1997–2000).
• José Berrocal
  Youngest president of PR Government Development Bank, annual scholarships are awarded in his memory.
• Rafael Carrión, Sr.
  Carrión was the patriarch of one Puerto Rico's financial dynasties and a founding father of Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, the largest bank in Puerto Rico and the largest Hispanic bank in the United States.^[53]
• Richard Carrión
  Chairman of the Board Banco Popular, chairman International Olympic Committee's finance committee.
• Kimberly Casiano
  Member Board of Directors of Ford Motor Company.
• Ramiro L. Colon
  First administrator of Cooperativa de Cafeteros de Puerto Rico, Café Rico (official coffee of the Vatican).
• Atilano Cordero Badillo
  Founder of Supermercados Grande.
• Carmen Ana Culpeper
  Former SBA Regional Director, first female PR Treasury Secretary and PR Telephone Company President.
• Oscar de la Renta
  Fashion designer (Puerto Rican father)
• Fernando Fernández
  Founder of "Ron del Barrilito" and "Alcoholado Santa Ana".
• José Ramon Fernández "Marqués de La Esperanza"
  The wealthiest sugar baron in Puerto Rico in the 19th century. He was also considered one of the most powerful men of the entire Spanish Caribbean.^[54]
• Antonio Luis Ferré
  Owner of Ferré-Rangel media emporium.
• Luis A. Ferré
  Founder of the Puerto Rico Cement and Ponce Cement companies (see also Governors).
• Jaime Fonalledas
  Fonalledas is the President and CEO of Empresas Fonalledas, which owns Plaza Las Américas, the largest shopping mall in the Caribbean and one of the top retail and entertainment venues in the world. Empresas Fonalledas companies include Plaza Del Caribe, Tres Monjitas, Vaqueria Tres Monjitas, Ganaderia Tres Monjitas, and franchise Soft & Creamy.^[55]
• José Juan García a.k.a. "CheJuan"
  Founder of "Hogares Crea".
• Eduardo Georgetti
  Was an agriculturist, businessman, philanthropist, politician and the wealthiest sugar baron in Puerto Rico.^[56]
• María Elena Holly
  Widow of rock legend Buddy Holly who owns the rights to Buddy's name, image, trademarks, and other intellectual property.
• Ramón López Irizarry
  Inventor of Coco López.
• Miguel A. García Méndez
  Founder of Western Federal Savings Bank, which later became the now defunct Westernbank Puerto Rico.
• Gildo Massó
  Founder of Massó Enterprises and Casa's Massó.
• Ralph Mercado
  Founder of RMM Records and music producer.^[57]
• Luis Miranda Casañas
  CEO of the multi-state Universal insurance emporium.
• Lisette Nieves
  Founder of "ATREVETE".
• Wilbert Parkhurst
  In 1921, founded "Empresas La Famosa, Inc." a Fruit processing company that by 1971 consisted of "Frozen Fruits Concentrates, Inc.", "Toa Canning Co.", "La Concentradora de Puerto Rico" and "Bayamón Can Company".
• Rafael Pérez Perry
  In 1960 founded television channel 11 also known as "Telecadena Pérez Perry". The same became known as "Tele Once" in 1986.^[58]
• Samuel A. Ramirez, Sr.
  President and founder of Ramirez and Co., the largest Hispanic investment banking firm on Wall Street.
• Ángel Ramos
  Founder of Telemundo television network.
• Gaspar Roca
  Founder of newspaper "El Vocero"
• Chino Rodríguez
  Latin music industry empresario, musical artist manager, owner of Latin Music Booking and the recording label/distribution company Oriente Music Group (OMG).
• Miguel Ruíz
  Founder of Café Yaucono company
• Herb Scannell
  Former Chairman of MTV Networks and president of Nickelodeon.
• Juan Serralles
  Founder of "Don Q" rum.
• Nina Tassler
  President of CBS Entertainment. She is the highest profile Latina in network television and one of the few executives who has the power to greenlight series.^[59]
• Joseph A. Unanue
  Former president and CEO of Goya Foods, son of company founder.
• Alfonso Valdés Cobián
  Co-founder of Cervecería India, Inc., the Puerto Rican winter baseball league and owner of the Indios de Mayagüez (Mayagüez Indians).^[60]
• Camalia Valdés
  Valdés is the President and CEO of Cerveceria India, Inc., Puerto Rico's largest brewery.^[61]
• Salvador Vassallo
  Founder of Vassallo Industries Inc. and subsidiaries.
• Richard Velazquez
  businessman and community leader, former President of NSHMBA Puerto Rico, co-founder and CEO of NSHMBA Seattle^[62]First Puerto Rican automotive designer for Porsche,^[63] First Puerto Rican Product Planner for Xbox 360
• Maria Vizcarrondo-De Soto
  Vizcarrondo-De Soto is the first woman and Latina to become the President and CEO of the United Way of Essex and West Hudson.^[64]

Cartoonists

• David Álvarez
  Creator of "Yenny", illustrator and storyboard artist for DC Comics' "Looney Tunes" series
• Ricardo Álvarez-Rivón
  Creator of "Turey"..
• George Pérez
  Marvel and DC Comics comic book artist.
• John Rivas
  creator of "Bonzzo"
• José Vega Santana
  Creator of the Remi comic and impersonator of "Remi, The Clown"

Civil rights and/or political activists

• Mariana Bracetti a.k.a. "Brazo de Oro" (Golden Arm) Political activist
  Bracetti was the leader of the "Lares's Revolutionary Council" during the Grito de Lares. Bracetti knit the first flag of the future "Republic of Puerto Rico".
• Mathias Brugman Political activist
  Leader of the Grito de Lares. Brugman founded the first revolutionary committee in the City of Mayagüez. His revolutionary cell was code named: "Capa Prieto" (Black Cape).
• Dr. María Cadilla Women rights activist
  Women rights activist and one the first women in Puerto Rico to earn a doctoral degree.
• Blanca Canales Political activist
  Nationalist leader who led the Jayuya revolt.
• Rafael Cancel Miranda Political activist
  Cancel Miranda is a member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party and advocate of Puerto Rican independence who proceeded to attack the United States House of Representatives in 1954.
• Luisa Capetillo Labor activist
  Capetillo was one of Puerto Rico's most famous labor organizers. She was also a writer and an anarchist who fought for workers and women's rights.
• Oscar Collazo Political activist
  One of two nationalists who attempted to assassinate President Harry S. Truman.
• Tito Kayak, Political activist
  De Jesus Mercado gained notoriety when a group of Vieques natives and other Puerto Ricans, including De Jesus Mercado, began protesting and squatting on U.S. Navy bombing zones, after the 1999 death of Puerto Rican civilian and Vieques native David Sanes, who was killed during a U.S. Naval bombing exercise.
• Sylvia del Villard Afro-Puerto Rican activist
  Founder of the Afro-Boricua El Coqui Theater, was known to be an outspoken activist who fought for the equal rights of the Black Puerto Rican artist. In 1981, she became the first and only director of the office of the Afro-Puerto Rican affairs of the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture. (see also actresses)
• Isabel González Civil Rights activist
  Young Puerto Rican mother who paved the way for Puerto Ricans to be given United States citizenship.^[65]
• Lolita Lebrón Political activist
  Nationalist leader and activist. Lebrón was the leader of a group of nationalists, who proceeded to attack the United States House of Representatives in 1954.
• Sylvia Mendez Civil Rights activist
  Educator and Civil rights activist, played an instrumental role in the landmark Mendez v. Westminster case.
• María de las Mercedes Barbudo Political activist
  Mercedes Barbudo is considered to be the first female from Puerto Rico "Independentista" meaning that she was the woman to become an avid advocate of the Puerto Rican Independence..^[66]
• Ana María O'Neill Women Rights activist
  Educator and women's rights advocate.
• Manuel Olivieri Sanchez Civil Rights activist
  Olivieri Sanchez was a court interpreter and a civil rights activist who led the legal battle which granted U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans living in Hawaii.^[67]
• Sylvia Rivera Transgender activist
  Sylvia Rivera was a pioneer of the LGBT movement and was a veteran of the 1969 Stonewall riots.^[68]
• Isolina Rondón Political activist and Treasurer of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party.
  She was one of the few witnesses of the killing of four Nationalists committed by local police officers in Puerto Rico during a confrontation with the supporters of the Nationalist Party that occurred in October 24, 1935,and which is known as the Rio Piedras massacre.^[69]
• Isabel Rosado Political activist
  Rosado was imprisoned multiple times because of her commitment to the cause of Puerto Rican independence.^[70]
• Anthony Romero Civil rights leader
  Romero is the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union.^[71]
• Dr. Helen Rodriguez-Trias MD,
  physician and women's rights activist. (see also Educators and scientists)^[72]
• Ana Roque Women Rights activist
  Roque was an educator and suffragist. She was also one of the founders of the University of Puerto Rico.
• Arturo Alfonso Schomburg Civil rights
  Schomburg was a pioneer in black history. He helped raise awareness of the great contribution that Afro-Latin Americans and Afro-Americans have made to society.
• Griselio Torresola Political activist
  Nationalist who died in attempt to assassinate President Harry S. Truman in 1950.
• Carlos Vélez Rieckehoff Political activist
  Former President of the New York chapter of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party in the 1930s. In the 1990s Rieckehoff was among the protesters who protested against the United States Navy's use of his birth place, the island of Vieques, as a bombing range.^[73]
• Dr. Olga Viscal Garriga Political activist
  member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party. During the late 1940s she became a student leader at the University of Puerto Rico and spokesperson of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party's branch in Rio Piedras.

Composers, musicians and singers

A

• Mary Ann Acevedo Rivera, Singer, songwriter
• Juan F. Acosta, Composer of folklore music
• "Agallah", Rapper/producer
• Johnny Albino, Singer
• Natalie and Nicole Albino, "Nina Sky" R&B
• Rafael Alers, Danza composer
  First Puerto Rican to compose a Hollywood musical score
• Tite Curet Alonso, Ballad and salsa composer
• Henry Arana, Composer^[74]
• Félix Astol, Composer
  Composed "La Borinqueña"
• Chucho Avellanet, Singer
• Corina Katt Ayala a.k.a. "Corina" singer/actress
• Raymond Ayala a.k.a. "Daddy Yankee", Reggaeton singer

B

• Manolo Badrena, Percussionist
• Adrienne Bailon, Singer, actress, songwriter
  Bailon was a part of the former girl group trio 3LW, and of "The Cheetah Girls"
• Puchi Balseiro, Composer
• Lloyd Banks, Rapper (Puerto Rican mother)^[75]
• Antonio Barasorda, Tenor singer
• Ray Barretto, Percussionist, jazz and salsa leader
• Eddie Benitez, Guitarist
• John Benitez a.k.a. "Jellybean Benítez", Music producer and remixer
• Lucecita Benítez a.k.a. "Lucecita", Singer
• Obie Bermúdez, Singer and composer
• "Big Pun", Rapper
• Angela Bofill, Singer
• Americo Boschetti, Singer and composer
• Roy Brown, Folklore singer, composer

C

• Antonio Cabán Vale a.k.a. "El Topo", Folklore singer, composer
• Tego Calderón rapper
• Juan Morel Campos, Composer of Danzas
• Héctor Campos-Parsi, Singer/composer
• Bobby Capó, Singer, composer
• Nydia Caro, Singer
• Vicente Carattini, Singer and composer
  Composed many of Puerto Rico's Christmas themes
• Joseph Cartagena a.k.a. "Fat Joe", Rapper
• Marta Casals Istomin, Cellist
  Former President of Manhattan School of Music, widow of musician's Pablo Casals and Eugene Istomin.

• Pablo Casals, Cellist (Puerto Rican mother)
  World renowned classical musician
• Kevin Ceballo Salsa music singer
• Rafael Cepeda, Composer
  Cepeda is "The Patriarch of the Bomba and Plena"
• Iris Chacón, Singer and vedette
• Keshia Chanté, R&B/Pop singer/songwriter^[76]
• Arístides Chavier Arévalo, Pianist and composer^[77]
• "Chelo", Singer
• "Choco Orta", Salsa singer
• José Miguel Class a.k.a. "El Gallito de Manati", Singer
• Angel Clivillés, Singer
  Member of The Cover Girls
• Robert Clivillés, Freestyle producer
  Founder and member of C + C Music Factory^[78]
• Javier Colon – singer and winner of the first season of U.S. reality series The Voice
• Willie Colón, Salsa composer
• César Concepción, Orchestra leader
• Ernesto Cordero, Composer and classical guitarist^[79]
• Federico A. Cordero, Composer and classical guitarist
• Millie Corretjer,Singer
• Rafael Cortijo, Salsa band leader
• José Cosculluela, a.k.a. "Cosculluela", Hip Hop and Reggaeton artist
• Elvis Crespo, Merengue singer
• Tony Croatto, Singer/composer of Puerto Rican folk songs
• Bobby Cruz, Salsa singer, bandleader
• Joe Cuba, Bandleader
  Considered to be "The Father of the Boogaloo"

D

• Héctor Delgado a.k.a. "El Father", Reggaeton singer
• Justino Díaz, Opera singer
• Rafael José Díaz a.k.a. "Rafael José", Singer and television host
• Carmen Delia Dipini, Bolero singer
• Quique Domenech, Musician, composer
• Howie Dorough, Singer
  Member of the Backstreet Boys
• Braulio Dueño Colon Composer
  Composer of "Canciones Escolares"
• Huey Dunbar, Singer
  Member of DLG (Puerto Rican mother)
• Johnathan Dwayne, Singer, composer

E

• Rafi Escudero, Musician, singer, composer
• Many Espinal simply known as "Tego Calderón", Reggaeton singer
• Noel Estrada, Composer
  Composer of "En Mi Viejo San Juan"
• Cano Estremera, Singer, composer and poet

F

• Lucy Fabery, Singer
• Rene Farrait, Singer
  Former member of "Menudo"
• Cheo Feliciano, Salsa singer
• José Feliciano, Singer
  Composed "Feliz Navidad"
• Ruth Fernández, Singer
• Elmer Figueroa simply known as "Chayanne", Singer
• Narciso Figueroa, Composer
  Known as the "Father of the Modern Danza"
• Pedro Flores, Composer
• Hector Fonseca, Producer/musician^[80]
• Luis Fonsi, Singer

G

• Angelo Garcia, Singer
  Former member of "Menudo"
• Kany García, Singer/songwriter
• Jenilca Giusti, Singer, songwriter, actress, model^[81]
• Eddie Gómez, Jazz musician and composer^[82]
• Tito Gómez, Salsa singer
• Gloria González, Composer^[83]
• Kenny "Dope" Gonzales, Producer/musician^[84]
  Member of Masters At Work
• Odilio Gonzalez, Singer

H

• "Hex Hector", Grammy Award winning remixer and producer^[85]
• Cruz Manuel Hernández a.k.a. "Manny Manuel", Singer
• Oscar Hernández, Salsa musician
  Composed the musical theme for the television series "Sex and the City"
• Rafael Hernández Marín Composer
  Composer of "Preciosa" and "Lamento Borincano"
• Giovanni Hidalgo, Percussionist
• Lee Holdridge, Television and film score composer

I

• Rafael Ithier, Musician
  Founder of "El Gran Combo" orchestra

J

• Andrés Jiménez a.k.a. "El Jíbaro", Singer, trovador, and composer.
  Known for his nationalistic themes.
• Carmita Jiménez a.k.a. "La Dama de la Canción", singer
• René Pérez Joglar, lead singer of Calle 13
• Jim Jones, Rapper

K

• "Kane & Abel", Rap duo
• "Kurious Jorge", Rapper

L

• "La India", Salsa singer
• George Lamond, Pop/salsa singer
• Tito Lara, Singer
• Héctor Lavoe, Salsa singer
• William Landrón a.k.a. "Don Omar", Reggaeton singer
• Raphy Leavitt, Composer, musical director
  Founder "La Selecta" orchestra.
• Toñito Ledee, Salsa singer
• Manny Lehman, Music producer/ deejay^[86]
• "Lil' Suzy", Freestyle singer
• "Lisa M", Rapper
• David Lozada a.k.a. "Cheka", Reggaeton artist
• Johnny Lozada, Singer,
  Former member of "Menudo"
• Luis Lozada a.k.a. "Vico C", Rapper
• Papo Lucca,
  Lead pianist of "La Sonora Ponceña"
• "Lunna", Singer

M

• "Marc Anthony", Singer
• Benjamín Marcantoni, Opera singer, countertenor
• Bruno Mars, Singer and songwriter (Puerto Rican father)
• Ricky Martin, Singer,
  Former member of "Menudo"
• Ana María Martínez, Soprano singer
• Angie Martínez, Singer, actress, radio personality
• Ladislao Martínez a.k.a. "El Maestro Ladí"
  Was an accomplished cuatro player and the first Puerto Rican musician to play solo on the radio.
• Charlie Masso, Singer
  Former member of "Menudo"
• Paul Masvidal, guitarist, singer, and songwriter with international recording artists Cynic
• "Maxwell", R&B/Neo-Soul singer (Puerto Rican father)
• Scotty McCreery, country singer, Winner of the tenth season of American Idol^[87]
• Lisette Melendez, Freestyle/Latin-pop singer.
• Ricky Meléndez, Singer
  Former member of "Menudo"
• Syesha Mercado, Singer and finalist on American Idol (Puerto Rican father)
• Julia Migenes, Opera soprano
• Ismael Miranda, "El Niño Bonito de la Salsa", Singer and composer
• Lin-Manuel Miranda, Actor and Tony Award winning composer, and lyricist
  He is best known for writing and acting in the Broadway musical "In the Heights"^[88]
• Ángel Mislan, Composer of Danzas
• José Luis Moneró, composer and band leader
• Yolandita Monge, singer, TV host, TV and theatrical actress^[89]
• Gilberto Monroig, Bolero singer
• Glenn Monroig, Composer, singer
  Sang the "first" rap song in Spanish
• Andy Montañez, Salsa singer
• David Morales, Deejay/composer/music producer^[90]
• Florencio Morales Ramos a.k.a. "Ramito", Bolero and Plena composer and singer
  Ramito composed "Que Bonita Bandera", song which on 19 March 2009 served as the wake-up call for Puerto Rican astronaut Joseph M. Acaba and the crew aboard the Discovery Space Shuttle.^[91]
• Mark Morales a.k.a. "Prince Markie Dee", Rapper, producer
• Noro Morales, Pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader
• Rafael Muñoz, Orchestra leader

N

• Ednita Nazario, Singer
• Chuck Negron, Singer
  Lead singer of group Three Dog Night (cousin of actor Taylor Negron)
• Joe Negroni, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, member of the Teenagers.
• Tito Nieves, Salsa singer
• "Noelia", Singer
  Daughter of Yolandita Monge
• Nova y Jory, Reggaeton duo
• "N.O.R.E.", Rapper
• Jorge Nuñez Mendez, Pop singer
  First Puerto Rican finalist in the popular television program American Idol (2009).^[92]

Ñ

• Ñengo Flow, Reggaeton Artist

O

• Tommy Olivencia, Salsa singer
• Tony Orlando, Singer, (Puerto Rican mother)
• Jeannie Ortega, R&B/reggaeton singer
• Claudette Ortiz, Singer
  R&B group City High.^[93]
• Joell Ortiz, Rapper
• Luis "Perico" Ortiz, Salsa singer, musician, composer, musical arranger and producer
• Shalim Ortiz a.k.a. "Shalim", Singer/actor
• Pedro Ortiz Davila a.k.a. "Davilita", Bolero Singer

P

• Charlie Palmieri, Pianist, bandleader.
• Eddie Palmieri, Bandleader
• Amalia Paoli, Soprano singer
• Antonio Paolí, Tenor, opera singer
  First person in history to record an entire opera
• José Enrique Pedreira, Danza composer
• Ángel "Cuco" Peña, Musician, composer and producer
• Melliangee Pérez, Soprano singer
  Soprano of the Year award by UNESCO^[94]
• René Pérez, Singer
  Member of Calle 13 (band)
• Lourdes Pérez, Singer, songwriter
  Acclaimed folk, nueva canción, nueva trova singer^[95]
• Martha Pesante a.k.a. "Ivy Queen" and "The Queen of Reggaeton" Reggaeton singer.
• Plan B, Reggaeton duo
• Carlos Ponce, Singer
• Rebeca Pous Del Toro, Spanish pop singer (cousin of Benicio del Toro)
• Miguel Poventud a.k.a. "El Nino Prodigio de Guayama" and "Miguelito"
  Poventud was a Puerto Rican musician, singer and composer of Boleros whose songs have been intreperted by notable singers such as Paul Anka, Marco Antonio Muñiz, Johnny Albino, Héctor Lavoe and Daniel Santos (singer).^[96]
• Tito Puente, Musician, composer and producer

tempo(david sanchez badillo) reggeaton rapper

Q

• Domingo Quiñones, Singer/actor
• Luciano Quiñones, Danza composer
• Ismael Quintana, Salsa singer
• José Ignacio Quintón, Pianist/composer of danzas

R

• Chamaco Ramirez, Salsa singer^[97]
• Val Ramos, International Flamenco guitarist
• Richie Ray, a.k.a. "The King of Salsa", Singer, composer.
• Sylvia Rexach, Singer, composer
• Ray Reyes, Singer, former member of Menudo
• Ron Reyes, Singer
  Singer for Black Flag, 1979–1980
• Gabriel Ríos, Musician
• Danny Rivera, Singer
• Dr. Graciela Rivera, Opera singer
• Ismael Rivera, "El Sonero Mayor", Salsa singer
• Jerry Rivera, Salsa singer
• Mon Rivera, Trombonist and singer
• Tomás Rivera Morales a.k.a. "Maso" Rivera, Composer
  Child music prodigy who went on to compose over 1,000 instrumental compositions for the cuatro, among which he treasured the waltz.
• Augusto Rodríguez, Music composer and chorus director
  Rodríguez was the founder of Choir of the University of Puerto Rico.
• Daniel Rodríguez, Former police officer turned operatic tenor
  
• Felipe Rodríguez a.k.a. "La Voz", Singer of Boleros.
• Julito Rodríguez, Singer
• Lalo Rodríguez, Salsa singer
• Pellin Rodríguez, Salsa singer
  Rodríguez was a member of the musical group "El Gran Combo" and toured with the group all over Europe and Latin America, gaining fame and popularity as a singer.^[98]
• Tito Rodríguez, Singer and band leader
• Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez, Salsa singer
• Omar Rodríguez-López, Composer and guitarist
• Roberto Roena, Percussionist and band leader
• Kelis Rogers, Singer and television host, (Chinese-Puerto Rican mother).
• Tito Rojas, Salsa singer
• Marta Romero, Singer and actress
• Robi Dräco Rosa, Singer, composer
  Former member of "Menudo"
• Ralphi Rosario, Producer/deejay/musician
  Member of musical duo Rosabel
• Willie Rosario, Composer, timbalero, bandleader
• Felipe Rose, Singer
  The "Indian" in The Village People.
• Roy Rossello, Singer
  Former member of "Menudo"
• Julita Ross, Singer of Danzas
• Frankie Ruiz, Salsa singer
• Hilton Ruiz, Jazz composer/musician
• Víctor Manuelle, Singer

S

• Jimmy Sabater Sr., musician
  He is a three-time winner of the ACE Awards.^[99]
• "Sa-Fire", Singer
• Fernando and Nefty Sallaberry Singers
  Former members of "Menudo"
• Bobby Sanabria Latin jazz musician, composer, educator
• Claudio Sanchez, Singer
  Lead singer, lyricist and guitarist of Coheed and Cambria.
• David Sánchez a.k. a. "Tempo", Reggaeton artist
• Jesús María Sanromá, Composer
  The first person ever to be named official pianist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
• Gilberto Santa Rosa, Salsa singer
• Daniel Santos, Composer, singer of boleros
• ""Ray Santos"", Arranger, Composer, The Mambo Kings,^[100]
• Adalberto Santiago, Salsa singer
• Eddie Santiago, Salsa singer
• Herman Santiago, Rock n Roll singer
  composed song "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
• Marvin Santiago, Salsa singer
• Dr. Zoraida Santiago, Singer and composer
• Nino Segarra, Salsa singer
• Ray Sepúlveda, Salsa singer
• Xavier Serbia, Singer
  Former member of "Menudo"
• Myrta Silva a.k.a "La Gorda de Oro" and "Madame Chencha", Singer, composer
• Arturo Somohano, Composer
  Symphony orchestra conductor.
• "Sophy", Singer
• Ivette Sosa, Singer
  Member of Eden's Crush.
• Brenda K. Starr, Salsa singer (Puerto Rican mother)
• Michael Stuart, Singer
• "Sweet Sensation", Freestyle trio

T

• Olga Tañón, Singer/composer
• Manuel Gregorio Tavarez, Composer
  Known as "The Father of the Puerto Rican Danzas"
• Gerardo Teissonniere, Classical pianist and teacher
• Daniel Ticotin a.k.a. "Sahaj", Singer and musician
  vocalist/guitarist from the Rock band Ra. Brother of actress Rachel Ticotin.^[101]
• Juan Tizol, Jazz musician and composer
• "TKA", Freestyle trio
• Ray Toro, Guitarist
  Lead guitarist of My Chemical Romance.
• Yomo Toro Musician, guitarist, and "cuatrista"
• Manoella Torres, Singer
• Eladio Torres Musician, singer and composer
  ^[102]
• Nestor Torres, Musician
  Torres is a Latin Grammy award winning preeminent flautist in the Latin jazz genre.^[103]
• Tommy Torres, Singer, composer, musician
• Tony Touch, Singer

V

• Yolanda Vadiz, Gospel singer
• Gary Valenciano, Filipino musician (Puerto Rican mother)
• Bobby Valentín, Musician/bandleader
• Mario Vázquez, Pop and R&B singer
  former American Idol contestant (2005).^[104]
• Alan Vega, Rock singer
  Member of Suicide
• Little Louie Vega , Producer/musician
  Member of Masters At Work
• Tony Vega, Salsa singer
• Lisa Velez, Singer
  Singer of Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam.
• Wilkins Vélez simply known as "Wilkins", Singer and composer
• "Veronica", American dance singer and actress

W'

• "Wisin & Yandel", Reggaeton duo,
  Known as "El Duo de la Historia"

Y

• "Yaga y Mackie", Reggaeton duo
• "Yomo, Reggaeton artist

Z

• "Miguel Zenón", jazz saxophonist
• "Zion y Lennox", Reggaeton duo

Criminals and outlaws

Pre-20th Century

• Roberto Cofresí
  Pirate
• José Maldonado Román
  Revolutionary, considered an outlaw by the authorities and a hero along the lines of Robin Hood by the local "Jibaros" (humble farmers).^[105]

20th Century

• Salvador Agron a.k.a. "The Capeman"
  Criminal and poet.
• Antonio Correa Cotto
  Outlaw.
• Lydia Echevarría
  Actress, criminal.
• Antonio García López a.k.a. "Toño Bicicleta"
  outlaw.
• Raymond Márquez a.k.a. "Spanish Raymond"
  Harlem numbers kingpin^[106][107]
• Isabel la Negra
  Madam of a brothel.
• Tony Tursi
  Mobster

21st Century

• José "Junior Cápsula" Figueroa Agosto
  Drug kingpin^[108] and porn star^[109] known as "the Pablo Escobar of the Caribbean"
• José Padilla
  Convicted supporter of terrorism.

Diplomats

20th Century

• Adrian A. Basora
  former U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic^[110]
• Gabriel Guerra-Mondragón
  former U.S. Ambassador to Chile
• Luis Guinot
  former U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica
• Victor Marrero
  former U.S. Ambassador to the OAS^[110]
• Spencer Matthews King
  former U.S. Ambassador to Guyana
• Edward G. Miller, Jr.
  Miller was a lawyer who served as Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs from 1949 to 1952.^[111]
• Teodoro Moscoso
  former U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela and head of Alliance for Progress (see also politicians)
• Horacio Rivero
  Admiral (Ret.), former U.S. Ambassador to Spain (see also Military)
• Edward Romero
  former U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra^[110]

21st Century

• Mari Carmen Aponte
  U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador
• César Benito Cabrera
  former U.S. Ambassador to Mauritius and the Seychelles
• Hans Hertell
  former U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic
• Carmen Martinez
  former U.S. Ambassador to Zambia

Educators

• Dr. Ursula Acosta Educator
  One of the founding members of the Sociedad Puertorriqueña de Genealogía (Puerto Rican Genealogical Society)^[112]
• Alfredo M. Aguayo Educator and writer
  Established the first laboratory of child psychology at the University of Havana^[113]
• Dr. Carlos Albizu Miranda Psychologist, educator
  First Hispanic Educator to have a North American University renamed in his honor and one of the first Hispanics to earn a PhD in Psychology in the United States.^[114]
• Dr. Margot Arce de Vázquez Educator
  Founder of the Department of Hispanic Studies in the University of Puerto Rico.
• Dr. Jaime Benítez Former Resident Commissioner
  Longest serving chancellor and president of the University of Puerto Rico
• Frank Bonilla Educator
  Academic who became a leading figure in Puerto Rican Studies.^[115]
• Dr. Carlos A. Chardón Educator
  Chardón was the only Puerto Rican to serve twice as Puerto Rico Secretary of Education
• Dr. Edna Coll Educator and author
  Coll was President of the Society of Puerto Rican Authors in San Juan. She was also the founder of the Academy of Fine Arts in Puerto Rico.^[116]
• Rafael Cordero Educator
  Declared Venerable in 2004 by Pope John Paul II; process for beatification is now in motion with Benedictine Fr. Oscar Rivera as Procurator of the Cause.
• Dr. Waded Cruzado first Hispanic president of Montana State University^[117]
• Eugenio María de Hostos Educator
  In Peru, Hostos helped to develop that country's educational system and spoke against the harsh treatment given to the Chinese who lived there. He stayed in Chile from 1870 to 1873. During his stay there, he taught at the University of Chile and gave a speech titled "The Scientific Education of Women." He proposed in his speech that governments permit women in their colleges. Soon after, Chile allowed women to enter its college educational system. (see also Politicians and Authors)
• Angelo Falcón Political scientist
  Author of "Atlas of Stateside Puerto Ricans" (2004) and co-editor of the book, "Boricuas in Gotham: Puerto Ricans in the Making of Modern New York City" (2004).
• Dr. José Ferrer Canales Educator, writer and activist.
• Dr. Antonio García Padilla
  President, UPR, (2001–2009), former Dean of UPR Law School.
• Dr. Megh R. Goyal Professor/Historian/Scientist
  Father of Irrigation Engineering in Puerto Rican, Professor in Agricultural & Biomedical Engineering University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez^[118]
• Dr. Concha Meléndez Educator, writer poet.
• Ana G. Méndez Educator
  Founder of the Ana G. Mendez University System.
• Dr. Antonia Pantoja Educator
  Founder of "ASPIRA" was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
• Dr. Ángel Ramos Educator
  Superintendent of the Sequoia Schools for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Ramos is one of the few deaf Hispanics to earn a doctorate from Gallaudet University
• Dr.Juan A. Rivero Educator
  Founded the Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo in Mayagüez, has discovered numerous animal species and has written several books.
• Ana Roque Educator and suffragist
  Roque was one of the founders of the University of Puerto Rico.
• Dr. Carlos E. Santiago
  Economist and Educator. Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.^[119]
• Ninfa Segarra
  President of the New York City Board of Education 2000–2002.
• Lolita Tizol Educator
  Early 1900s Educator: at a time when most people in Ponce, as most of Puerto Rico, did not know how to read and write, and when teachers were paid only $50 per month, even in the large cities, Tizol took it upon herself to overcome all challenges to help others.^[120]
• Nilita Vientos Gaston Educator
  Vientos Gaston was the first female lawyer to work for the Department of Justice of Puerto Rico. She defended the use of the Spanish language in the courts of Puerto Rico, before the Supreme Court, and won
• Mariano Villaronga-Toro Educator and public servant
  Villaronga Toro was the first Commissioner of Public Instruction after the creation of the Estado Libre Asociado. He instituted the use of Spanish as the official language of instruction in the Puerto Rico public education system, displacing instruction in English which had been pushed by the US-appointed colonial governors.^[121]

Governors

Pre-20th Century

• Juan Ponce de León II,
  First Puerto Rican acting governor, in 1579.

20th Century

• Luis A. Ferré,
  3rd elected governor of Puerto Rico from 1969 to 1973. (see also Industrialists).
• Rafael Hernández Colón,
  4th elected governor of Puerto Rico from 1973 to 1977, and then again from 1985 to 1993.
• Juan Bernardo Huyke,
  He was the second Puerto Rican native to serve as temporary Governor of Puerto Rico. In 1923, he served as interim governor between the administrations of Emmet Montgomery Reily and Horace Mann Towner.^[122]
• Luis Muñoz Marín,
  1st elected governor of Puerto Rico from 1949 to 1965.
• Jesús T. Piñero,
  First Puerto Rican to be named governor of the Island by a U.S. President; served from 1946 to 1949.
• Carlos Romero Barceló,
  5th elected governor of Puerto Rico from 1977 to 1985.
• Dr. Pedro Rosselló,
  6th elected governor of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001.
• Roberto Sánchez Vilella,
  2nd elected governor of Puerto Rico from 1965 to 1969.

21st Century

• Aníbal Acevedo Vilá,
  8th elected governor of Puerto Rico from 2005 to 2009.
• Sila Calderón,
  7th elected and first female governor of Puerto Rico from 2001 to 2005.
• Luis Fortuño,
  9th elected governor of Puerto Rico from 2009 to present.

First Spouses of Puerto Rico

• Kate Donnelly,
  First Lady of Puerto Rico (1977–1985), Trustee, Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico.
• Luisa Gándara,
  First Lady of Puerto Rico (2005–2009).
• Lila Mayoral Wirshing,
  Youngest First Lady of Puerto Rico (1973–77, 1985–92).
• Inés Mendoza,
  First Lady of Puerto Rico, revered teacher and cultural leader.

Historians

• Iñigo Abbad y Lasierra
  First historian to extensively document Puerto Rico's history, nationality and culture.
• Dr. Delma S. Arrigoitia, historian, author
  Arrigoitia was the first person in the University of Puerto Rico to earn a Masters Degree in the field of history. In 2010, her book, "Puerto Rico Por Encima de Todo: Vida y Obra de Antonio R. Barcelo, 1868–1938", was recognized among the best in the category of "research and criticism" and awarded a first place prize by the Ateneo Puertorriqueño.^[123]
• Dr. Pilar Barbosa UPR Professor, author
  First modern-day Official Historian of Puerto Rico.
• Dr. Salvador Brau, historian
  Second Official Historian of Puerto Rico.
• Dr. Cayetano Coll y Toste, writer
  Third Official Historian of Puerto Rico.
• Adolfo de Hostos, historian
  Fifth Official Historian of Puerto Rico.
• Dr. Luis González Vale
  Current Official Historian of Puerto Rico.
• Eduardo Neumann Gandía
  Respected historian, best known for his 19th-century "History of Ponce."^[124]
• Francisco Mariano Quiñones, historian
  First Official Historian of Puerto Rico.
• Antonio Mirabal
  Historian, poet and writer.
• Andres Ramos Mattei, historian
  The "undisputed authority" on the subject of Puerto Rico's sugar industry.^[125]

Journalists

• José Julián Acosta,
  Acosta was a distinguished journalist and a fervent advocate of the abolition of slavery in Puerto Rico.
• José Andino y Amezquita,
  First Puerto Rican journalist.^[126]
• María Celeste Arrarás,
  Anchor for "Al Rojo Vivo".^[127]
• Isabel Cuchí Coll, journalist and author
  Cuchi Coll was the granddaughter of Dr. Cayetano Coll y Toste and niece of José Coll y Cuchí
  She served as Director of the "Sociedad de Autores Puertorriqueño^[116]
• Lynda Baquero,
  Reporter, WNBC in New York City^[128]
• Bárbara Bermudo,
  Journalist, co-host of Univisions "Primer Impacto".
• Marysol Castro,
  Co-host for ABC's "Good Morning America".^[129]
• Christopher Crommett,
  Atlanta-based Exec VP CNN en Español.
• Carmen Dominicci,
  Co-host of Univisions "Primer Impacto".
• Manuel Fernández Juncos,
  Journalist, wrote lyrics to "La Borinqueña".
• Juan González,
  New York City investigative journalist.
• Aníbal González Irizarry,
  Former newscaster for "Telenoticias en accion".
• Jackie Guerrido,
  Journalist and meteorologist for Univisions "Despierta America".
• Kimberly Guilfoyle,
  Court TV Journalist and former first-lady of San Francisco (Puerto Rican mother).^[130]
• Taina Hernandez,
  former ABC News television journalist.
• César Andreu Iglesias,
  Founding editor of Claridad newspaper; novelist/political activist.
• Carmen Jovet,
  Journalist, first Puerto Rican woman named news anchor in Puerto Rico.
• Michele LaFountain,
  Anchor for the Spanish version of ESPN Sports Center.
• Alycia Lane,
  Journalist and news anchor on KYW-TV in Philadelphia.
• Lynda López,
  New York City television news personality (sister of Jennifer Lopez).
• Natalie Morales,
  Journalist and news anchor on NBC's The Today Show
• Denisse Oller,
  Emmy-award winning New York City television news anchor.
• Audrey Puente,
  New York City meteorologist (daughter of Tito Puente).
• Carlos D. Ramirez,
  Publisher of El Diario La Prensa, New York City's largest Spanish-language newspaper.^[131]
• Jorge L. Ramos,
  Emmy-award winning New York City television news anchor.^[132]
• Geraldo Rivera,
  Attorney, journalist, writer, reporter and former talk show host. Rivera hosts the newsmagazine program Geraldo at Large, and appears regularly on Fox News Channel.
• Darlene Rodriguez,
  New York City television news anchor^[133]
• Rubén Sánchez,
  Radio and television journalist.^[134]
• Edna Schmidt,
  Anchor for "Telefutura".
• Ray Suarez,
  Senior Correspondent for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.
• Guillermo José Torres,
  Journalist and news anchor for WAPA-TV.
• Elizabeth Vargas,
  Former co-anchor ABC World News Tonight.^[135]
• Antonio Vélez Alvarado, journalist
  Vélez Alvarado is known as "The Father of the Puerto Rican Flag".^[136]
• Jane Velez-Mitchell,
  Anchor for the HLN news network (Puerto Rican mother)^[137]

Judges and law enforcement

• José Andreu García, PR Chief Justice
  Former PR Chief Justice and sports official.
• José A. Cabranes, 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals Judge
  First Puerto Rican to serve as a federal judge in the continental United States, mentioned as possible U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice.Jose A. Diaz, Administrative Law Judge,N.Y.S.D.M.V.(1985–2001).
• Albert Diaz, 4th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge
  First Puerto Rican and first Hispanic Judge to serve the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Diaz was an Appellate Judge for the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals.
• Nicholas Estavillo, NYPD Chief of Patrol (Ret.)
  In 2002, Estavillo became the first Puerto Rican and the first Hispanic in the history of the NYPD to reach the three-star rank of Chief of Patrol.^[138]
• Luis Estrella Martínez, youngest Associate Justice, at 39, of the current 9-member Puerto Rico Supreme Court
• Faith Evans, U.S. Marshal
  Hawaiian-Puerto Rican, first woman to be named U.S. Marshal.
• Julio M. Fuentes, 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals Judge
  First Puerto Rican and first Hispanic Judge to serve the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Gustavo Gelpí, U.S. District Judge
  Youngest United States District Judge (2006–present).
• Alejandro González Malave, Undercover police officer
  controversial undercover police officer.
• Federico Hernández Denton, Chief Justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court
  Puerto Rico's first Consumer Affairs Secretary, current Chief Justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court.
• Dora Irizarry, Federal District Judge
  First female Hispanic state judge in New York.
• Erick Kolthoff, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
  Is the first Puerto Rican of African descent to be named Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico^[139]
• Irma Lozada, New York City Transit Police
  Lozada was the first female police officer to die in the line of duty in New York City.^[107]
• Victor Marrero, Circuit Judge^[140]
• José Meléndez-Pérez, INS officer
  INS Officer who was named in 9/11 Commission Report; denied entry to terrorist in August 2001.
• Roberto Rivera-Soto, New Jersey State Supreme Court Justice
  First Puerto Rican and Latino New Jersey State Supreme Court Justice.
• Benito Romano,United States Attorney in New York
  First Puerto Rican to hold the United States Attorney's post in New York on an interim basis.^[141]
• Clemente Ruiz Nazario, U.S. Federal Judge of Puerto Rico
  First Puerto Rican U.S. Federal Judge of Puerto Rico.
• Vanessa Ruiz, Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals
  Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the highest court for the District of Columbia.
• Joe Sánchez, Former New York City police officer
  Sánchez is a highly decorated former New York City police officer and author whose books give an insight as to the corruption within the department."^[142]
• A. Cecil Snyder, Chief Justice and U.S. Attorney in Puerto Rico
  Controversial Chief Justice and U.S. Attorney in Puerto Rico.
• Sonia Sotomayor, U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice
  First Puerto Rican woman to serve as an (2d Cir.) U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge and to be nominated and confirmed as U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice
• Pedro Toledo, Puerto Rico Police Superintendent
  Retired FBI senior agent and longest-serving state police superintendent.
• Juan R. Torruella, 1st Circuit Court of Appeals Judge
  First Puerto Rican to serve as Chief Judge of the First Circuit Court of Appeals.
• José Trías Monge, Chief Justice
  Former Chief Justice, Attorney General of Puerto Rico and author.
• Carmen Consuelo Vargas, Puerto Rican Federal District Judge
  First female Puerto Rican federal district judge and Chief Judge.

Military

17th century

• Juan de Amezquita, Captain, Puerto Rican Militia
  Defeated Captain Balduino Enrico (Boudewijn Hendricksz), who in 1625 was ordered by the Dutch to capture Puerto Rico.^[143]

18th century

• Rafael Conti, Colonel, Spanish Army
  In 1790, Conti captured 11 enemy ships involved in smuggling stolen goods. In 1797, he helped defeat Sir Ralph Abercromby and defend Puerto Rico from a British invasion in his hometown, Aguadilla. In 1809, he organized a military expedition fight with the aim of returning Hispaniola, which now comprise the nations of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, back to Spanish rule.^[144]
• Antonio de los Reyes Correa, Captain, Spanish Army
  Puerto Rican hero who defended the town Arecibo in 1702 from an invasion by defeating the British. He was awarded "La Medalla de Oro de la Real Efigie" (The Gold Medal of the Royal Image), by King Philip V of Spain and given the title of "Captain of Infantry"^[145]
• José and Francisco Díaz, Sergeants, Puerto Rican militia
  The Díaz were cousins in the Toa Baja Militia who helped defeat Sir Ralph Abercromby and defend Puerto Rico from a British invasion in 1797.^[146]
• Miguel Henríquez, Captain, Spanish Navy
  In 1713, Henríquez defeated the British in Vieques and was awarded the La Medalla de Oro de la Real Efigie (The Gold Medal of the Royal Effigy).^[147]

19th century

• Juan Alonso Zayas, 2nd Lieutenant, Spanish Army
  Alonso Zayas was the commander of the 2nd Expeditionary Battalion of the Spanish Army stationed in Baler which fought in the Siege of Baler in the Philippines.^[148]
• Francisco Gonzalo Marín, Lieutenant, Cuban Liberation Army
  Gonzalo Marin is considered by many as the designer of the Puerto Rican Flag. He was also a poet and journalist who fought alongside José Martí for Cuba's independence.^[149]
• Demetrio O'Daly, Field Marshal, Spanish Army
  O'Daly was the first Puerto Rican to reach the rank of Field Marshal in the Spanish Army. O'Daly also was also elected as delegate to the Spanish Courts in representation of Puerto Rico.^[150]
• Luis Padial, Brigadier General, Spanish Army
  In 1863, Padial's battalion was deployed with the intention of "squashing" a pro-independence rebellion in the Dominican Republic in which he was wounded. Padial played an essential role in the abolishment of slavery in Puerto Rico.^[151]
• Ramón Power y Giralt, Captain, Spanish Navy
  Power y Giralt was a distinguished naval officier who during the years of 1808–1809 led the defense of the Spanish Colony of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) against an invasion from Napoleon's French forces by enforcing a blockade in support of the Spanish ground troops.^[152]
• Ángel Rivero Méndez Captain, Spanish Army
  Rivero Méndez fired the first shot against the United States in the Spanish-American War in Puerto Rico. Rivero Méndez later invented the "Kola Champagne", a soft drink .^[153]
• Juan Ríus Rivera, Commander-in-Chief of the Cuban Liberation Army.
  Ruis Rivera fought in "El Grito de Lares" under the command of Mathias Brugman. He also fought in Cuba's Ten Years' War (1868–1878) against Spain under the command of General Máximo Gómez and became the General of the Cuban Liberation Army of the West upon the death of General Antonio Maceo.^[154]
• Augusto Rodríguez, Lieutenant, United States Union Army.
  Rodriguez was a member of the 15th Connecticut Regiment (a.k.a. Lyon Regiment) and served in the defenses of Washington, D.C.. He led his men in the Battles of Fredericksburg and Wyse Fork in the American Civil War.^[155]
• Manuel Rojas, Commander in Chief of the Puerto Rican Liberation Army
  On 28 September 1868, Manuel Rojas led 800 men and women in a revolt against Spanish rule and took the town of Lares in what is known as the Grito de Lares.^[156]
• José Semidei Rodríguez, Brigadier General, Cuban Liberation Army.
  Semidei Rodríguez fought in Cuba's War of Independence (1895–1898) and after Cuba gained its independence he continued to serve in that country as a diplomat.^[157]
• Antonio Valero de Bernabé, Brigadier General Latin American revolutions
  Valero de Bernabe fought against the forces of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Siege of Saragossa. He joined the Mexican Revolutionary Army headed by Agustín de Iturbide and was named Chief of Staff. He successfully fought for Mexico's independence from Spain. Later he fought alongside Simón Bolívar and helped liberate South America from Spanish Colonial rule. Bernabe is known as the "Puerto Rican Liberator"^[158]

20th century

• Humberto Acosta-Rosario, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
  Acosta-Rosario was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry (Mechanized); 25th Infantry Division, United States Army. He is currently the only Puerto Rican MIA whose body has never been recovered.^[159]
• Ricardo Aponte, Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force
  Aponte is the former Director of the Innovation and Experimentation Directorate, United States Southern Command, the first Puerto Rican to hold said position.^[160]
• Félix Arenas Gaspar, Captain, Spanish Army
  Arenas Gapar was posthumously awarded the Cruz Laureada de San Fernando (Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand – Spain's version of the Medal of Honor) for his actions in the Rif War.^[161]
• Domingo Arroyo, Jr., Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps
  Arroyo was the first Puerto Rican and American serviceman to be killed in Operation Restore Hope during the Somalian Civil War.^[162]
• Joseph (José) B. Aviles, Sr., CWO2, U.S. Coast Guard
  On 28 September 1925, Aviles became the first Hispanic Chief Petty Officer in the United States Coast Guard. During World War II he received a war-time promotion to Chief Warrant Officer, becoming the first Hispanic to reach that level as well.^[163]
• Rafael Celestino Benítez, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy
  Benítez was a highly decorated submarine commander who led the rescue effort of the crew members of the USS Cochino which was involved in the first American undersea spy mission of the Cold War.^[164]
• Carlos Betances Ramírez, Colonel, U.S. Army
  Betances Ramírez was the first Puerto Rican to command a battalion in the Korean War. In 1952, he assumed the command of the 2nd Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment.^[165]
• José M. Cabanillas, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy
  In World War II Cabanillas was Executive Officer of the USS Texas and participated in the invasions of Africa and Normandy (D-Day).^[166]
• Richard Carmona M.D., Vice Admiral, Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
  Carmona served as the 17th Surgeon General of the United States under President George W. Bush.^[167]
• Modesto Cartagena, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army
  Cartagena, the most decorated Hispanic soldier in history, distinguished himself in combat during the Korean War as a member of Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry and is being considered for the Medal of Honor.^[27]
• Carmen Contreras-Bozak, Tech4, U.S. Women's Army Corps
  Contreras-Bozak was the first Hispanic to serve in the U.S. Women's Army Corps. She served as an interpreter and in numerous administrative positions during World War II.^[168]
• Juan César Cordero Dávila, Major General, U.S. Army
  Cordero Dávila was the commanding officer of the 65th Infantry Regiment during the Korean War, thus becoming one of the highest ranking ethnic officers in the Army.^[169]
• Encarnación Correa, Sergeant, U.S. Army
  Correa was the person who fired the first warning shots in World War I on behalf of the United States against a ship flying the colors of the Central Powers, when on 21 March 1915, under the orders of then-Lieutenant Teófilo Marxuach, he manned a machine gun and opened fire on the "Odenwald" an armed German supply ship trying to force its way out of the San Juan Bay.^[170]
• Ruben A. Cubero, Brigadier General U.S. Air Force
  Cubero was a highly decorated member of the United States Air Force who in 1991, became the first Hispanic graduate of the United States Air Force Academy to be named Dean of the Faculty of the academy.^[171]
• Pedro Del Valle, Lieutenant General, U.S. Marine Corps
  Del Valle was the first Hispanic three-star Marine general. His military career included service in World War I, Haiti and Nicaragua during the so-called Banana Wars of the 1920s, and in the seizure of Guadalcanal and later as Commanding General of the U.S. 1st Marine Division during World War ll played an instrumental role in the defeat of the Japanese forces in Okinawa.^[172]
• Carmelo Delgado Delgado, Lieutenant, Abraham Lincoln International Brigade
  Delgado was the first Puerto Rican and one of the first U.S. citizens to fight and to die in the Spanish Civil War against General Francisco Franco and the Spanish Nationalists.^[173]
• Alberto Diaz, Jr. Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy
  Diaz is the first Hispanic to become the Director of the San Diego Naval Medical District.^[174]
• Luis R. Esteves, Major General, U.S. Army
  In 1915, Esteves became the first Puerto Rican to graduate from the United States Military Academy. Esteves also organized the Puerto Rican National Guard.^[175]
• Salvador E. Felices, Major General, U.S. Air Force
  Felices was the first Puerto Rican general in the U.S. Air Force. In 1953, Felices flew in 19 combat missions over North Korea, during the Korean War. In 1957, he participated in a historic project that was given to Fifteenth Air Force by the Strategic Air Command headquarters known as "Operation Power Flite", the first around the world non-stop flight by all-jet aircraft.^[176]
• Rose Franco, CWO3, U.S. Marine Corps
  Franco was the first Hispanic woman Chief Warrant Officer in the Marine Corps. In 1965, Franco was named Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy, Paul Henry Nitze by the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson.^[177]
• Edmund Ernest García, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy
  During World War II García was commander of the Destroyer USS Sloat and saw action in the invasions of Africa, Sicily, and France.^[178]
• Fernando Luis García, Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps
  Garcia was the first Puerto Rican awarded the Medal of Honor. He was posthumously awarded the medal for his actions against enemy aggressor forces in the Korea War on 5 September 1952.^[179]
• Linda Garcia Cubero, Captain, U.S. Air Force
  In 1980, Garcia Cubero became the first Hispanic woman graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and the first to graduate from an American Military Academy.^[180]
• Carmen García Rosado, Private First Class, U.S. Women's Army Corps
  García Rosado was among the first 200 Puerto Rican women to be recruited into the WAC's during World War II and the author of "LAS WACS-Participacion de la Mujer Boricua en la Segunda Guerra Mundial" (The WACs-The participation of the Puerto Rican women in the Second World War), which is the first book which documents the experiences of the first 200 Puerto Rican women to participate in said conflict as members of the armed forces of the United States.^[181]
• Mihiel Gilormini, Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force
  World War II hero, recipient of 5 Distinguished Flying Cross's and who together with Brig. General Alberto A. Nido and Lt. Col. Jose Antonio Muñiz founded the Puerto Rico Air National Guard. Gilormini had previously flown for the Royal Canadian Air Force(1941) and the Royal Air Force (1941–1942).^[182]
• Manuel Goded Llopis, General, Spanish Army
  Goded Llopis was a high ranking Puerto Rican in the Spanish Army who was one of the first generales to join Spanish General Francisco Franco, in the revolt against the Spanish Republican government (also known as Spanish loyalists) in what is known as the Spanish Civil War. Previously, Goded Llopis had distinguished himself in the Battle of Alhucemas of the Rif War.^[183]
• César Luis González, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Force
  Gonzalez was the first Puerto Rican pilot in the United States Army Air Force and the first Puerto Rican pilot to die in World War II.
• Diego E. Hernández, Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy
  Hernández was the first Hispanic to be named Vice Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command. He flew two combat tours in Vietnam during the Vietnam War and in 1980, took command of the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CVA/CV-67). The Kennedy is one of two non-nuclear aircraft carriers still on active duty with the United States Navy.^[184]
• Zak Hernández, Sergeant, U.S. Army
  Hernández was killed in Panama on the eve of President George H. W. Bush's visit. His accused murderer, Pedro Miguel González Pinzón, was acquitted and later elected President of Panamá's National Congress, an event which has generated protests from the governments of the United States and Puerto Rico.^[185]
• Haydee Javier Kimmich, Captain, U.S. Navy
  Kimmich was the highest ranking Hispanic female in the Navy. She was assigned as the Chief of Orthopedics at the Navy Medical Center in Bethesda and she reorganized Reservist Department of the medical center during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.^[186]
• Orlando Llenza, Major General, U.S. Air Force
  Llenza is the second Puerto Rican to reach the rank of Major General (two-star General) in the United States Air Force. He was the Adjutant General of the Puerto Rico National Guard.^[187]
• Carlos Lozada, Private First Class, U.S. Army
  Lozada was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on 20 November 1967, at Dak To in the Republic of Vietnam.^[188]
• Carmen Lozano Dumler, 2nd Lieutenant, U.S. Women's Army Corps
  Dumler was one of the first Puerto Rican women Army officers. In 1944, she was sworn in as a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to the 161st General Hospital in San Juan.^[186]
• Antonio Maldonado, Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force
  In 1965, Maldonado became the youngest person to pilot a B-52 aircraft. His active participation in the Vietnam War included 183 air combat missions.^[189]
• Joseph (José) R. Martínez, Private First Class, U.S. Army
  Martinez destroyed a German Infantry unit and tank in Tuniz by providing heavy artillery fire, saving his platoon from being attacked in the process. He received the Distinguished Service Cross from General George S. Patton, becoming the first Puerto Rican recipient of said military decoration.^[190]
• Lester Martínez López, MPH, Major General, U.S. Army
  Martínez López was first Hispanic to head the Army Medical and Research Command.^[191]
• Gilberto José Marxuach, Colonel, U.S. Army
  Marxuach, the son of Teofilo Marxuach, is "The Father of the San Juan Civil Defense"^[192]
• Teófilo Marxuach, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
  "Marxuach fired a hostile shot from a cannon located at the Santa Rosa battery of "El Morro" fort, in what is considered to be the first shot of World War I fired by the regular armed forces of the United States against any ship flying the colors of the Central Powers,^[193] forcing the Odenwald to stop and to return to port where its supplies were confiscated.^[194]
• George E. Mayer, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy
  Mayer was the first Hispanic Commander of the Naval Safety Center. He led an international naval exercise known as Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2003 from his flagship, the USS Vella Gulf (CG-72). It was the first time in the 31 year history of BALTOPS that the exercise included combined ground troops from Russia, Poland, Denmark and the United States.^[195]
• Angel Mendez Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps
  Mendez was awarded the Navy Cross in Vietnam and is being considered for the Medal of Honor. He saved the life of his Lieutenant – Ronald D. Castille, who went on to become the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.^[196]
• Enrique Méndez, Jr., Major General, U.S. Army
  Méndez was the first Puerto Rican to assume the positions of Army Deputy Surgeon General, Commander of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs.^[197]
• Virgil R. Miller, Colonel, U.S. Army
  Miller was the Regimental Commander of the 442d Regimental Combat Team (RCT), a unit which was composed of "Nisei" (second generation Americans of Japanese descent), during World War II. He led the 442nd in its rescue of the Lost Texas Battalion of the 36th Infantry Division, in the forests of the Vosges Mountains in northeastern France.^[198]
• José Antonio Muñiz Lieutenant Colonel, , U.S. Air Force
  Muñiz together with then-Colonels Alberto A. Nido and Mihiel Gilormini founded the Puerto Rico Air National Guard. In 1963, the Air National Guard Base, at the San Juan International airport in Puerto Rico, was renamed "Muñiz Air National Guard Base" in his honor.^[199]
• William A. Navas, Jr., Major General, U.S. Army
  Navas is the first Puerto Rican named Assistant Secretary of the Navy. A veteran of the Vietnam War, Navas was nominated in 2001 by President George W. Bush to serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs).^[200]
• Héctor Andrés Negroni, Colonel, U.S. Air Force
  Negroni was the first Puerto Rican graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. A veteran of the Vietnam War, Negroni was awarded the Aeronautical Merit Cross, Spains highest Air Force peacetime award for his contributions to the successful implementation of the United States-Spain Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.^[201]
• Alberto A. Nido, Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force
  Nido was a World War II hero who together with Lt. Col. Jose Antonio Muñiz, co-founded the Puerto Rico Air National Guard and served as its commander for many years. Nido served in the Royal Canadian Air Force, the British Royal Air Force and in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.^[199]
• Ramón Núñez-Juárez, Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps
  Núñez-Juárez was listed as Missing in Action during the Korean War and posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, second highest medal after the Medal of Honor, that can be awarded by the Department of the Navy. He was the only Puerto Rican member of the United States Marine Corps whose remains have never been recovered and who was listed as Missing in Action during the Korean War.^[202]
• Jorge Otero Barreto, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army
  Otero Barreto was the most decorated United States soldier in the Vietnam War (38 decorations), which included 3 Silver Star Medals, 5 Bronze Star Medals with Valor, 5 Purple Heart Medals and 5 Air Medals..^[203][204]
• Dr. Dolores Piñero, U.S. Army Medical Corps
  Piñero was first Puerto Rican woman doctor to serve in the Army under contract during World War I. At first she was turned down, however after writing a letter to the Army Surgeon General in Washington, D.C. she was ordered her to report to Camp Las Casas at Santurce, Puerto Rico. On October 1918, She signed her contract with the Army.
• José M. Portela, Brigadier General U.S. Air Force
  Portela served in the position of Assistant Adjutant General for Air while also serving as commander of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard. In 1972, Portela became the youngest C-141 Starlifter aircraft commander and captain at age 22. Portela is also the only reservist ever to serve as director of mobility forces for Bosnia.^[205]
• Marion Frederic Ramírez de Arellano, Captain, U.S. Navy
  Ramírez de Arellano was the first Hispanic submarine commander. He was awarded two Silver Stars and a Bronze Star for his actions against the Japanese Imperial Navy during World War II.^[206][207]
• Antonio J. Ramos, Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force
  Ramos was the first Hispanic to serve as commander, Air Force Security Assistance Center, Air Force Materiel Command, and dual-hatted as Assistant to the Commander for International Affairs, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command.^[208]
• Agustín Ramos Calero, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army
  With 22 military decorations Ramos Calero was the most decorated soldier in all of the United States during World War II.^[165]
• Fernando L. Ribas-Dominicci, Major, U.S. Air Force
  Ribas-Dominicci was one of the pilots who participated in the Libyan air raid as member of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing. His F-111F was shot down in action over the disputed Gulf of Sidra off the Libyan coast. Ribas-Dominicci and his weapons systems officer, Capt. Paul Lorence, were the only U.S. casualties of Operation El Dorado Canyon.^[209]
• Frederick Lois Riefkohl, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy
  Riefkohl was the first Puerto Rican to graduate from the United States Naval Academy and in World War I became the first Puerto Rican to be awarded the Navy Cross. ^[210]
• Rudolph W. Riefkohl, Colonel, U.S. Army
  Riefkohl played an instrumental role in helping the people of Poland overcome the 1919 typhus epidemic.^[211]
• Félix Rigau Carrera, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps
  Rigau Carrera was the first Puerto Rican pilot and the first Hispanic fighter pilot in the United States Marine Corps. Rigau Carrera was also the first Puerto Rican parachutist and the first pilot to fly on air mail carrying duties in Puerto Rico.^[212]
• Manuel Rivera, Jr., Captain, U.S. Marine Corps
  Rivera was the first Puerto Rican and U.S. servicemen to die in Operation Desert Shield.^[213]
• Pedro N. Rivera, M.D., Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force
  In 1994, Rivera became the first Hispanic to be named medical commander in the Air Force. He was responsible for the provision of health of health care to more than 50,000 patients.^[214]
• Horacio Rivero, Admiral, U.S. Navy
  In 1964, Rivero became the first Puerto Rican and second Hispanic four-star admiral. Rivero participated in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and in 1962, Admiral Rivero was the commander of the American fleet sent by President John F. Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis to set up a quarantine (blockade) of the Soviet ships in an effort to stop the Cold War from escalating into World War III.^[215][216]
• Pedro Rodríguez, Master Sergeant, U.S. Army
  Rodriguez was a member of Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry. He earned two Silver Stars within a seven day period during the Korean War..^[217]
• Antonio Rodríguez Balinas, Brigadier General, U.S. Army
  Rodríguez Balinas was the first commander of the Office of the First U.S. Army Deputy Command. During the Korean War he fought with Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry Regiment and was awarded the Silver Star Medal^[218]
• Maria Rodriguez Denton, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy
  Rodriguez Denton was the first woman from Puerto Rico who became an officer in the United States Navy as member of the WAVES. It was Lt. Denton who forwarded the news (through channels) to President Harry S. Truman that the war had ended.^[219]
• Fernando E. Rodríguez Vargas, DDS, Major, U.S. Army
  Rodríguez Vargas was an odontologist (dentist), scientist and a Major in the U.S. Army who in 1921 discovered the bacteria which causes dental caries.^[220][221]
• Eurípides Rubio, Captain, U.S. Army
  Rubio was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Tay Ninh Province in the Republic of Vietnam on 8 November 1966.^[222]
• José L. Santiago, Sergeant Major, U.S. Marine Corps
  Santiago has the distinction of being the 2nd Battalion 9th Marines first Hispanic Sergeant Major and its first Sergeant Major since its reactivation on 13 July 2007.^[223]
• Héctor Santiago-Colón, Specialist Four, U.S. Army
  In 1968, Santiago-Colón was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Quang Tri Province, Vietnam as member of Company B of the 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division.^[224]
• Antulio Segarra, Colonel, U.S. Army
  In 1943, Segarra became the first Puerto Rican Regular Army officer to command a Regular Army Regiment when he assumed the command of Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry Regiment which at the time was conducting security missions in the jungles of Panama.^[225]
• Frankie Segarra, Master Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps
  Segarra is the first Puerto Rican to reach the grade of Master Gunnery Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps within his MOS.^[226]
• Rafel Toro, Private, U.S. Marine Corps
  Toro was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his "extraordinary heroism in battle"^[227] while fighting in Nicaragua during the second Nicaragua campaign in 1927.
• Humbert Roque Versace, Captain, U.S. Army
  In 2002, Versace was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions while a prisoner of war (POW) during the Vietnam War. He was the first member of the U.S. Army to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions performed in Southeast Asia while in captivity.^[228]
• Raúl G. Villaronga, Colonel, U.S. Army
  Villaronga was the first Puerto Rican to be elected as Mayor of a Texas city (Killeen).^[229]

21st century

• Iván Castro, Captain, U.S. Army
  Castro is one of three blind active-duty officers who serves in the US Army and the only blind officer serving in the United States Army Special Forces.^[230]
• Ramón Colón-López, Chief Master Sergeant, U.S. Air Force
  On 13 June 2007, Colon-López a pararescueman, was the first and only Hispanic among the first six airmen to be awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal. He is the Commandant of the Pararescue and Combat Rescue Officer School^[231]
• Emilio Díaz Colón, Major General, U.S. Army; PRNG
  Díaz-Colón is the first Superintendent of the Puerto Rican Police who once served as the Adjutant General of the Puerto Rican National Guard.^[232][233]
• Hila Levy, First Lieutenant, U.S. Air Force
  In 2007 Levy became the first Puerto Rican Rhodes scholar.^[234][235]
• María V. Martínez, Command Sergeant Major, U.S. Army
  Martínez is the first Puerto Rican female to reach the rank of Command Sergeant Major in the United States Army. She serves as Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Director of the Army Diversity Office in the Pentagon, Washington D.C..^[236]
• Rafael O'Ferrall, Brigadier General, U.S. Army
  O'Ferrall is the first Hispanic and Puerto Rican to become the Deputy Commanding General for the Joint Task Force at Guantanamo, Cuba while simultaneously serving as Assistant Adjutant General (Army) and Deputy Commanding General of the Joint Force Headquarters at San Juan, Puerto Rico.^[237]
• María Inés Ortiz, Captain, U.S. Army
  Ortiz was the first Puerto Rican nurse to die in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom and the first Army nurse to die in combat since the Vietnam War..^[238]
• Hector E. Pagan, Brigadier General, U.S. Army
  Pagan is the first Hispanic of Puerto Rican descent to become Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.^[239]
• Lizbeth Robles, SPC., U.S. Army
  In 2005, Robles was the first female soldier born in Puerto Rico to die in combat as an active soldier during Operation Iraqi Freedom.^[240]
• Maritza Sáenz Ryan, Colonel, U.S. Army
  Sáenz Ryan is the head of the Department of Law at the United States Military Academy. She is the first woman and first Hispanic (Puerto Rican and Spanish heritage) West Point graduate to serve as an academic department head. She also has the distinction of also being the most senior ranking Hispanic Judge Advocate.^[102][241]
• Frances M. Vega, SPC., U.S. Army
  On 2 November 2003, Vega became the first female soldier of Puerto Rican descent to die in a combat zone during Operation Iraqi Freedom.^[242]

Physicians and Scientists

• Joseph M. Acaba Astronaut, scientist, educator
  First Puerto Rican astronaut
• Dr. Carlos Albizu Miranda Psychologist, educator
  First Hispanic Educator to have a North American University renamed in his honor and one of the first Hispanics to earn a PhD in Psychology in the United States.^[114]
• Dr. Ricardo Alegría Anthropologist, archaeologist and educator
  "Father of Modern Puerto Rican Archaeology".
• Dr. Bailey K. Ashford doctor, parasitologist, author and soldier.
  Ashford, a Colonel in the U.S. Army, arrived in Puerto Rico during the Spanish-American War and made the island his home. He organized and conducted a parasite treatment campaign, which cured approximately 300,000 persons (one-third of the Puerto Rico population) and reduced the death rate from this anemia by 90 percent.^[243][244]
• Dr. Pedro Beauchamp Surgeon
  The first Puerto Rican specialist certified by the American Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Board, who performed the first in vitro fertilization (IVF) technique on the island in 1985.^[245]
• Dr. Víctor Manuel Blanco Astronomer
  In 1959, Blanco discovered a "Blanco 1", a galactic cluster.^[246] Blanco was the second Director of the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, which has the largest 4-m telescope in the Southern Hemisphere,^[247] In 1995, the telescope was dedicated in his honor and named the "Víctor M. Blanco Telescope" and is also known as the "Blanco 4m"^[248]
• Dr. Rafael L. Bras Former chair of Civil Engineering at MIT
  One of the world's leading experts in hydrometeorology and global warming.
• Anthony M. Busquets Electronic engineer, aerospace technologist
  Busquets is involved in the development and application of multifunction control/display switch technology in 1983 and Development and application of a microprocessor-based I/O system for simulator use in 1984.
• Dr. Carlos E. Chardón a.k.a. the "Father of Mycology in Puerto Rico"
  Chardón is the first Puerto Rican mycologist. Discovered the aphid "Aphis maidis", the vector of the mosaic of sugar cane, in 1922. Author of the "Chardón Plan" and first Puerto Rican to hold the position of Chancellor of the University of Puerto Rico.^[249]
• Dr. Nitza Margarita Cintron Scientist
  Chief of NASA's (JSC) Space and Health Care Systems Office.
• Dr. Antonia Coello Novello
  First Hispanic and first woman U.S. Surgeon General (1990–93).
• Dr. Martín Corchado
  Physician, medical researcher, and president of the Autonomist Party of Puerto Rico.
• Dr. José F. Cordero Pediatrician
  Cordero is the founding director of the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia.^[250]
• Dr. Milagros J. Cordero pediatrician
  She is the founder and President of Team Therapy Services For Children (ITT’S for Children)^[27]
• Dr. María Cordero Hardy physiologist, educator and scientist,br>Cordero Hardy's research on vitamin E helped other scientists understand about how the vitamin works in the human body.^[251]
• Dr. Juan R. Correa-Pérez PhD, scientist, clinical andrologist and embryologist
  Dr. Correa-Pérez is a scientist who is credited with becoming the first clinical Andrologist and Embryologist in Puerto Rico.
• Dr. Juan R. Cruz NASA scientist
  Played an instrumental role in the design and development of the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) parachute.
• Dr. Manuel De la Pila Iglesias
  Multi-faceted physician who specilized in various medical disciplines. Introduced the first EKG and X-ray machines into Puerto Rico. Founded a medical clinic that today is a respected medical center in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He is considered to be "one of the giants of Puerto Rican medicine".^[252]
• Dr. Alfonso Eaton Mechanical Engineer, Aero-Space Technologist
  First Puerto Rican to work for NASA.
• Angelo Falcón Political scientist
  Author of "Atlas of Stateside Puerto Ricans" (2004) and co-editor of the book, "Boricuas in Gotham: Puerto Ricans in the Making of Modern New York City" (2004).
• Dr. Enectalí Figueroa-Feliciano Astronaut applicant and astrophysicist in NASA
  Figueroa pioneered the development of position-sensitive detectors.
• Dr. Orlando Figueroa Mechanical engineer at NASA
  previously the NASA Mars Czar Director for Mars Exploration and the Director for the Solar System Division in the Office of Space Science at NASA Headquarters is now the Director, Applied Engineering & Technology at the NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center (as the "Director of Engineering" he manages the full scope of engineering activities at Goddard.^[253]
• Dr. Adolfo Figueroa-Viñas Astrophysicist at NASA
  Figueroa-Viñas is the first Puerto Rican astrophysicist at NASA working in solar plasma physics. As a senior research scientist he is involved in many NASA missions such as Wind, SOHO, Cluster and MMS projects in which he is the author and co-author of numerous scientific papers in his field.^[254]
• Dr. José N. Gándara
  Lead physician attending to the wounded of the Ponce Massacre, and later the expert witness at the trials of the accused Nacionalistas as well as before the Hays Commission. Held numerous government positions, including Secretary of Health of Puerto Rico. He was also one of the founders of the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico.^[255][256]
• Dr. Joxel García
  First Puerto Rican Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and an Admiral in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.^[257]
• Asdrubal Garcia Ortiz Technology Engineer
  Together with fellow inventors Sunggyu Lee and John R. Wootton, Garcia Ortiz was granted various patents. A sample of these patents includes: US Patent No 6,177,885, "System and method for detecting traffic anomalies", US Patent No 7,186,345, "Systems for water purification through supercritical oxidation", and US Patent No 7,688,605, "Systems and methods for reducing the magnitude of harmonics produced by a power inverter".^[258][259]
• Dr. Mario R. García Palmieri, Cardiologist
  García Palmieri is the first Hispanic to have the distinction of being designated a "Master" by the American College of Cardiology^[260]
• Dr. Sixto González Scientist
  First Puerto Rican Director of the Arecibo Observatory the world's largest single dish radio telescope.
• Rosa González, RN,
  Founder of "The Association of Registered Nurses of Puerto Rico" and author of various books related to her field where she denounced the discrimination against women and nurses in Puerto Rico.^[261]
• Dr. Isaac González Martínez urologist
  González Martínez was the first Puerto Rican urologist and a pioneer in the fight against cancer in the island.^[262]
• Olga D. González-Sanabria NASA engineer
  Is the highest ranking Hispanic at NASA Glenn Research Center and a member of the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame.
• Dr. Megh R. Goyal Professor/Historian/Scientist
  Father of Irrigation Engineering in Puerto Rican, Professor in Agricultural & Biomedical Engineering University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez^[118]
• Amri Hernández-Pellerano NASA engineer
  Hernández-Pellerano designs, builds and tests the electronics that will regulate the solar array power in order to charge the spacecraft battery and distribute power to the different loads or users inside various spacecraft at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
• Lucas G. Hortas Aerospace engineer, aerospace technologist
  Hortas is the author and or co-author of over 35 technical papers in the areas of system identification, vibration control and isolation, optimal control design and implementation, optimal actuator/sensor placement, model testing, and experimental verification of control methodologies
• Dr. Ramón E. López Physicist
  Dr. Lopez, a Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Texas at Arlington, is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and recipient of the 2002 Nicholson Medal for Humanitarian Service. He is the co-author of a book on space weather entitled "Storms from the Sun"^[263]
• Fernando López Tuero Agricultural scientist and agronomist
  López Tuero discovered the bug (believed at first to be a germ) which was destroying Puerto Rico's sugar canes.^[264]
• Carlos A. Liceaga Electronic engineer, aerospace technologist
  Liceaga leads the development of proposal guidelines; and the technical, management, and cost evaluation of the proposals For the Explorer Program.
• Dr. Gerónimo Lluberas Physician, writer, educator, medical missionary
• Dr. Ariel Lugo Scientist and ecologist
  Dr. Lugo is the Director of the International Institute of Tropical Forestry within the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, based in Puerto Rico. He is a founding Member of the Society for Ecological Restoration and Member-at-Large of the Board of the Ecological Society of America.^[265]
• Debbie Martínez Computer engineer, aero-space technologist
  Martinez is the "Flight Systems and Software Branch" software manager for the new Cockpit Motion Facility at NASA Langley Research Center.
• Lissette Martinez Electronic engineer, rocket scientist
  Martinez is the lead electrical engineer for the Space Experiment Module program at the Wallops Flight Facility located in Virginia which is part of NASA's Goddard Flight Facility.
• Dr. Manuel Martínez Maldonado MD; MACP, is a Nephrologist, educator, poet and author
  Martínez Maldonado has authored numerous scientific publications and discovered a natriuretic hormone.^[266]
• Dr. Antonio Mignucci
  Marine Biologist and oceanographer. Founder of the Red Caribeña de Varamientos.
• Dr. Edwin Muñiz M.D., Ph.D. and Ed.D.
  Muñiz was the first person of Hispanic heritage to be named Aerospace Physiologist in the United States Air Force and NASA.^[267]
• Dr. Carlos Ortiz Longo Mechanical engineer
  Chief of Crew Health Care Systems and Exercise Countermeasures in NASA.
• Dr. Joseph O. Prewitt Díaz psychologist
  Prewitt Díaz specialized in psychosocial theory. He was the recipient of the American Psychological Association's 2008 International Humanitarian Award.^[268]
• Mercedes Reaves Research engineer and scientist
  Reaves is responsible for the design of a viable full-scale solar sail and the development and testing of a scale model solar sail at NASA Langley Research Center.
• Ron Rivera Inventor and workshop organizer
  Invented life-saving water filters based on pottery.^[269]
• Dr. Juan A. Rivero Scientist, educator
  Founded the Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo in Mayagüez, has discovered numerous animal species and has written several books.
• Dr. Miriam Rodon-Naveira PhD, Puerto Rican NASA scientist
  Rodón-Naveira was the first Hispanic woman to hold the Deputy Directorship for the Environmental Sciences Division within the National Exposure Research Laboratory.
• Miguel Rodríguez, mechanical engineer,
  Chief of the Integration Office of the Cape Canaveral Spaceport Management Office.
• Dr. Pedro Rodriguez Inventor, Mechanical Engineer
  Rodríguez is the director of a test laboratory at NASA. He invented a portable, battery-operated lift seat for people suffering from knee arthritis.
• Dr. Helen Rodriguez-Trias Physician and activist
  Rodriguez-Trias was a physician and activist. She was the first Latina president of The American Public Health Association, a founding member of the Women's Caucus of the American Public Health Association and the recipient of the Presidential Citizen's Medal.(see also Civil rights activists)^[72]
• Dr. Fernando E. Rodríguez Vargas, Dentist, scientist
  Rodríguez Vargas discovered the bacteria which causes dental cavity (See also: Military).
• Monserrate Roman Scientist, microbiologist
  Roman helped build the International Space Station.
• Dr. Gualberto Ruano biotechnology pioneer and founder of Genomas, Inc.
  Ruaño is a pioneer in the field of personalized medicine and the inventor of molecular diagnostic systems, Coupled Amplification and Sequencing (CAS) System (U.S. patent 5,427,911), used worldwide for the management of viral diseases. Ruaño is President and Founder of Genomas, a genetics-related company and now the bio-tech anchor of Hartford Hospital's Genetic Research Center; he also serves as Director of genetics research at the Center.^[270]
• Dr. Eduardo Santiago Delpín Surgeon
  Santiago Delpin wrote the first book in Spanish about organ transplant.^[271]
• Dr. Diego R. Solís Physician
  Solís made Puerto Rican medical history when he performed the first simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant in Puerto Rico.^[272]
• Dr. Félix Soto Toro Electrical engineer, astronaut applicant
  Soto Toror developed the Advanced Payload Transfer Measurement System (ASPTMS)(Electronic 3D measuring system).
• Dr. Agustín Stahl Botanist
  Stahl is considered to be Puerto Rico's first renowned scientist, conducted investigations and experiments in the fields of botany, ethnology and zoology.
• Dr. Ramón M. Suárez Calderon Scientist, cardiologist, educator and hematologist
  His investigations led to the identification of the proper and effective treatment of a type of anemia known as Tropical Espru, the application of complex methods, such as electrocardiography and radioisotope, to be used in clinics and the identification and treatment of the disease which causes heart rheumatism.^[264]
• Fermín Tangüis Scientist, businessman, agriculturist and
  Tangüis developed the Tanguis cotton in Peru and saved that nation's cotton industry.^[273]

Politicians

19th Century

• Román Baldorioty de Castro
  "The Father of Puerto Rico's Autonomy".
• Dr. José Celso Barbosa
  "The Father of Puerto Rico's Statehood Movement"
• Eugenio María de Hostos a.k.a. "El Ciudadano de las Américas" (The Citizen of the Americas)
  educator, philosopher, intellectual, lawyer, sociologist, and independence advocate.
• José M. Dávila Monsanto, Senator, politician and lawyer
  Dávila Monsanto was a co-founder of the "Partido Popular Democrático de Puerto Rico".^[37]
• Federico Degetau
  The first resident commissioner to the United States.
• José María Marxuach Echavarría (1848–1910)
  Marxuach Echavarría was the only Puerto Rican to serve as the Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico under both Spanish and American rule. He served in 1897 for the Liberal Reformista Party and again from 1900–1901 for the Puerto Rican Republican Party.^[274]
• Antonio Mattei Lluberas (1857–1908)
  Leader of the second and last major revolt against Spanish colonial rule in Puerto Rico in what is known as the Intentona de Yauco of 1897. Mattei Lluberas served as Mayor of Yauco from 1904 to 1906^[275]
• Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón
  Matienzo Cintrón was a political leader who in his early political career favored Puerto Rican statehood and later became an advocate for Puerto Rico's independence and founder of the Independence Party of Puerto Rico.^[276]
• Luis Muñoz Rivera
  former Resident Commissioner, journalist, politician (father of Luis Muñoz Marín).
• Ramón Power y Giralt
  First Vice President of the Cortes de Cádiz (1810–1813)
• Francisco Mariano Quiñones
  The first president of Puerto Rico's Autonomic Cabinet.
• Francisco Ramírez Medina
  President of the Republic of Puerto Rico (23 September 1868), during the Grito de Lares revolt.
• Segundo Ruiz Belvis
  Leader of the Grito de Lares revolt.
• Manuel Zeno Gandía
  Puerto Rico patriot and leader of cooperative movement in Puerto Rico.

20th Century

• Héctor Luis Acevedo
  Former Mayor of San Juan, 1996 PDP gubernatorial candidate.
• Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos
  President and principal leader of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party.
• José S. Alegría
  Poet, writer, lawyer and politician. Alegría was a founding member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party and president of the political organization from 1928 to 1930.^[277]
• Santos P. Amadeo
  The "Champion of Hábeas Corpus" and former Senator in the Puerto Rico legislature.^[251]
• María Luisa Arcelay
  First woman in Puerto Rico and in all of Latin America to be elected to a government legislative body.^[239]
• Carmen E. Arroyo
  First Puerto Rican woman elected to any state assembly, chair New York Hispanic Legislative Caucus.
• Herman Badillo
  First Puerto Rican to serve in U.S. Congress.
• Joaquín Balaguer
  Former president of Dominican Republic (Puerto Rican father).
• Antonio R. Barceló
  Founder of the Puerto Rican Liberal Party, first president of the Senate of Puerto Rico.
• Ángel O. Berrios
  Former Mayor of Caguas.
• Rubén Berríos
  President of the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP).
• Dr. Ramón Emeterio Betances
  "The Father of the Puerto Rican Nation", main leader of the Grito de Lares revolution.
• Juan Bosch
  Former president of Dominican Republic (Puerto Rican mother).
• Adolfo Carrión, Jr.
  Former Bronx (New York City) borough president
• Adam Clayton Powell IV
  former member of the New York State Assembly.
• Dr. Gilberto Concepción de Gracia
  Founder of the Puerto Rican Independence Party.
• Cayetano Coll y Cuchí
  The first President of Puerto Rico House of Representatives.
• José Coll y Cuchi
  Founder of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party.
• Rafael Cordero
  Former Mayor of Ponce.
• Miguel del Valle
  Former Illinois State Senator, Present (and first Latino) City Clerk of Chicago, and mayoral candidate for the 2011 Chicago mayoral election.^[278]
• Nelson Antonio Denis
  Former New York State Assemblyman
• Rubén Díaz
  New York State Senator and religious leader
• Pedro Espada, Jr.
  New York State Senator
• Dr. Antonio Fernós-Isern
  First Puerto Rican cardiologist and Resident Commissioner.
• Maurice Ferre
  Former Mayor of Miami, Florida.
• Fernando Ferrer
  Former Bronx (New York City) borough president and New York City mayoral candidate.
• Rogelio Figueroa
  2008 gubernatorial candidate and founder of Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party (PPR).^[279]
• Bonnie García
  former California State Assemblywoman.
• Robert García
  Former New York State Assemblyman, State Senator and U.S. Representative.
• Oscar Garcia Rivera, Sr.
  Former New York State Assemblyman, in 1937 he became the first Puerto Rican to be elected to public office in the continental United States and in 1956, he also became the first Puerto Rican to be nominated as the Republican candidate for Justice of the City Court.^[280]
• Lcdo. Miguel A. García Méndez
  Youngest Speaker of the House in Puerto Rico's history. The Mayagüez General Post Office was named after him.^[281]
• Luis Gutiérrez
  Illinois Congressman.
• Santiago Iglesias
  Founder of the first Puerto Rico Socialist Party, labor activist and former Resident Commissioner.
• Margarita López
  Former New York City Council member/activist.
• Juan Francisco Luis
  Was the 24th governor of the United States Virgin Islands, serving from 1978 to 1987.^[282]
• Martin Malave Dilan
  New York State Senator
• Evelyn Mantilla
  Connecticut House of Representatives.
• Juan Marí Bras
  Founder of the Movimiento Pro Independencia and the modern Puerto Rican Socialist Party.
• Olga A. Méndez
  First Puerto Rican New York State Senator.
• Rosie Méndez
  New York City councilwoman/activist.
• Teodoro Moscoso
  Architect of Operation Bootstrap, former U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela (1961–1964).
• Victoria Muñoz Mendoza
  1992 PDP candidate for governor (daughter of Luis Muñoz Marín).
• Luis Muñoz Rivera
  Senator, last surviving drafter of Puerto Rico Constitution.
• Félix Ortiz
  New York State Assemblyman, author of nation's first cellphone driving ban.
• George Pabey
  Mayor of East Chicago, Indiana.
• Hernán Padilla
  Former Mayor of San Juan, founder Puerto Rican Renewal Party.
• Antonio Pagán
  Former New York City Council member
• Eddie Perez
  former Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut.
• Adam Clayton Powell IV
  New York State Assemblyman, son of former congressman.
• Samuel R. Quiñones
  "Longest serving President of the Senate of Puerto Rico"
• Ernesto Ramos Antonini
  Former Speaker of Puerto Rico's House of Representatives.
• Charles Rangel
  United States Congressman (Puerto Rican father).^[283]
• Roberto Rexach Benítez
  Former Senate President, educator, current columnist for El Vocero newspaper.
• Felisa Rincón de Gautier
  First woman to be elected Mayor of an American capital city.
• Ramón Luis Rivera
  Mayor of Bayamón 1977–2001.
• Samuel Rivera
  Mayor of Passaic, New Jersey.
• María de Lourdes Santiago
  Only female Puerto Rico Independence Party (PIP) member to be elected to the Puerto Rican Senate.
• Manuela Santiago Collazo
  Mayor of Vieques (1985–2000).
• Jorge Santini
  Current three-term Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico and Vice President of the New Progressive Party, former senator.
• José E. Serrano
  Most senior Puerto Rican congressman, Chair of House Appropriations subcommittee on Financial Services.
• Gloria Tristani
  First Hispanic woman appointed as one of the five commissioners of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
• Nydia Velázquez
  First Puerto Rican congresswoman, Chair of House Small Business Committee.
• Raúl G. Villaronga
  First Puerto Rican to be elected mayor in Texas. Mayor of Killeen, Texas.

21st Century

• Richard Carmona
  17th Surgeon General of the United States, physician
• Ruth Noemí Colón
  66th Secretary of State for the State of New York
• Pedro Cortés
  Pennsylvania's former Secretary of the Commonwealth, Past President of National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS).
• Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
  Former Secretary of State for the State of New York
• Ruben Diaz, Jr.
  Former New York State Assemblyman and Bronx Borough President (2009–present).
• Wilda Diaz
  First female mayor of Perth Amboy, New Jersey and first Puerto Rican woman elected mayor in that state.
• Jennifer González
  Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives.^[284]
• Raúl Labrador
  Congressman representing Idaho's 1st congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.^[285]
• Kenneth McClintock
  Thrteenth President of the Puerto Rico Senate, and current Secretary of State/Lieutenant Governor of Puerto Rico.
• Hiram Monserrate
  former New York State Senator
• Antonia Novello
  14th Surgeon General of the U.S., Vice Admiral, Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
• Cesar A. Perales
  67th Secretary of State for the State of New York
• Pedro Pierluisi
  Former PR Attorney General, Resident Commissioner, 2008–present.
• Roberto Prats
  Co-chair of winning Hillary Clinton primary campaign, Democratic State Chair and former senator and PDP congressional candidate.
• John Quiñones
  First Republican Party candidate of Puerto Rican ancestry elected to Florida House of Representatives.
• Thomas Rivera Schatz
  Fourteenth President of the Senate of Puerto Rico.^[284]
• Melinda Romero Donnelly
  Three-term at-large legislator, two terms in House, recently elected to Senate.^[286][287]
• Pedro Segarra
  Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut.
• Darren Soto
  Only Puerto Rican Representative in Florida House of Representatives

Religion

Pre-20th century

• Juan Alejo de Arizmendi, Bishop
  First Puerto Rican to become a bishop.
• Francisco Ayerra de Santa María, Father
  Puerto Rico's first poet.
• Diego de Torres Vargas, Father
  First to write about the history of Puerto Rico.

20th century

• David Andrés Álvarez-Velázquez, Bishop
  The second native Puerto Rican to serve as Bishop of the Diocese of Puerto Rico of the Episcopal Church.
• Luis Aponte Martínez, Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of San Juan
  Only Puerto Rican to become a Roman Catholic cardinal.
• Yiye Avila, Reverend
  Pentecostal leader.
• Nicky Cruz, Reverend
  Former gangster turned minister.
• Isolina Ferre, Sor
  Catholic nun awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom.
• Juanita García Peraza, "Mita"
  Founder of "Mita" religion.
• Roberto González Nieves, Archbishop of San Juan
• Jorge Raschke, Reverend
  Outspoken Pentecostal pastor.
• Francisco Reus-Froylan, Reverend
  First Puerto Rican Episcopal Bishop.
• Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago, "Beato Charlie"
  Beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2001. He is the first Puerto Rican and the first Caribbean-born layperson to be beatified.^[288]
• Teófilo Vargas Sein, "Aaron"
  Current leader of the "Mita" religion.

21st century

• Alberto Cutié, Father
  Episcopal priest, author and television host.
• José Luis de Jesús Miranda
  Controversial religious leader who refers to himself as the Antichrist.
• Bavi Edna Rivera, Episcopal Bishop
  Rivera is the first Hispanic woman bishop and the 12th woman bishop in the Episcopal Church.^[289]

Sports

A

• Benjamin Agosto
  figure skater and Olympic medalist.
• Roberto Alomar
  former baseball player, MLB All-Star, third Puerto Rican inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame (2011).
• Sandy Alomar, Jr.
  former baseball player.
• Sandy Alomar, Sr.
  former baseball player.
• Carmelo Anthony
  NBA player, New York Knicks (Puerto Rican father).
• Orlando Antigua
  Born to a Puerto Rican mother, in 1995, the first Hispanic and the first non-black in 52 years to play for the Harlem Globetrotters.^[290]
• Chris Armas
  soccer player, (Puerto Rican mother).
• Carlos Arroyo
  NBA player, Orlando Magic.
• Harry Arroyo
  boxer, former IBF Lightweight Champion.^[291]

B

• Juan Báez
  former basketball player, most recent recipient of Puerto Rico Olympic Medal of Honor.
• José Juan Barea
  NBA player, Dallas Mavericks; first Puerto Rican to play for winning team in the NBA Finals.
• María Elena Batista
  Olympic, PanAm and Central American games swimmer.
• Eddie Belmonte
  thoroughbred racing jockey.^[292]
• Carlos Beltran
  baseball, center fielder San Francisco Giants.
• Wilfred Benítez
  boxer, member of Boxing Hall of Fame.
• Dr. David "Kike" Bernier
  retired fencer, former Secretary of Sports and Recreation.
• Hiram Bithorn
  baseball player, first Puerto Rican in Major League Baseball.
• Kristina Brandi
  tennis player.

C

• Iván Calderón
  baseball player.
• Iván Calderón
  boxer/world champion.
• Hector 'Macho' Camacho
  boxer/ former world champion.
• Fernando J. Canales
  swimmer, first Puerto Rican to reach final Championships.
• Orlando Cepeda
  baseball player, member of Baseball Hall of Fame.
• Roberto Clemente
  3,000-hit baseball player, first Puerto Rican member of Baseball Hall of Fame.
• Nero Chen
  boxer, Chen was Puerto Rico's first professional boxer.^[293]
• Julie Chu
  Olympic ice hockey player who played the position of forward on the United States women's ice hockey team. She is of Chinese and Puerto Rican descent.^[294]
• Conchita Cintron
  renowned female bullfighter (Puerto Rican father)^[295]
• Kermit Cintron
  boxer, former International Boxing Federation welterweight champion (2006–08).^[296]
• Abdiel Colberg
  first Hispanic pro-rollerblader.
• Dr. Rebekah Colberg
  "The Mother of Puerto Rican Women's Sports"
• Carlitos Colon
  former professional wrestler.
• Carly Colón
  professional wrestler.
• Ángel Cordero, Jr.
  jockey, member of Jockey Hall of Fame.
• Maritza Correia
  first black Puerto Rican woman in the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team.
• Joe Cortez
  boxing referee; member of Boxing Hall of Fame.
• Miguel Cotto
  professional boxer, former light welterweight, welterweight and junior middleweight world champion.
• Eva Cruz
  volleyball player.
• José Cruz
  baseball player whose number was retired by the Astros.
• Teófilo Cruz
  basketball player^[297]

D

• Christian Dalmau
  BSN basketball player.
• Raymond Dalmau
  basketball player.
• Carlos De León
  first boxer to win cruiserweight world title four times.
• Esteban De Jesús
  boxer, former world champion.
• Madeline de Jesús
  Athlete, runner short track, long-jump, triple jump, gold, silver and bronze medallist, participant to 2 Olympic Games.
• Carlos Delgado
  baseball player, New York Mets.

E

• Ivelisse Echevarria
  inducted into the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame (2003).
• Alfredo Escalera
  boxer, former world champion.
• Nino Escalera
  baseball player, first Hispanic in the Reds franchise.
• Sixto Escobar
  boxer, first Puerto Rican world champion and member of Boxing Hall of Fame.
• Ángel Espada
  boxer/former champion.

F

• Lisa Fernandez
  softball, Olympic gold medalist.
• Ed Figueroa
  baseball pitcher, first Puerto Rican to win 20 games in Major League.
• Enrique Figueroa
  sailing

G

• Rubén Gómez
  first Puerto Rican to pitch and win World Series game.
• Wilfredo Gómez
  boxer/former world champion and member of Boxing Hall of Fame.
• Arístides González
  boxer, first Olympic medalist under flag of Puerto Rico, 1984 Summer Olympics.
• Jorge González
  marathon runner.
• Juan González
  former baseball player.

H

• Herbert Lewis Hardwick a.k.a. "Cocoa Kid"
  boxer/ will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame 2012. Born in Mayaguez to a Puerto Rican mother.^[298]
• Ivonne Harrison
  track and field athlete.
• James Chico Hernandez
  wrestling champion and member of the Latin-American Martial Arts Hall of Fame.^[299]
• Ramón Hernández
  former baseball player

J

• Reggie Jackson
  baseball player, first person of Puerto Rican heritage member of Baseball Hall of Fame (Puerto Rican father).

K

• Julio Kaplan
  chess International Master & former World Junior Chess Champion.
• Konnan
  professional wrestler.

L

• Anita Lallande
  former Olympic swimmer, holds the island record for most medals won at CAC Games with a total of 17 and 10 gold.^[300]
• Alfred Lee,
  basketball player, first Puerto Rican to play in NBA and to play on the NBA play-offs as a member of the 79-80 Los Angeles Lakers.
• Angelita Lind
  track and field athlete.
• Laura Daniela Lloreda
  member of Mexican National Volleyball Team.
• Javy López
  baseball player, Atlanta Braves.
• Mike Lowell
  baseball player, Boston Red Sox.

M

• Felix Magath
  German soccer star and coach (Puerto Rican father).
• Edgar Martínez
  former baseball player.
• Denise Masino
  Female bodybuilder.,^[301][302]
• Mark Medal
  boxer, former IBF Light Middleweight Champion.^[303]
• Orlando Melendez a.k.a. "El Gato"
  In 2008, became the first Puerto Rican born basketball player to play for the Harlem Globetrotters.^[304]
• Alberto Mercado
  Olympian boxer, only "American" citizen in 1980 Olympics.
• Jerome Mincy
  basketball player.
• John John Molina
  boxer/former world champion.
• José Molina
  baseball player
• Pedro Montañez
  boxer and member of Boxing Hall of Fame.
• Mario Morales
  BSN basketball player.
• Pedro Morales
  wrestler, member of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Hall of Fame.
• Jonny Moseley
  skier, first Puerto Rican member of the U.S. Ski Team.

N

• Emilio Navarro
  first Puerto Rican to play in Negro Leagues.

O

• Luis Olmo
  first Puerto Rican to hit home run in World Series.
• Fres Oquendo
  professional boxer.
• Carlos Ortiz
  boxer, former Jr. welterweight and lightwieght champion; member of Boxing Hall of Fame.
• José Ortiz
  former basketball player, PDP candidate for elective office in 2008.
• Luis Ortiz
  boxer, first Puerto Rican to win a Silver Olympic medal.

P

• Raul Papaleo
  Puerto Rican National Volleyball Team.
• Charlie Pasarell
  tennis player.
• Ernesto Pastor
  bullfighter and only Puerto Rican member of the Bullfighting Hall of Fame.
• Victor Pellot, a.k.a. "Vic Power"
  baseball player, second black Puerto Rican in Major League Baseball.
• Jorge Posada
  baseball player, New York Yankees.
• Mónica Puig
  tennis player.

Q

• Carlos Quintana
  professional boxer, former World Boxing Organization's welterweight champion.

R

• Peter John Ramos
  NBA and International basketball player.^[305]
• Rico Ramos
  professional boxer
• Germán Rieckehoff
  former president of Puerto Rican Olympic Committee.
• Ramón Rivas
  NBA and International basketball player.
• Antonio Rivera
  boxer a.k.a. "El Gallo" WBA Super Welterweight Champion.
• Filiberto Rivera
  Former UTEP star point guard and current point guard on Puerto Rico National Basketball team.
• Jorge Rivera
  Mixed martial artist.
• Marco Rivera
  football player, first Puerto Rican selected to Pro Bowl.
• Ron Rivera
  football player, first Puerto Rican in the National Football League and to coach an NFL team.
• Iván Rodríguez
  baseball player, Texas Rangers.
• Rubén Rodríguez
  basketball player.
• José "King" Roman
  boxer, first Puerto Rican to fight for world heavyweight title.
• Edwin Rosario
  boxer, former lightweight and Jr. welterwieght champion; member of International Boxing Hall of Fame (2006).
• Juan "Chi-Chi" Rodríguez
  golfer, member of Golf Hall of Fame.
• John Ruiz
  first Hispanic heavyweight boxing champion.

S

• Natasha Sagardia female bodyboarding athlete
  First Puerto Rican to win a gold medal at the ISA World Surfing Games.^[306]
• Alex Sánchez
  boxer/ former champion.
• Daniel Santiago
  former NBA basketball player
• O. J. Santiago
  football player.
• Samuel Serrano
  boxer/ former world champion.
• Brandon Silvestry
  professional wrestler.

T

• Julio Toro
  basketball coach
• Andrés Torres
  baseball player, San Francisco Giants
• Georgie Torres
  holds BSN scoring record.
• José Torres
  boxer, member of Boxing Hall of Fame.
• Félix Trinidad
  boxer/ former world champion.

V

• Lisa Marie Varon
  WWE wrestler.
• Jesse Vassallo
  swimmer, current president, PR Swimming Federation and member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
• Javier Vázquez
  baseball player, active leader in strikeouts
• Wilfredo Vázquez
  boxer/ former champion.
• Savio Vega
  former WWF wrestler.
• Ada Vélez
  first Puerto Rican female boxer, to win a championship.
• Juan Evangelista Venegas
  boxer/ first Puerto Rican to win Olympic medal.
• Dick Versace
  first person of Puerto Rican descent to have coached an NBA team.
• Juan "Pachín" Vicéns
  basketball player, led the Ponce Lions team to six championships.

W

• Mark Watring
  equestrian
• Bernie Williams
  baseball player, New York Yankees.

Taínos

• Agüeybaná (Great Sun), Supreme Taíno chief,
  Supreme Cacique of Puerto Rico who welcomed Juan Ponce de Leon to the island
  Based in Guayanilla
• Agüeybaná II (The Brave), cacique and nephew of Agueybaná,
  Led the Taíno rebellion of 1511 against Juan Ponce de Leon and his men.
  Based in Guayanilla
• Arasibo, cacique,
  area of Arecibo
• Caguax, cacique,
  area of Caguas
• Guarionex, cacique
  area of Utuado
• Hayuya, cacique,
  area of Jayuya
• Jumacao, cacique,
  area of Humacao
• Orocobix, cacique,
  area of Orocovis
• Urayoán, cacique,
  area that presently spans between Añasco and Mayagüez. Ordered the drowning of Diego Salcedo

Visual Artists

• Alfonso Arana
  Painter, founder of the Fundación Alfonso Arana.
• Jean-Michel Basquiat
  Painter (Puerto Rican mother).
• Tomas Batista
  Sculptor of "El Jibaro Puertorriqueño" monument and Zeno Gandía statue.
• Ángel Botello
  Painter and sculptor.
• Antonio Broccoli Porto
  Painter and sculptor from San Juan.
• José Buscaglia Guillermety
  Sculptor.
• Luis Germán Cajiga
  Painter most known for his silk screening technique.^[307]
• Javier Cambre
  Sculptor, photographer, video artist.^[308]
• José Campeche
  First renowned Puerto Rican artist.
• José Caraballo
  Artist born 1930, President of Hispanic Art League 1979.^[309]
• Lindsay Daen
  New Zealand-born artist, sculptor of La Rogativa statue in San Juan.
• Jan D'Esopo
  Painter and sculptor.
• Elizam Escobar
  Painter and activist.
• James De La Vega
  Mural artist.
• Ramón Frade
  One of Puerto Rico's most renowned artists and architects.^[310]
• Obed Gómez
  Contemporary artist known as the "Puerto Rican Picasso"
• Vilma G. Holland
  Painter.^[311]
• Lorenzo Homar
  Grafic artist
• Antonio López
  Fashion illustrator.^[312]
• Soraida Martinez
  Contemporary painter known for creating socially conscious Verdadism art style since 1992.
• Antonio Martorell
  Painter and graphic artist.
• Ralph Ortiz
  Visual artist and founder of the El Museo del Barrio^[313]
• Francisco Oller
  impressionist artist & painter.
• María de Mater O'Neill
  Painter, educator, and graphic artist
• Manuel Rivera-Ortiz
  Photographer.^[314]
• Julio Rosado del Valle
  Internationally known abstract expressionist.^[315]

Miscellaneous

• José Enrique Arrarás
  Educator, politician, attorney, public servant and sports leader.
• Miguel Arteta,
  Film/television director (film The Good Girl; television series Six Feet Under).
• Arthur Aviles
  dancer/choreographer.
• Jose Baez
  criminal defense attorney; notable for his defense of accused child murderer Casey Anthony
• Marie Haydée Beltrán Torres
  Nationalist and a former political prisoner.^[316]
• Wilo Benet
  Celebrity chef, owner of Payá and Pikayo restaurants.
• Félix Benítez
  Engineer who designed the Normandie Hotel.
• Felipe Birriel
  "El Gigante de Carolina", was the tallest Puerto Rican.
• David Blaine
  Illusionist/magician (Puerto Rican father).
• Edgardo Díaz
  Founder of Menudo.
• Inez García
  Cause celebre of the feminist movement.
• Juan Manuel García Passalacqua
  Political commentator, lawyer.
• Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan
  formerly world's oldest person.
• Ángel Juarbe, Jr.
  Reality television contest winner/New York City firefighter who died in the 11 September attacks.
• Crazy Legs
  Breakdancer, president of Rock Steady Crew.
• Clara Livingston
  Puerto Rico's first female aviator.^[317]
• Oscar López Rivera
  Nationalist and a political prisoner.^[318]
• Eliana Martínez
  young AIDS activist in notable Florida court case regarding the rights of HIV+ children in public schools.
• Walter Mercado
  Astrologer.
• Emiliano Mercado del Toro
  formerly world's oldest person and oldest verified military veteran ever.
• Filiberto Ojeda Ríos
  "Commander in chief" ("Responsible General") of the Boricua Popular Army.
• Richard Peña
  film festival organizer (New York Film Festival) and professor of film studies at Columbia University
• Jai Rodríguez
  Actor Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.
• José Rodríguez
  Head of CIA division (2004–2008).
• Xavier Romeu
  controversial PRIDCO Executive Director.
• Antulio "Kobbo" Santarrosa
  "La Cháchara", "La Condesa", "La Comay"^[319][320]
• Jock Soto
  principal ballet dancer with the New York City Ballet.
• Filipo Tirado
  "Pepe Locuaz"
• Alejandrina Torres
  Nationalist and former political prisoner.^[321]
• Carlos Alberto Torres
  Nationalist and political prisoner.^[322][323]
• Rose Troche,
  Film/television director (film Go Fish; television series Six Feet Under, The L Word))