CDR Katherine G. Martinez Alvarez was born in Dominican Republic and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design in Architecture from the University of Puerto Rico in 2008. In 2010, she commissioned as a Surface Warfare Officer in the United Stated Navy through Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI.
 
Her first tour as a Surface Warfare Officer was onboard the USS NEW ORLEANS (LPD-18), where she served as First Division Officer, Assistant First Lieutenant, and Engineering Controls Officer. She also earned her Surface Warfare Officer and Diesel Engineer Officer of the Watch qualifications. In addition, she served as Boat Officer for the first Maritime Readiness Force team on support of anti- piracy operations in the C5F AOR in 2012.
 
She was then assigned to serve onboard the USS
PELELIEU (LHA-5) as the Auxiliaries Officer and earned her Steam Engineering Officer of the Watch qualification. She was part of the decommissioning crew in 2015. She followed to transfer into the Human Resources community of the Navy and reported to the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, CA. In 2017, where she earned her Masters of Science in Management degree in Manpower Systems Analysis and completed her Joint Professional Military Education I.
 
She proceeded to Minneapolis, MN as the Operations Officer for the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). In Fiscal Year 2018, she was recognized as the USMEPCOM Military Member of the Year and her unit was awarded the Best in the West award in FY18. During this tour, she earned her Professional Human Resources certification in 2019, and was selected to Command the Transient Personnel Unit Puget Sound in Washington State. While in Washington State, she also served as the Co-Chair for the Association of Naval Services Officer for the Seattle Chapter. In 2022, she transferred to U.S. Africa Command where she served as the Director to the Secretariat to the Joint Staff, the Headquarters Deputy Commandant, and as the Executive Officer to Major General Kenneth P. Ekman under the AFRICOM Coordination Element. She is currently serving as the Executive Officer at Officer Training Command Newport. CDR Martínez Alvarez is happily married to Paul Lockman.
 
Her personal awards include: Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and various unit awards and citations.
 

Last Updated: 23 April 2025