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Tuesday, November 6, 2001
Admiral awarded his second gold star
Award is said to be a sign of honor, increased responsibility
By Lety Laurel
Caller-Times

Betancourt

   Rear Adm. Jose Betancourt received his second gold star Monday, making him only the second active duty two-star admiral in the area.
   "There's not a whole lot of admirals in the Navy," said Lt. Marc Boyd, public affairs officer for Mine Warfare Command.
   "It's difficult to be promoted. This just shows his expertise and his professionalism."
   Betancourt has led Mine Warfare Command, headquartered in Corpus Christi, since 1999.
   He was presented with the new star Monday by Vice Adm. Albert H. Konetzni Jr., deputy commander in chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, during a ceremony in Norfolk, Va.
   Betancourt controls the Navy's mine warfare assets around the world.
   This includes 27 ships based in Ingleside, Sasebo, Japan and the Persian Gulf; two helicopter mine countermeasures squadrons based in Corpus Christi and Norfolk, Va.; and three mine countermeasures squadrons in Naval Station Ingleside.
   Corpus Christi Mayor Loyd Neal, who sits on the South Texas Military Facilities Task Force, said the award is an honor, as well as a sign of increased responsibility.
   "The military appoints and promotes officers at the flag rank based on a number of criteria but primarily on how well he's done the assigned mission and how prepared he is to assume a new mission and additional responsibilities," he said.
   "Obviously, he was looked upon as ready to do that."
   Betancourt, who couldn't be reached Monday evening, was commissioned in the U.S. Navy in 1972 after graduating from Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I.
   He then earned his masters degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University and from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C.
   Some of his military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal and the Humanitarian Service medal.
   Grandis Lenken, southwest region president of the Navy League, said she wasn't surprised Betancourt received the award.
   "I think it's wonderful, but long overdue," she said.
   "I think he deserves it because he's a very good officer, and he knows how to take command and does a very good job of it."


Contact Lety Laurel at 886-3716 or laurell@caller.com

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