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List of Puerto Ricans

This is a list of notable people from Puerto Rico which includes people who were born in Puerto Rico (Borinquen) and people who are of full or partial Puerto Rican descent. The government of Puerto Rico has been issuing "Certificates of Puerto Rican Citizenship" to anyone born in Puerto Rico or to anyone born outside of Puerto Rico with at least one parent who was born in Puerto Rico since 2007. Also included in the list are some long-term continental American and other residents or immigrants of other ethnic heritages who have made Puerto Rico their home and consider themselves to be Puerto Ricans.

The list is divided into categories and, in some cases, sub-categories, which best describe the field for which the subject is most noted. 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 both as a former governor and as an industrialist. However, the custom is to place the subject's name under the category for which the subject is most noted.

Actors, actresses, comedians and directors

Juano Hernández (1896–1970), actor
Jon Huertas (born 1976), actor; played Brad Alcerro in Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Lillian Hurst (born 1943), comedian, actress (television series Dharma and Greg)

Ironmouse, VTuber

Shar Jackson (born 1976), actress/singer (Puerto Rican father)
Raul Julia (1940–1995), actor
Victoria Justice (born 1993), singer, television actress (Victorious) (Puerto Rican mother)

Eva LaRue (born 1966), actress
Sunshine Logroño (born 1951), comedian
Adamari López (born 1978), actress
Jennifer López (born 1969), singer, actress, and dancer
Priscilla López (born 1948), actress, singer, and dancer

Frances Negrón Muntaner (born 1966), filmmaker, writer, and scholar
Micaela Nevárez (born 1972), actress; first Puerto Rican to win a Goya Award
Amaury Nolasco (born 1970), actor

Luis Oliva (born 1951), actor, comedian and mime
Tony Oliver (born 1958), voice actor
Karen Olivo (born 1976), actress (Puerto Rican father); winner of 2009 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress
Elín Ortiz (1934–2016), actor, television producer

Marian Pabón (born 1957), actress, singer and comedian
Antonio Pantojas (1948–2017), drag queen
Lana Parrilla (born 1977), actress (Puerto Rican father)
Rosie Pérez (born 1964), actress
Joaquin Phoenix (born 1974), actor
Freddie Prinze (1954–1977), comedian, actor (Puerto Rican mother)
Freddie Prinze Jr. (born 1976), actor (Puerto Rican grandmother)

Ivy Queen (born 1972), singer, lyricist, rapper, musician, fashion icon; one of the early founders and creators of the reggaeton style
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (born 1996), track and field athlete; at the 2020 Olympics she became the first Puerto Rican of Afro-Latino descent and the second person representing Puerto Rico to win a gold medal
Adolfo Quiñones (1955–2020), actor, dancer, choreographer

Rachel Ticotin (born 1958), actress
Liz Torres (born 1947), actress
Rose Troche (born 1964), film/television director

Alanna Ubach (born 1975), actress (Puerto Rican mother)

Amirah Vann (born 1978), actress (Puerto Rican mother)
John Velazquez (born 1971), Champion jockey, leading money-earning jockey in the history of horse racing and inducted into Racing Hall of Fame in 2012.
Nadine Velázquez (born 1978), actress
Lauren Vélez (born 1964), actress
Loraine Vélez (born 1964), actress
Christina Vidal (born 1981), actress and singer
Lisa Vidal (born 1965), actress
Juan Emilio Viguié (1891–1966), pioneer movie producer; produced Romance Tropical, the first Puerto Rican film with sound

Otilio Warrington (born 1944), also known as "Bizcocho", comedian
Holly Woodlawn (1946–2015), transgender actress and Warhol superstar

David Zayas (born 1962), actor
Marcos Zurinaga (born 1952), film director/screenwriter

Adult film entertainers

Mercedes Carrera (born 1982), adult film actress and blogger
Vanessa del Río (born 1952), adult film actress
Gina Lynn (born 1974), adult film actress

Hosts/presenters

Paul Bouche, television host, TV producer, A Oscuras Pero Encendidos
Mairym Monti Carlo (born 1975), television host, chef
Alfred D. Herger (born 1942), television host, psychologist
Daisy Martínez, host of PBS cooking show Daisy Cooks!
John Meléndez (born 1965), once known as "Stuttering John" (Howard Stern Show and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno)
Eddie Miró (born 1936), television host, comedian; hosted El Show de las 12 (The 12 pm Show) for over 40 years
Silverio Pérez (born 1948), show host, musician and author
Antonio Sánchez (born 1961), radio and television personality
Alani Vázquez (born 1981), also known as "La La"; MTV veejay
Luis Vigoreaux (1928–1983), created ¡Sube, Nene, Sube! (Go up, Man, Go up!) and ¡Pa'rriba, Papi, Pa'rriba! (Higher, Daddy, Higher!)
Luisito Vigoreaux (born 1951), hosted Sábado en Grande (Big Saturday, also with Roberto), El Show del Mediodía (The Midday Show) and De Magazin
Roberto Vigoreaux (born 1956), hosted Parejo, Doble y Triple (Square, Double and Triple)

Architects

Jesús Eduardo Amaral (1927–2020), architect, educator; first director of the School of Architecture at the University of Puerto Rico; Fellow of the American Institute of Architects
Félix Benítez Rexach (1886–1975), architect and engineer; designed the Normandie Hotel, located in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Segundo Cardona FAIA (born 1950, San Juan, PR), architect, developer; Fellow of the American Institute of Architects since 2006
Pedro Adolfo de Castro y Besosa (1895–1936), architect; first Puerto Rican to graduate from an American architecture university; work highlights include Casa de España, Castillo Serrallés
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
Henry Klumb (1905–1984), German-born architect responsible for many Puerto Rico designs from 1944 to 1984; Fellow of the American Institute of Architects
Andrés Mignucci (1957–2022), architect, urbanist; Fellow of the American Institute of Architects; Henry Klumb Award 2012
Antonio Miró Montilla (born 1937), architect, educator; first architect appointed head of a government agency, the Puerto Rico Public Buildings Authority, 1969 to 1971; first dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, 1971 to 1978; Chancellor of the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico, 1978 to 1985
Antonin Nechodoma (1877–1928), Czech architect working in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic at the turn of the 20th century; major works include the Georgetti Mansion, the Casa Korber in Miramar, and Casa Roig in Humacao
Francisco Porrata-Doria (1890–1971), designed the Ponce Cathedral, Banco de Ponce, and Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño
Blas Silva (1869–1949), creator of the Ponce Creole architectural style; designed, among many others, the Casa de la Masacre, Font-Ubides House, and the Subira House
Alfredo Wiechers Pieretti (1881–1964), 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, which today is home to the Puerto Rico Museum of Architecture

Authors, playwrights and poets

Jack Agüeros (1934–2014), author, playwright, poet and translator
Quiara Alegría Hudes (born 1977), author, playwright; wrote the book for the Broadway musical In the Heights; winner of 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama; 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
Miguel Algarín (1941–2020), poet, writer, co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Café
Manuel A. Alonso (1822–1889), poet and author, considered by many to be the first Puerto Rican writer of notable importance
Marta Aponte Alsina (born 1945), writer; author of La muerte feliz de William Carlos Williams
Francisco Arriví (1915–2007), writer, poet, and playwright; known as "the father of the Puerto Rican theater"
Rane Arroyo (1954–2010), poet, playwright and scholar

Pura Belpré (1899–1982), author; first Puerto Rican librarian in New York City
Samuel Beníquez (born 1971), author of the autobiographical book Tu alto precio ... Mi gran valor
María Bibiana Benítez (1783–1873), playwright, poet
Alejandrina Benítez de Gautier (1819–1879), poet whose collaboration with the "Aguinaldo Puertorriqueño" (collection of Puerto Rican poetry) gave her recognition as a great poet
Tomás Blanco (1896–1975), writer and historian; author of Prontuario Historico de Puerto Rico and El Prejuicio Racial en Puerto Rico (Racial Prejudice in Puerto Rico)
Juan Boria (1906–1995), Afro-Caribbean poet, also known as the Negro Verse Pharaoh; known for his Afro-Caribbean poetry
Carmen Bozello y Guzmán (1856–1885), writer
Giannina Braschi, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellow; author of Yo-Yo Boing! and United States of Banana

María Cadilla Colón de Martínez (1884–1951), writer, educator and women's rights activist
Zenobia Camprubí (1887–1956), writer/poet (Puerto Rican mother); wife of Nobel Prize winning author Juan Ramón Jiménez
Nemesio Canales (1878–1923), essayist and poet
Jesús Colón (1901–1974), writer; "father of the Nuyorican Movement"
Manuel Corchado y Juarbe (1840–1884), poet, journalist and politician; defended the abolition of slavery and the establishment of a University in Puerto Rico
Juan Antonio Corretjer (1908–1985), poet, journalist and pro-independence political activist (member of the Nationalist Party) who opposed United States rule in Puerto Rico

Nicholas Dante (1941–1991), 'Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright who is best known for the worldwide musical hit A Chorus Line
José Antonio Dávila (1898–1941), well-known poet during Puerto Rico's postmodern era of poetry
Virgilio Dávila (1869–1943), poet, considered by many to be one of Puerto Rico's greatest representatives of the modern literary era
Julia de Burgos (1914–1953), poet
Eugenio María de Hostos (1839–1903), wrote La Peregrinación de Bayoán, the founding text of Puerto Rican literature (see also "Educators" and "Politicians")
Caridad de la Luz (born 1977), a.k.a. "La Bruja", poet; writer/actor of Boogie Rican Blvd
Nelson Denis (born 1955), author, novelist; Editorial Director of El Diario La Prensa; New York State Assemblyman
Jaquira Díaz, writer, journalist
Abelardo Díaz Alfaro (1916–1999), writer
Emilio Díaz Valcárcel (1929–2015), writer

Sandra María Esteves (born 1948), Nuyorican poet

Héctor Feliciano (born 1952), author; his book The Lost Museum: The Nazi Conspiracy to Steal the World's Greatest Works of Art has shed light on an estimated 20,000 looted works; each one is owned by a museum or a collector somewhere
Rosario Ferré (1938–2016), writer
Shaggy Flores (born 1973), Nuyorican writer, poet; African diaspora scholar; founder of Voices for the Voiceless
Carlos Fonseca Suárez (born 1987), Costa Rican-Puerto Rican writer and academic; works include the novels Colonel Lágrimas, Museo animal, and Austral
Félix Franco Oppenheimer (1912–2004), poet and writer; works include Contornos, Imagen y visión edénica de Puerto Rico, and Antología poética
Isabel Freire de Matos (1915–2004), writer, educator and advocate of Puerto Rican independence

Magali García Ramis (born 1946), writer
José Gautier Benítez (1851–1880), leading Puerto Rican poet of the Romantic Era
José Luis González (1926–1997), one of the most prominent writers of the 20th century, particularly for his El país de cuatro pisos (1980)
Migene González Wippler (born 1936), new-age author, Santería researcher

Víctor Hernández Cruz (born 1949), poet; in 1969, became the first Hispanic to be published by a mainstream publishing house when Random House published his poem "Snaps;" in 1981, Life Magazine named him one of America's greatest poets

Lawrence La Fountain-Stokes, writer; author of Uñas pintadas de azul/Blue Fingernails
Enrique A. Laguerre (1906–2005), writer; nominated in 1998, for the Nobel Prize in literature
Eduardo Lalo writer; author of Simone
Tato Laviera (1950–2013), poet; author of AmeRícan
Georgina Lázaro (born 1965), children's poet
Muna Lee (1895–1965), Mississippi-born writer; first wife of Luis Muñoz Marín
Aurora Levins Morales (born 1954), writer and poet; author of Medicine Stories (1998) and Remedios: Stories of Earth and Iron from the History of Puertorriqueñas (1998)
Teresita A. Levy, author of The History of Tobacco Cultivation in Puerto Rico, 1898–1940, a study of the tobacco-growing regions in the eastern and western highlands of Puerto Rico from 1898 to 1940
Luis Lloréns Torres (1876–1944), poet
Washington Lloréns (1899–1989), journalist, writer, linguist, and scholar
Luis López Nieves, writer

Hugo Margenat (1933–1957), poet; founder of the political youth pro-independence organizations Acción Juventud Independentista and Federación de Universitarios Pro Independencia
René Marqués (1919–1979), playwright; wrote La Carreta (The Oxcart), which helped secure his reputation as a leading literary figure in Puerto Rico
Nemir Matos Cintrón (born 1949), poet, novelist
Francisco Matos Paoli (1915–2000), poet, critic, and essayist; nominated for the Nobel Prize in literature in 1977; a Secretary General of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
Concha Meléndez (1895–1983), poet, writer
Manuel Méndez Ballester (1909–2002), writer
Nancy Mercado (born 1959), poet, playwright; author of It Concerns the Madness, seven theatre plays, and a number of essays; her work has been extensively anthologized
Pedro Mir (1913–2000), Poet Laureate of the Dominican Republic (Puerto Rican mother)
Nicholasa Mohr (born 1938), writer; her works, among which is the novel Nilda, tell of growing up in the Bronx and El Barrio and of the difficulties Puerto Rican women face in the United States; in 1973, became the first Hispanic woman in modern times to have her literary works published by the major commercial publishing houses; has had the longest career as a creative writer for these publishing houses of any Hispanic female writer
Rosario Morales (1930–2011), author; co-author of Getting Home Alive (1986) with her daughter Aurora Levins Morales

Richie Narvaez (born 1965), short story writer and novelist, author of Hipster Death Rattle (2019) and Noiryorican (2020)
Mercedes Negrón Muñoz (1895–1973), a.k.a. "Clara Lair"; poet whose work dealt with the everyday struggles of the common Puerto Rican

Judith Ortiz Cofer (1952–2016), poet, writer and essayist; in 1994, became the first Hispanic to win the O. Henry Prize for her story "The Latin Deli"; in 1996, she and illustrator Susan Guevara became the first recipients of the Pura Belpre Award for Hispanic children's literature
Micol Ostow (born 1976), author of Mind Your Manners, Dick and Jane and Emily Goldberg Learns to Salsa

José Gualberto Padilla (1829–1896), a.k.a. "El Caribe", poet, physician, journalist and politician; advocate for Puerto Rico's independence; was imprisoned for his role in the El Grito de Lares revolt
Luis Palés Matos (1898–1959), poet of Afro-Caribbean themes
Benito Pastoriza Iyodo (1954–2022), writer, poet
Antonio S. Pedreira (1899–1939), writer and educator whose most important book was Insularismo, in which he explores the meaning of being Puerto Rican
Pedro Pietri (1944–2004), poet, playwright; co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Café
Miguel Piñero (1946–1988), playwright, writer; co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Café

Manuel Ramos Otero (1948–1990), writer, poet
Evaristo Ribera Chevremont (1896–1976), poet
José Rivera (born 1955), playwright; first Puerto Rican screenwriter to be nominated for an Oscar
Marie Teresa Ríos (1917–1999), author of the novel The Fifteenth Pelican, which was the basis for the popular 1960s television sitcom The Flying Nun
Lola Rodríguez de Tió (1843–1924), poet; wrote the lyrics to the revolutionary "La Borinqueña"
Francisco Rojas Tollinchi (1911–1965), poet, civic leader and journalist

Luis Rafael Sánchez (born 1936), novelist, playwright
Wilfredo Santa Gómez (born 1949), writer, journalist
Esmeralda Santiago (born 1948), author
Mayra Santos Febres (born 1966), poet, novelist
Pedro Juan Soto (1928–2002), writer/novelist; father of slain independence activist Carlos Soto Arriví
Clemente Soto Vélez (1905–1993), poet and pro-independence activist (member of the Nationalist Party)

Alejandro Tapia y Rivera (1826–1882), writer and poet; "the father of Puerto Rican literature"
Piri Thomas (1928–2011), writer, poet whose autobiography Down These Mean Streets was a best-seller
Luisita Lopez Torregrosa, journalist and memoirist
Edwin Torres (born 1958), Nuyorican Movement poet
Judge Edwin Torres (born 1931), writer; New York Supreme Court Justice; wrote Carlito's Way
J. L. Torres (born 1954), writer and poet; wrote The Accidental Native
Justin Torres (born 1980), writer; wrote We the Animals, also adapted to a film

Luz María Umpierre (born 1947), poet, scholar

Lourdes Vázquez (born 1953), writer and poet
Edgardo Vega Yunqué (1936–2008), novelist, also known as Ed Vega
Irene Vilar (born 1969), author and literary agent; granddaughter of independence activist Lolita Lebrón

William Carlos Williams (1883–1963), Modernist poet (Puerto Rican mother)

Emanuel Xavier (born 1971), poet and author (Puerto Rican father)

Manuel Zeno Gandía (1855–1930), writer; wrote La Charca, the first Puerto Rican novel

Beauty queens and fashion models

Ada Perkins (1959–1980), Miss Puerto Rico 1978
Aleyda Ortiz (born 1988), Nuestra Belleza Latina 2014
Astrid Muñoz (born 1974), fashion model
Chay Santini (born 1976), fashion model
Cynthia Olavarría (born 1986), Miss Puerto Rico 2005
Dayanara Torres (born 1974), Miss Universe 1993
Deborah Carthy Deu (born 1966), Miss Universe 1985
Denise Quiñones (born 1980), Miss Universe 2001
Ingrid Marie Rivera (born 1983), Miss Puerto Rico World 2005
Irma Nydia Vázquez (1929–2019), first Miss Puerto Rico in the Miss America pageant, breaking the color barrier, 1948
Jaslene González (born 1986), fashion model, winner of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 8
Joan Smalls (born 1985), fashion model and host of MTV's series House of Style
Laurie Tamara Simpson (born 1968), Miss International 1987
Madison Anderson Berrios won the Miss Universe Puerto Rico title in 2019. On the 8th of December 2019, she won the spot of the first runner-up of Miss Universe 2019.
Marisol Malaret (born 1949), first Puerto Rican Miss Universe, 1970
Marisol Maldonado (born 1970), fashion model
Melissa Marty (born 1984), Nuestra Belleza Latina 2008
Miriam Pabón (born 1985), beauty queen, first contestant in half a century to represent Puerto Rico in the Miss America pageant
Sofía Jirau, first fashion model with Down syndrome to be hired by Victoria's Secret
Stella Díaz (born 1984), fashion model
Stephanie Del Valle (born 1996), second Puerto Rican Miss World, 2016
Susie Castillo (born 1979), Miss USA 2003 (Puerto Rican mother)
Noris Díaz ("La Taína") (born 1975), model
Valerie Hernández (born 1993), Miss International 2014
Valeria Vazquez Latorre (born 1994), first Puerto Rican to win the Miss Supranational pageant (2018)
Vanessa De Roide (born 1987), Nuestra Belleza Latina 2012
Wilnelia Merced (born 1957), first Puerto Rican Miss World, 1975
Zuleyka Rivera (born 1987), Miss Universe 2006

Business people and industrialists

Carlota Alfaro (born 1933), fashion designer
Aída Álvarez (born 1950), 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 (1957–2000), youngest president of PR Government Development Bank; annual scholarships are awarded in his memory
Orlando Bravo, co-founder and managing partner of private equity investment firm Thoma Bravo; called "the first Puerto Rican-born billionaire" by Forbes
Rafael Carrión Sr. (1891–1964), patriarch of one Puerto Rico's financial dynasties; a founding father of Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, the largest bank in Puerto Rico and the largest Hispanic bank in the United States
Arturo L. Carrión Muñoz (born 1933), former executive vice president of the Puerto Rico Bankers Association
Richard Carrión (born 1952), Chairman of the Board Banco Popular; chairman International Olympic Committee's finance committee
Kimberly Casiano (born 1957), member of the board of directors of the Ford Motor Company
Ramiro L. Colón (1904–1983), first administrator of Cooperativa de Cafeteros de Puerto Rico, Café Rico (official coffee of the Vatican)
Francisco J. Collazo (born 1931), founder of COLSA Corporation, a first-rate provider of engineering and support services in Huntsville, Alabama
Deirdre Connelly (born 1961), President of North America Pharmaceuticals for GlaxoSmithKline, member of the global Corporate Executive Team; co-chairs the Portfolio Management Board, along with the Chairman of Research and Development
Atilano Cordero Badillo (born 1943), founder of Supermercados Grande
Carmen Ana Culpeper, former SBA Regional Director; first female PR Treasury Secretary and PR Telephone Company President
Óscar de la Renta (1932–2014), fashion designer (Puerto Rican father from Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico)
Fernando Fernández (1850–1940), founder of Ron del Barrilito and Alcoholado Santa Ana
José Ramón Fernández (1808–1883), "Marqués de La Esperanza", the wealthiest sugar baron in Puerto Rico in the 19th century; considered one of the most powerful men of the entire Spanish Caribbean
Antonio Luis Ferré, owner of the Ferré-Rangel media emporium
Jaime Fonalledas (born 1946), 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; Fonalledas' companies include Plaza Del Caribe, Tres Monjitas, Vaqueria Tres Monjitas, Ganaderia Tres Monjitas, and franchise Soft & Creamy
José Juan García (1940–2002), founder of Hogares Crea
Eduardo Georgetti (1866–1937), agriculturist, businessman, philanthropist, politician and sugar baron
Victoria Hernández (1897–1998), music entrepreneur and businesswoman; in 1927, she opened the first Latin music store in New York City, one of only sixteen businesses owned by Puerto Rican migrant women; sister of Rafael Hernández Marín
María Elena Holly (born 1932), widow of rock legend Buddy Holly; owns the rights to Buddy's name, image, trademarks, and other intellectual property
Teófilo José Jaime María Le Guillou (1790–1843), a.k.a. the "Father of Vieques"; founder of the municipality of Vieques; one of the wealthiest sugar barons in Puerto Rico
Ramón López Irizarry (1897–1982), inventor of Coco López
Héctor Maisonave, organized 7,000 salsa concerts; owned the Casa Blanca dance club; managed Héctor Lavoe and other salsa artists
Miguel A. García Méndez (1902–1998), founder of Western Federal Savings Bank, which later became the Westernbank Puerto Rico (now defunct)
Gildo Massó (1926–2007), founder of Massó Enterprises and Casa's Massó
Ralph Mercado (1941–2009), founder of RMM Records and music producer
Luis Miranda Casañas (1937 or 1938–2019), CEO of the multi-state Universal insurance emporium
Lisette Nieves (born 1970), founder of ATREVETE
Rafael Antonio Nazario (born 1952), pianist, composer and arranger and actor; co-founder of restaurant chain Guzman y Gomez
Luis D. Ortiz (born 1986), real estate broker and reality television personality (series Million Dollar Listing New York)
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 (1911–1978), in 1960 founded television channel 11, also known as Telecadena Pérez Perry, and became known as Tele Once in 1986
Samuel A. Ramírez Sr. (born 1941) years, President and founder of Ramirez and Co., an investment banking firm on Wall Street
Ángel Ramos (1902–1960), founder of the Telemundo television network
Gaspar Roca (1926–2007), founder of newspaper El Vocero
Amaury Rivera (born 1962), Chairman and CEO of Kinetics Systems Caribe
Miguel Ruíz (1856–1912), founder of Café Yaucono
Herb Scannell (born 1957), former Chairman of MTV Networks and president of Nickelodeon
Juan Serrallés (1845–1921), founder of Don Q rum
Nina Tassler, President of CBS Entertainment; the highest profile Latina in network television and one of the few executives who has the power to greenlight series
Joseph A. Unanue (1925–2013), president and CEO of Goya Foods; son of the company's founder
Alfonso Valdés Cobián (1890–1988), co-founder of Cervecería India, Inc. and the Puerto Rican winter baseball league; owner of the Indios de Mayagüez (Mayagüez Indians)
Camalia Valdés (born 1972), President and CEO of Cerveceria India, Inc., Puerto Rico's largest brewery
Salvador Vassallo (1942–2007), founder of Vassallo Industries Inc. and subsidiaries
Richard Velázquez (born 1973), businessman and community leader; former President of NSHMBA Puerto Rico; co-founder and former President of NSHMBA Seattle; first Puerto Rican automotive designer for Porsche, first Puerto Rican product planner for Xbox 360
María Vizcarrondo-De Soto (born 1951), first woman and Latina to become the President and CEO of the United Way of Essex and West Hudson

Cartoonists

David Álvarez, creator of the comic strip Yenny, illustrator and storyboard artist for DC Comics' Looney Tunes series
Ricardo Álvarez-Rivón, creator of the comic Turey
Carmelo Filardi
Rags Morales, comic book artist; co-creator, along with Brian Augustyn, of the 1990s version of Black Condor
George Pérez, Marvel and DC Comics iconic comic book artist and writer
John Rivas, creator of the comic strip Bonzzo
Kenneth Rocafort, Marvel and DC Comics comic book artist
José Vega Santana, creator of the Remi comic and impersonator of "Remi, The Clown"

Civil rights and political activists

María de las Mercedes Barbudo (1773–1849), political activist; often called the first female Puerto Rican "Independentista"
Rosario Bellber González (1881–1948), educator, social worker, women's rights activist, suffragist, and philanthropist; initiator, vice president and one of the founders of the Puerto Rico Teachers Association (Spanish: Asociación de Maestros de Puerto Rico); Bellber is also one of the founders of the Children's Hospital of Puerto Rico (Spanish: Hospital del Niño de Puerto Rico) and president of the Social League of Suffragists of Puerto Rico (Spanish: La Liga Social Sufragista (LSS) de Puerto Rico); in 1944, founded the House of Health and Convalescence for Children with Tuberculosis (Spanish: Sanatorio para Niños con Tuberculosis) in the mountain town of Aibonito
Mariana Bracetti (1825–1903) a.k.a. "Brazo de Oro" ("Golden Arm"), political activist; leader of the Lares's Revolutionary Council during the Grito de Lares; knit the first flag of the future Republic of Puerto Rico
Mathias Brugman (1811–1868), political activist; leader of the Grito de Lares; founded the first revolutionary committee in the City of Mayagüez; his revolutionary cell was code named "Capa Prieta" (Black Cape)
María Cadilla (1884–1951), women's rights activist; one of the first women in Puerto Rico to earn a doctoral degree
Luisa Capetillo (1879–1922), labor activist; one of Puerto Rico's most famous labor organizers; writer and an anarchist who fought for workers and women's rights
Alice Cardona (1930–2011), activist and community organizer
Dennis Flores, activist and filmmaker
Tito Kayak (born 1958), political activist; gained notoriety when a group of Vieques natives and other Puerto Ricans 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. Navy bombing exercise
Sylvia del Villard (1928–1990), Afro-Puerto Rican activist, founder of the Afro-Boricua El Coquí Theater; 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 Afro-Puerto Rican Affairs of the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña (Puerto Rican Institute of Culture) (see also "Actresses")
Isabel González (1882–1971), civil rights activist; young Puerto Rican mother who paved the way for Puerto Ricans to be given United States citizenship
Lillian López (1925–2005), librarian and labor activist; founder of the New York Public Library South Bronx Project; advocate for library and education services for Spanish-speaking communities
Óscar López Rivera (born 1943), pro-independence activist; the longest incarcerated FALN member
José Maldonado Román (1874–1932), a.k.a. "Aguila Blanca" (White Eagle), revolutionary
Rosa Martínez (b. 1952) and Eliana Martínez (1981–1989), AIDS activist; was involved in a notable Florida court case regarding the rights of HIV+ children in public schools
Felícitas Méndez (1916–1998) (née Gómez), activist; with her husband, in 1946, led a community battle which set an important legal precedent for ending de jure segregation in the United States (see Mendez v. Westminster); credited with paving the way for integration and the American civil rights movement
Ana María O'Neill (1894–1981), women's rights activist and educator; in 1929, became the first female professor in the field of commerce in the University of Puerto Rico, which she taught until 1951; urged women to participate in every aspect of civic life and to defend their right to vote
Manuel Olivieri Sánchez (1888–?), civil rights activist; court interpreter and a civil rights activist who led the legal battle which granted U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans living in Hawaii
Olivia Paoli (1855–1942), suffragist and activist who fought for the rights of women in Puerto Rico; founder of the first theosophist lodge in Puerto Rico
César A. Perales (born 1940), civil rights lawyer; founder of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (now LatinoJustice PRLDEF); won precedent-setting lawsuits combating discrimination; New York Secretary of State
Sylvia Rae Rivera (1951–2002), transgender activist; veteran of the 1969 Stonewall riots
Anthony Romero (born 1965), civil rights leader; executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union
Helen Rodríguez Trías (1929–2001), physician and women's rights activist; first Latina president of the American Public Health Association; a founding member of the Women's Caucus of the American Public Health Association; recipient of the Presidential Citizen's Medal; credited with helping to expand the range of public health services for women and children in minority and low-income populations in the US, Central and South America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East (see also "Educators" and "Scientists")
Manuel Rojas (1831–1903), Venezuelan born Puerto Rican independence leader in the El Grito de Lares revolt against Spanish colonial rule
Ana Roque (1853–1933), women's rights activist, educator and suffragist; one of the founders of the University of Puerto Rico
Soraya Santiago Solla (1947–2020), transgender activist; first person in Puerto Rico to change the gender designation on their birth certificate following gender reassignment surgery
Arturo Alfonso Schomburg (1874–1938), civil rights and pro-independence activist; pioneer in black history who helped raise awareness of the contributions by Afro-Latin Americans and Afro-Americans to society
Pedro Julio Serrano (born 1974), human rights activist; President of Puerto Rico Para Tod@s, which strives for inclusion of LGBT community and for social justice for all in Puerto Rico; Communication Manager at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Marcos Xiorro, house slave; in 1821, planned and conspired to lead a slave revolt against the sugar plantation owners and the Spanish Colonial government in Puerto Rico

Nationalists

Political activists who were members of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party:

Elías Beauchamp (1908–1936), political activist and nationalist; in 1936, assassinated Elisha Francis Riggs, the United States-appointed police chief of Puerto Rico; considered a hero by the members of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement
Blanca Canales (1906–1996), political activist; nationalist leader who led the Jayuya Uprising in 1950 against US colonial rule of Puerto Rico
Rafael Cancel Miranda (1930–2020), political activist; member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party and advocate of Puerto Rican independence who attacked the United States House of Representatives in 1954
Óscar Collazo (1914–1994), political activist; one of two nationalists who attempted to assassinate President Harry S. Truman
Rosa Collazo (1904–1988) a.k.a. Rosa Cortéz Collazo, political activist and treasurer of the New York City branch of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
Raimundo Díaz Pacheco (1906–1950), political activist; Commander-in-Chief of the Cadets of the Republic (Cadetes de la República), a quasi-military organization and official youth organization within the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
Andrés Figueroa Cordero (1924–1979), political activist; member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party; one of four nationalists who attacked the United States House of Representatives in 1954
Irvin Flores Ramírez (1925–1994), political activist; Nationalist leader and activist; one of four nationalists who attacked the United States House of Representatives in 1954
Lolita Lebrón (1919–2009), political activist; Nationalist leader and activist; the leader of four nationalists who attacked the United States House of Representatives in 1954
Tomás López de Victoria (1911–?), political activist and Sub-Commander of the Cadets of the Republic; the captain in charge of the cadets who participated in the peaceful march which ended up as the Ponce massacre, he led the Nationalists in the Arecibo revolt in the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Revolt of 1950
Isolina Rondón (1913–1990), political activist and Treasurer of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party; one of the few witnesses of the October 24, 1935 killing of four Nationalists by local police officers in Puerto Rico during a confrontation with the supporters of the Nationalist Party, known as the Río Piedras massacre
Hiram Rosado (1911–1936), political activist and nationalist; in 1936 participated in the assassination of Elisha Francis Riggs, the United States-appointed police chief of Puerto Rico; he and his comrade Elías Beauchamp are considered heroes by the members of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement
Isabel Rosado (1907–2015), political activist; imprisoned multiple times
Vidal Santiago Díaz (1910–1982), political activist; barber of Pedro Albizu Campos and uncle of the novelist Esmeralda Santiago; made Puerto Rican media history when numerous police officers and National Guardsmen attacked him at his barbershop during the 1950 Nationalist Revolt; this was the first time in Puerto Rican history that such an attack was transmitted via radio to the public
Griselio Torresola (1925–1950), political activist; Nationalist who died in an attempt to assassinate President Harry S. Truman in 1950
Carlos Vélez Rieckehoff (1907–2005), political activist, former President of the New York chapter of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party in the 1930s; in the 1990s was among the pro-independence activists who protested against the United States Navy's use of his birthplace, Vieques, as a bombing range
Olga Viscal Garriga (1929–1995), political activist, member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party; in the late 1940s became a student leader at the University of Puerto Rico and spokesperson of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party's branch in Río Piedras

Clergy, religion

Pre–20th century

Juan Alejo de Arizmendi, first Puerto Rican Roman Catholic bishop
Francisco Ayerra de Santa María, priest and poet
St. Rose of Lima (Santa Rosa de Lima) (Puerto Rican father)
Diego de Torres Vargas, first priest to write about the history of Puerto Rico

20th century

David Andrés Álvarez Velázquez, 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; the only Puerto Rican cleric to date to be named cardinal
Yiye Ávila, Pentecostal leader
Nicky Cruz, former gangster turned minister
Sor Isolina Ferré Aguayo, Roman Catholic nun awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom; sister of former governor Luis Ferré Aguayo
Juanita García Peraza, founder of the "Mita" religion
Roberto González Nieves, Archbishop of San Juan
Jorge Raschke, outspoken Pentecostal pastor
Francisco Reus Froylán, first native Puerto Rican bishop of the Episcopal Church
Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago, beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2001; first Puerto Rican and first Caribbean-born layperson to be beatified

21st century

José Luis de Jesús Miranda, controversial religious leader
Bavi Edna Rivera, 12th woman and first Hispanic woman to become a bishop of the Episcopal Church

Composers, singers, musicians and opera performers

Anuel AA (born 1992), rapper and singer-songwriter
Mary Ann Acevedo Rivera (born 1987), singer, songwriter
Juan F. Acosta (1890–1968), danza composer
Johnny Albino (1919–2011), singer
Rauw Alejandro (born 1993), singer, musician
Rafael Alers (1903–1978), danza composer; first Puerto Rican to compose a Hollywood musical score
Carlos Alomar (born 1951), guitarist, composer, arranger, producer
Zayra Álvarez (born 1974), rock singer-songwriter
Miguel Ángel Amadeo, composer
Marc Anthony (born 1968), singer
Henry Arana (1921–2008), composer
Chucho Avellanet (born 1941), singer

Bad Bunny (born 1994), rapper
Manolo Badrena (born 1952), percussionist
Adrienne Bailon (born 1983), singer, actress, songwriter; part of the former girl group trio 3LW, and of The Cheetah Girls
Puchi Balseiro (1926–2007), composer
Lloyd Banks (born 1982), rapper (Puerto Rican mother)
Ray Barretto (1929–2006), percussionist, jazz and salsa leader
Eddie Benítez (1956–2019), guitarist
John Benítez (born 1957), a.k.a. "Jellybean Benítez", music producer and remixer
Lucecita Benítez (born 1942), a.k.a. "Lucecita", singer
Samuel Beníquez (born 1971), music producer, composer and musician
Obie Bermúdez (born 1980), singer and composer
Big Pun (1971–2000), rapper
Willie Bobo (1934–1983) (born William Correa), Latin jazz musician and bandleader
Ángela Bofill (born 1954), singer (Puerto Rican mother)
Américo Boschetti (born 1951), singer and composer
Roy Brown (born 1945), folklore singer, composer

Antonio Cabán Vale (born 1942), a.k.a. "El Topo", folklore singer, composer
Tego Calderón (born 1972), rapper, reggaeton artist
Héctor Campos Parsi (1922–1998), singer, composer
Bobby Capó (1921–1989), singer, composer
Nydia Caro (born 1948), singer
Vicente Carattini (1939–2005), singer and composer; composed many of Puerto Rico's Christmas themes
Joseph Cartagena (born 1970), a.k.a. "Fat Joe", rapper
Marta Casals Istomin (born 1936), cellist; former president of the Manhattan School of Music
Pablo Casals (1876–1973), cellist (Puerto Rican mother), classical musician
Kevin Ceballo (born 1977), salsa music singer
Rafael Cepeda (1910–1996), composer; a.k.a. "Patriarch of the Bomba and Plena"
Iris Chacón (born 1950), singer and vedette
Keshia Chanté (born 1988), R&B and pop singer-songwriter
Arístides Chavier Arévalo (1867–1942), pianist and composer
José Miguel Class (1938–2017), a.k.a. "El Gallito de Manatí", singer
Robert Clivillés (born 1964), freestyle producer; founder and member of C + C Music Factory
Javier Colón (born 1978), singer and winner of the first season of U.S. reality series The Voice
Santos Colón (1922–1998), singer
Willie Colón (born 1950), salsa composer
Rubén Colón Tarrats (born 1940), band director
César Concepción (1909–1974), orchestra leader
Ernesto Cordero (born 1946), composer and classical guitarist
Federico A. Cordero (1928–2012), composer and classical guitarist
Millie Corretjer (born 1974), singer. She is the granddaughter of Juan Antonio Corretjer, poet and a leader of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party.
Rafael Cortijo (1928–1982), bandleader, founder of Cortijo y Su Combo, forerunner of El Gran Combo
José Cosculluela (born 1980), hip hop and reggaeton artist
Elvis Crespo (born 1971), merengue singer
Tony Croatto (1940–2005), singer/composer of Puerto Rican folk songs
Bobby Cruz (born 1937), salsa singer, bandleader
Joe Cuba (1931–2009) (born José Calderón), bandleader, a.k.a. "The Father of the Boogaloo"
Tite Curet Alonso (1926–2003), ballad and salsa composer

Christian Daniel (born 1984), singer-songwriter
Iluminado Dávila Medina (born 1918), cuatrista
Héctor Delgado (born 1979), a.k.a. "el Father", reggaeton singer
Rafael José Díaz (born 1955), a.k.a. "Rafael José", singer and television host
Carmen Delia Dipiní (1927–1998), bolero singer
Edgardo Díaz (born 1960), founder of the boy band Menudo
Braulio Dueño Colón (1854–1934), composer of "Canciones Escolares"
Huey Dunbar (born 1974), singer, member of DLG (Puerto Rican mother)

Rafi Escudero (born 1945), musician, singer, composer
Noel Estrada (1918–1979), composer of "En Mi Viejo San Juan"
Cano Estremera (1958–2020), singer, composer and poet

Lucy Fabery (1931–2015), singer
Rene Farrait (born 1967), singer; former member of Menudo
Cheo Feliciano (1935–2014), salsa singer; singer for Joe Cuba Sextet
José Feliciano (born 1945), singer, composed "Feliz Navidad"
Ruth Fernández (1919–2012), singer
Elmer Figueroa (born 1968), a.k.a. "Chayanne", singer
Narciso Figueroa (1906–2004), composer
Pedro Flores (1894–1979), composer and bandleader
Héctor Fonseca (born 1980), producer, musician
Luis Fonsi (born 1978), singer

Angelo García (born 1976), singer; former member of Menudo
Kany García (born 1982), singer-songwriter
Jenilca Giusti (born 1981), singer, songwriter, actress, model
Eddie Gómez (born 1944), jazz musician and composer
Tito Gómez (1948–2007), composer
Kenny "Dope" Gonzáles (born 1970), producer, musician; member of Masters At Work

Jazz Hamilton (born 1965), recording artist, arranger, composer, saxophonist, producer
Edward W. Hardy (born 1992), composer, violinist, violist, producer, and actor, known for his off-Broadway musical The Woodsman
Hex Hector (born 1965), Grammy Award-winning remixer and producer
Oscar Hernández (born 1954), salsa musician; composed the musical theme for the television series Sex and the City
Rafael Hernández Marín (1891–1965), composer
Giovanni Hidalgo (born 1963), percussionist
Lee Holdridge (born 1944), television and film score composer

Rafael Ithier (born 1926), musician; founder of El Gran Combo orchestra

Nicky Jam (born 1981), singer-songwriter
Janid, singer, songwriter, reality TV personality
Orlando Javier Valle Vega, a.k.a. "Chencho", singer, producer
Carmita Jiménez (1939–2003), a.k.a. "La Dama de la Canción", singer
Jim Jones (born 1976) (Puerto Rican father)

Kane & Abel, rap duo
Tori Kelly (born 1992), singer (father is half Puerto Rican)

La India (born 1970) (born Linda Caballero), salsa singer
George Lamond (born 1967), pop/salsa singer
William Landrón (born 1978), a.k.a. "Don Omar", reggaeton singer
Tito Lara (1932–1987), singer
Héctor Lavoe (1946–1993), salsa singer
Raphy Leavitt (1948–2015), composer, musical director
Elizabeth le Fey, singer, songwriter
Manny Lehman, music producer, DJ
Lisa M (born 1974), rapper
Jennifer López (born 1969), singer (both parents are Puerto Rican)
Johnny Lozada (born 1967), singer
Luis Lozada (born 1971), rapper
Papo Lucca (born 1946), pianist
Lunna (born 1947), singer

Manny Manuel (born 1972), singer
Víctor Manuelle (born 1968), salsa singer
Bruno Mars (born 1985), singer and songwriter (father is Puerto Rican)
Ricky Martin (born 1971), singer; former member of Menudo
Angie Martínez (born 1972), singer, actress, radio personality
Ladislao Martínez (1898–1979), virtuoso cuatro player known as "El Maestro Ladí"
Melanie Martínez (born 1995), Puerto Rican-Dominican singer-songwriter
Carolyne Mas (born 1955), singer-songwriter, musician, and performer
Charlie Masso (born 1969), singer; former member of Menudo
Paul Masvidal (born 1971), guitarist, singer, and songwriter with international recording artists Cynic
Maxwell (born 1973), R&B and neo-soul singer (Puerto Rican father)
Lisette Meléndez (born 1967), freestyle/Latin-pop singer
Ricky Meléndez (born 1967), singer; former member of "Menudo
Syesha Mercado (born 1987), singer and finalist on American Idol (Puerto Rican father)
Julia Michaels, singer, songwriter (Mexican-Puerto Rican father)
Luis Miguel (born 1970), a.k.a. "sol de Mexico", singer and songwriter
Elsa Miranda (1922–2007), singer who was featured on radio and television in the United States during the Golden Age of Radio in the 1940s
Ismael Miranda (born 1950), "El Niño Bonito de la Salsa", singer and composer, Fania All-Star
Lin-Manuel Miranda (born 1980), Grammy-, Tony-, and MacArthur "Genius" Award-winning composer, lyricist, and actor, known for his Broadway musicals In the Heights and Hamilton
Ángel Mislán (1862–1911), composer of danzas
José Luis Moneró (1921–2011), composer and band leader
Yolandita Monge (born 1955), singer, television host and theatrical actress
Gilberto Monroig (1930–1996), bolero singer
Glenn Monroig (born 1957), composer, singer; sang the first rap song in Spanish
Andy Montáñez (born 1942), salsa singer
David Morales (born 1962), deejay, composer, and music producer
Florencio Morales Ramos (1915–1989), a.k.a. "Ramito", composer of plenas and one of the foremost singers of música jíbara; composed "Que Bonita Bandera", which, on March 19, 2009, served as the wake-up call for Puerto Rican astronaut Joseph M. Acaba and the crew aboard the Discovery Space Shuttle
Mark Morales (born 1960), a.k.a. "Prince Markie Dee", rapper, and producer
Noro Morales (1911–1964), pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader
Juan Morel Campos (1857–1896), composer of danzas; uncle of Pedro Albizu Campos
Carli Muñoz (born 1948), pianist, composer, arranger, bandleader, and producer
Rafael Muñoz (1900–1961), orchestra leader; in 1934, he composed the musical score for Romance Tropical, the first Puerto Rican movie with sound and the second Spanish movie with sound in the world

Ednita Nazario (born 1955), singer
Rafael Nazario (born 1952), pianist, composer and arranger, actor, chef, author and occasional wine writer
Joe Negroni (1940–1978), Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, member of The Teenagers
Tito Nieves (born 1958), salsa singer; his version of "I Like it Like That" was part of a national Burger King commercial
Noelia (born 1979), singer, songwriter and actress
Nova y Jory, reggaeton duo

Tommy Olivencia (1938–2006), salsa bandleader, trumpet player, singer
Tony Orlando (born 1944), singer (Puerto Rican mother)
Choco Orta (born 1977), salsa singer
Jeannie Ortega (born 1986), R&B and reggaeton singer
Claudette Ortiz (born 1981), singer, R&B group City High
Joell Ortiz (born 1980), rapper
Luis "Perico" Ortiz (born 1949), salsa singer, trumpeter, composer, musical arranger and producer
Shalim Ortiz (born 1979), a.k.a. "Shalim", singer, actor
Pedro Ortiz Davila (1912–1986), a.k.a. "Davilita", bolero singer; advocate of Puerto Rican independence
Juan Carlos Ozuna Rosado (born 1992), a.k.a. "Ozuna", reggaeton and Latin trap singer

Charlie Palmieri (1926–1988), pianist, bandleader
Eddie Palmieri (born 1936), pianist, composer, bandleader; 2013 National Endowment of Arts Jazz Master; nine-time Grammy Award winner
José Enrique Pedreira (1904–1959), danza composer
Ángel "Cuco" Peña (born 1948), musician, composer and producer
René Pérez (born 1978), singer, member of Calle 13
Lourdes Pérez (born 1961), singer, songwriter; folk, nueva canción, and nueva trova singer
Martha Pesante (born 1972), a.k.a. "Ivy Queen" and "The Queen of Reggaeton", reggaeton singer
Plan B, reggaeton duo
Carlos Ponce (born 1972), singer
Rebeca Pous Del Toro (born 1978), Spanish pop singer; cousin of Benicio del Toro
Miguel Poventud (1942–1983), a.k.a. "El Nino Prodigio de Guayama" and "Miguelito"; musician, singer and composer of boleros
Tito Puente (1923–2000), musician, composer, arranger and producer, a.k.a. the "King of Latin Music" or "the Mambo King"

Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (born August 21, 1996)[5] is a track and field athlete who specializes in the 100 metres hurdles; at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, became the first Puerto Rican of Afro-Latino descent and the second person representing Puerto Rico to win a gold medal
Ismael Quintana (1937–2016), salsa singer, lead vocalist with Eddie Palmeri's original band La Perfecta
José Ignacio Quintón (1881–1925), pianist and composer of danzas
Domingo Quiñones (born 1963), singer, actor
Luciano Quiñones (born 1948), danza composer

Chamaco Ramírez (1941–1983), salsa singer
Val Ramos (born 1958), international flamenco guitarist
Richie Ray (born 1945), a.k.a. "The King of Salsa", singer, composer
Sylvia Rexach (1922–1961), singer, composer
Ray Reyes (1970–2021), singer, member of Menudo and Proyecto M
Ron Reyes (born 1960), singer for Black Flag, 1979–1980
Juan Ríos Ovalle (1863–1928), composer of danzas, musician and orchestra director
Gabriel Ríos (born 1978), musician
Gerardo Rivas (born 1982), salsa singer
Danny Rivera (born 1945), singer
Ismael Rivera (1931–1987), a.k.a. "El Sonero Mayor", salsa singer
Jerry Rivera (born 1973), salsa singer; first salsa artist to perform on The Tonight Show
Mon Rivera (1899–1978), trombonist and singer
Tomás Rivera Morales (1927–2001), a.k.a. "Maso Rivera", composer; child music prodigy who composed over 1,000 instrumental compositions for the cuatro, among which he treasured the waltz; considered to be a virtuoso cuatrista
Augusto Rodríguez (1904–1993), composer and chorus director; founder of the choir of the University of Puerto Rico
Chino Rodriguez (born 1954), salsa musician, trombonist, composer, artist manager, producer, talent agent; founder of Oriente Music Group and Latin Music Booking (Puerto Rican mother, Chinese father)
Daniel Rodríguez (born 1964), former police officer turned operatic tenor
Felipe Rodríguez (1926–1999), a.k.a. "La Voz", singer of boleros
Julito Rodríguez (1925–2013), singer and leader of one of the most important tríos
Lalo Rodríguez (born 1958), salsa singer; was part of the first two records to win the first two Latin Grammy Awards; first artist to sell over one million salsa records in Spain
Pellin Rodríguez (1926–1984), salsa singer; member of the musical group El Gran Combo was related to Gilberto Concepción de Gracia, founder of the Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (Puerto Rican Independence Party)
Tito Rodríguez (1923–1973), singer and bandleader
Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez (1933–2000), salsa singer, Fania All-Star
Omar Rodríguez-López (born 1975), composer and guitarist
Roberto Roena (born 1940), percussionist and band leader
Kelis Rogers (born 1979), singer and television host (Chinese-Puerto Rican mother)
Tito Rojas (1955–2020), salsa singer
Ivette Román-Roberto, experimental vocalist
Marta Romero (1928–2013), singer and actress
Draco Rosa, singer, composer
Ralphi Rosario (born 1959), producer, DJ, musician
Willie Rosario (born 1930), composer, timbalero, bandleader
Felipe Rose (born 1954), singer
Julita Ross (1919–1981), singer of danzas
Roy Rosselló (born 1971), singer, former member of Menudo
Frankie Ruiz (1958–1998), salsa singer
Hilton Ruiz (1952–2006), jazz composer/musician
Maelo Ruiz (born 1966), salsa singer

Jimmy Sabater Sr. (1936–2012), musician; three-time winner of the ACE Awards
Fernando and Nefty Sallaberry (born 1964, born 1965), singers; former members of Menudo
Bobby Sanabria (born 1957), Latin jazz musician, drummer, percussionist, composer, arranger, 8X Grammy nominee as a leader, educator, documentary film producer
Claudio Sánchez (born 1978), singer; lead singer, lyricist and guitarist of Coheed and Cambria
Jesús María Sanromá (1902–1984), composer; first person ever to be named official pianist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Gilberto Santa Rosa (born 1962), salsa singer
Daniel Santos (1916–1992), composer, singer of boleros and Cuban guarachas; he was an advocate of Puerto Rican independence.
Ray Santos (1928–2019), arranger and composer, saxophonist, Grammy winner, The Mambo Kings
Romeo Santos (born 1981), bachata singer; former member of Aventura (Puerto Rican mother)
Adalberto Santiago (born 1937), salsa singer
Eddie Santiago (born 1955), salsa singer
Herman Santiago (born 1941), rock n roll singer and Hall of Famer; composed song "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
Marvin Santiago (1947–2004), salsa singer
Dr. Zoraida Santiago (born 1952), singer and composer
Nino Segarra (born 1954), salsa singer
Ray Sepúlveda, salsa singer
Xavier Serbiá (born 1968), singer; former member of "Menudo
Roberto Sierra (born 1953), classical music composer, famous for his Missa Latina
Myrta Silva (1917–1987), a.k.a. "La Gorda de Oro" and "Madame Chencha", singer, composer
Arturo Somohano (1910–1977), composer; symphony orchestra conductor
Ivette Sosa (born 1976), singer; member of Eden's Crush
Brenda K. Starr (born 1966), salsa singer (Puerto Rican mother)
Michael Stuart (born 1975), salsa singer
Sweet Sensation, freestyle trio

Nedra Talley (born 1946), singer, member of "The Ronettes", who were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 2007
Olga Tañón (born 1967), singer, composer
Manuel Gregorio Tavárez (1843–1883), composer, known as "The Father of the Puerto Rican danza"
Gerardo Teissonniere (born 1961), classical pianist and teacher
Daniel Ticotin (born 1969), singer and musician
Juan Tizol (1900–1984), jazz musician and composer, extended period with Duke Ellington
TKA, freestyle trio
Ray Toro (born 1977), lead guitarist (My Chemical Romance)
Yomo Toro (1933–2012), musician, guitarist, and "cuatrista"
Manoella Torres (born 1954), singer
Eladio Torres (born 1950), musician, singer and composer
Néstor Torres (born 1957), musician; Latin Grammy Award-winning preeminent flautist in the Latin jazz genre
Tommy Torres (born 1971), singer, composer, musician
Tony Touch (born 1969), singer

Yolanda Vadiz (1959–1987), gospel singer
Gary Valenciano (born 1964), Filipino musician (Puerto Rican mother)
Bobby Valentín (born 1941), musician, bandleader
José Vázquez-Cofresí (born 1975), bandleader, musician, composer and producer
Mario Vázquez (born 1977), pop and R&B singer; 2005 American Idol contestant
Myrna Vázquez (1935–1975), actress and activist
Little Louie Vega (born 1965), producer, musician; member of Masters At Work
Tony Vega (born 1957), salsa singer
Lisa Vélez (born 1967), singer of Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
Norberto_Vélez (born 1979), salsa singer, composer, producer, arranger and entertainer
Wilkins Vélez (born 1953), a.k.a. "Wilkins", singer and composer

Wisin & Yandel, reggaeton duo, known as "El Duo de la Historia"

Yaga y Mackie, reggaeton duo
Daddy Yankee (born Ramón Ayala) (born 1977), reggaeton singer
Yomo (born 1981), reggaeton artist

Zabdiel de Jesus, singer
Miguel Zenón (born 1976), jazz saxophonist
Zion y Lennox, reggaeton duo

Opera

Martina Arroyo (born 1936), operatic soprano; part of the first generation of black opera singers to achieve wide success
Justino Díaz (born 1940), opera singer
Pablo Elvira (1937–2000), baritone, opera singer
Benjamín Marcantoni, operatic countertenor
Ana María Martínez (born 1971), soprano
Julia Migenes (born 1949), soprano
Amalia Paoli (1861–1941), soprano
Antonio Paolí (1871–1946), tenor
Melliangee Pérez (born 1976), opera soprano; awarded Soprano of the Year by UNESCO
Graciela Rivera (1921–2011), soprano; first Puerto Rican to sing a lead role in the Metropolitan Opera

Criminals and outlaws

Pre-20th century

Roberto Cofresí, a.k.a. '"El Pirata Cofresí"' (Cofresí the Pirate); his exploits as a pirate are part of Puerto Rico's folklore

20th century

Salvador Agrón, a.k.a. "The Capeman", criminal and poet
Antonio Correa Cotto, bandit/outlaw
Jose Garcia Cosme, a.k.a. "Papo Cachete", drug kingpin
Antonio García López, a.k.a. "Toño Bicicleta", outlaw
Raymond Márquez, a.k.a. "Spanish Raymond", Harlem numbers kingpin
Isabel la Negra, madam of a brothel
Edsel Torres Gómez, a.k.a. "Negri", drug kingpin
Tony Tursi, mobster

21st century

José Figueroa Agosto, drug kingpin; and porn star known as "the Pablo Escobar of the Caribbean"
Ariel Castro, kidnapper
José Padilla, convicted Al-Qaeda operative
Esteban Santiago, Fort Lauderdale shooter
Alex Trujillo, drug dealer and preacher

Diplomats

20th century

Adrian A. Basora, former U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic
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
Spencer Matthews King, former U.S. Ambassador to Guyana
Edward G. Miller Jr., lawyer who served as Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs from 1949 to 1952
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")

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

Educators

Ursula Acosta, educator; one of the founding members of the Sociedad Puertorriqueña de Genealogía (Puerto Rican Genealogical Society)
Alfredo M. Aguayo, educator and writer; established the first laboratory of child psychology at the University of Havana
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 US
Margot Arce de Vázquez, educator; founder of the department of Hispanic studies in the University of Puerto Rico
Rosario Bellber González, educator, social worker, women's rights activist, suffragist, and philanthropist; initiator, vice president and one of the founders of the Puerto Rico Teachers Association (Spanish: Asociación de Maestros de Puerto Rico); Bellber is also one of the founders of the Children's Hospital of Puerto Rico (Spanish: Hospital del Niño de Puerto Rico) and president of the Social League of Suffragists of Puerto Rico (Spanish: La Liga Social Sufragista (LSS) de Puerto Rico); In 1944, Bellber founded the House of Health and Convalescence for Children with Tuberculosis (Spanish: Sanatorio para Niños con Tuberculosis) in the mountain town of Aibonito
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
Emma Brossard, professor of politics and government at the Louisiana State University and noted expert on the Venezuelan oil industry
Carlos E. Chardón Palacios, first Puerto Rican mycologist and first Puerto Rican appointed as chancellor of the University of Puerto Rico
Carlos A. Chardón López, educator and public administrator; the only Puerto Rican to serve twice as Puerto Rico Secretary of Education
Edna Coll, educator and author; president of the Society of Puerto Rican Authors in San Juan; founder of the Academy of Fine Arts in Puerto Rico
Celestina Cordero, educator; in 1820, founded the first school for girls in Puerto Rico
Rafael Cordero, educator; declared venerable in 2004 by Pope John Paul II; the process for beatification is now in motion with Benedictine Fr. Oscar Rivera as Procurator of the Cause
Waded Cruzado, first Hispanic president of Montana State University
Eugenio María de Hostos, educator; in Peru, he 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 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); co-editor of Boricuas in Gotham: Puerto Ricans in the Making of Modern New York City (2004)
José Ferrer Canales, educator, writer and activist
Megh R. Goyal, professor, historian, scientist; "father of irrigation engineering in Puerto Rico"; professor in agricultural and biomedical engineering at University of Puerto Rico
Sonia Gutierrez, American educator and Hispanic rights activist; principal, counselor and advocate for adult students at the Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School, an adult charter school in Washington, D.C.
Felix V. Matos Rodriguez, educator; chancellor of the City University of New York
Concha Meléndez, educator, writer, poet
Ana G. Méndez, educator; founder of the Ana G. Méndez University System
Ingrid Montes, educator, professor of chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras
Antonio Miró Montilla, architect, educator; first architect appointed head of a government agency, the Puerto Rico Public Buildings Authority, 1969–71; first dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, 1971–78; chancellor of the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico, 1978–85
Antonia Pantoja, educator; founder of ASPIRA; awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Ángel Ramos, educator; superintendent of the Sequoia Schools for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; one of the few deaf Hispanics to earn a doctorate from Gallaudet University
Juan A. Rivero, educator; founded the Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo in Mayagüez; discovered numerous animal species and has written several books
Havidan Rodriguez, educator and scholar; president of the University at Albany, SUNY, 2017–present; first Latino/Hispanic President of any four-year SUNY institution
Ana Roque, educator and suffragist; one of the founders of the University of Puerto Rico
Carlos E. Santiago, economist and educator; chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Ninfa Segarra, New York City Council member; president of the New York City Board of Education, 2000–02
Victoria Leigh Soto, educator who emerged as a hero in the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, when she hid students and died trying to protect them from alleged shooter Adam Lanza; her father is Puerto Rican
Lolita Tizol, 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
Nilita Vientós Gastón, educator; first female lawyer to work for the Department of Justice of Puerto Rico; 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; first commissioner of public instruction after the creation of the Estado Libre Asociado; instituted the use of Spanish as the official language of instruction in the Puerto Rico public education system, displacing English, which had been pushed by the US-appointed colonial governors

Governors of Puerto Rico

Pre-20th century

Juan Ponce de León, lived with his family in Puerto Rico; Spanish explorer and conquistador; became the first Governor of Puerto Rico by appointment of the Spanish crown; led the first European expedition to Florida, which he named; his remains are buried in a crypt in the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista in San Juan
Juan Ponce de León II, first Puerto Rican acting governor (1579)

20th century

Juan Bernardo Huyke, 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
Jesús T. Piñero, first Puerto Rican to be named governor of the Island by a U.S. President (1946–1949)
Luis Muñoz Marín, first elected governor of Puerto Rico (1949–1965)
Roberto Sánchez Vilella, second elected governor of Puerto Rico (1965–1969)
Luis A. Ferré, third elected governor of Puerto Rico (1969–1973); philanthropist who donated Museo de Arte de Ponce to the people of Puerto Rico; industrialist who founded the Puerto Rico Cement Company and Ponce Cement, Inc., and developed Puerto Rico Iron Works into a successful foundry
Rafael Hernández Colón, fourth elected governor of Puerto Rico (1973–1977 and 1985–1993)
Carlos Romero Barceló, fifth elected governor of Puerto Rico (1977–1985)
Pedro Rosselló, sixth elected governor of Puerto Rico (1993–2001)

21st century

Sila Calderón, seventh elected and first female governor of Puerto Rico (2001–2005)
Aníbal Acevedo Vilá, eighth elected governor of Puerto Rico (2005–2009)
Luis Fortuño, ninth elected governor of Puerto Rico (2009–2013)
Alejandro García Padilla, tenth elected governor of Puerto Rico (2013–2017)
Ricky Rosselló, 11th elected governor of Puerto Rico (2017–2019)
Pedro Pierluisi, served as de facto governor of Puerto Rico from August 2 to August 7, 2019 (judicially annulled)
Wanda Vázquez Garced, 13th governor of Puerto Rico (2019–2021)
Pedro Pierluisi, the 14th Governor of Puerto Rico (2021–Present)

First Ladies of Puerto Rico

First Lady or First Gentleman of Puerto Rico, a.k.a. Primera Dama o Primer Caballero de Puerto Rico in Spanish, is the official title given by the government of Puerto Rico to the spouse of the governor of Puerto Rico or the relatives of the governor, should the holder be unmarried. The governor's spouse leads the Office of the First Lady or First Gentleman of Puerto Rico. The position of First Lady or First Gentleman carries no official duty and receives no compensation for their service. They generally oversee the administration of La Fortaleza, the mansion that serves as the governor's residence and office. They also organize events and civic programs, and typically get involved in different charities and social causes.

Inés Mendoza, First Lady of Puerto Rico (1949–1965); revered teacher and cultural leader
Jeannette Ramos, First Lady of Puerto Rico (1967–1969)
Conchita Dapena, First Lady of Puerto Rico (1965–1966)
Lila Mayoral Wirshing, youngest First Lady of Puerto Rico (1973–1977, 1985–1992)
Kate de Romero, First Lady of Puerto Rico (1977–1985); Trustee of the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico
Irma Margarita "Maga" Neváres, First Lady of Puerto Rico (1993–2001)
Luisa Gándara, First Lady of Puerto Rico (2005–2009)
Lucé Vela, First Lady of Puerto Rico (2009–2013)
Wilma Pastrana, First Lady of Puerto Rico (2013–2017)
Beatriz Areizaga, First Lady of Puerto Rico (2017–2019)

First Gentleman of Puerto Rico

Jorge Díaz Reverón First Gentleman of Puerto Rico (August 7, 2019 – 2021); married to Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced.

Historians

Iñigo Abbad y Lasierra, first historian (Spanish) to extensively document Puerto Rico's history, nationality and culture
Delma S. Arrigoitia, historian, author; first person in the University of Puerto Rico to earn a master's degree in the field of history; in 2010, her book, Puerto Rico Por Encima de Todo: Vida y Obra de Antonio R. Barceló, 1868–1938, was recognized among the best in the category of "research and criticism" and awarded a first place prize by the Ateneo Puertorriqueño
Pilar Barbosa, University of Puerto Rico professor; author; first modern-day Official Historian of Puerto Rico
Salvador Brau, historian, first Official Historian of Puerto Rico
Cayetano Coll y Toste, historian; best known for his classic work Boletín Histórico de Puerto Rico
Adolfo de Hostos, historian
Francisco Lluch Mora, known for his legendary book Orígenes y Fundación de Ponce y Otras Noticias Relativas a su Desarrollo Urbano, Demográfico y Cultural (Siglos XVI-XIX)
Eduardo Neumann Gandía, historian, known for his 19th-century History of Ponce
Francisco Mariano Quiñones, historian; first Official Historian of Puerto Rico
Andrés Ramos Mattei, historian
Tony Santiago, military historian

Journalists

José Julián Acosta, journalist and advocate of the abolition of slavery
José Andino y Amezquita, first Puerto Rican journalist
César Andreu Iglesias, founding editor of Claridad newspaper; novelist/independence activist
María Celeste Arrarás, anchor for Al Rojo Vivo
Lynda Baquero, reporter, WNBC in New York City
Bárbara Bermudo, journalist; co-host of Univision's Primer Impacto
Marysol Castro, co-host of ABC's Good Morning America
Veronica Cintron, Award Winning primetime solo anchor
Antonio Cortón, late 19th century writer, journalist, literary critic, and editor of newspaper in Barcelona, Spain; wrote Las Antillas and the biography of José de Espronceda, a 19th century poet
Christopher Crommett, Atlanta-based Executive Vice President of CNN en Español
Isabel Cuchí Coll, journalist and author; granddaughter of Cayetano Coll y Toste and niece of José Coll y Cuchí; served as Director of the "Sociedad de Autores Puertorriqueños
Carmen Dominicci, co-host of Univision's Primer Impacto
Malín Falú, Spanish language radio and television host
Manuel Fernández Juncos, journalist and short story writer; lyricist who wrote the lyrics to "La Borinqueña"
Juan González, New York City investigative journalist
Aníbal González Irizarry, former newscaster for Telenoticias en acción
Jackie Guerrido, journalist and meteorologist for Univision's Despierta América
Kimberly Guilfoyle, Court TV journalist; former First Lady of San Francisco (Puerto Rican mother)
Carmen Jovet, journalist, first Puerto Rican woman named a 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 López
Natalie Morales, journalist and news anchor on NBC's The Today Show
Denisse Oller, Emmy Award-winning New York City television news anchor
Carlos D. Ramirez, publisher of El Diario La Prensa, New York City's largest Spanish-language newspaper
Jorge L. Ramos, Emmy Award-winning New York City television news anchor
Geraldo Rivera, attorney, journalist, writer, reporter and former talk show host; hosts the newsmagazine program Geraldo at Large, and appears regularly on Fox News Channel
Darlene Rodríguez, New York City television news anchor
Rubén Sánchez, radio and television journalist
Edna Schmidt, anchor for Telefutura
Ray Suárez, Senior Correspondent for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
Guillermo José Torres, journalist and news anchor for WAPA-TV
Elizabeth Vargas, television journalist; former co-anchor of ABC World News Tonight
Antonio Vélez Alvarado, journalist; "father of the Puerto Rican flag"
Jane Vélez-Mitchell, anchor for the HLN news network (Puerto Rican mother)

Judges, law enforcement and firefighters

Judges

Cathy Bissoon, judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania; first Hispanic female Article III judge in Pennsylvania
José A. Cabranes, 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals Judge; first Puerto Rican to serve as a federal judge in the continental United States
Albert Diaz, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; first Puerto Rican and first Hispanic Judge to serve the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals; former Appellate Judge for the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals
Angel G. Hermida, Superior Court Judge, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (1976–1997); visiting professor in Comparative Law at Boston University (1984); Chief Clerk of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico (1974–1976); Physics professor at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus (1964–1966); author of MIRIAM J. RAMÍREZ DE FERRER Recurrente Vs. JUAN MARI BRAS, which decided that citizens of Puerto Rico have a right to vote in Puerto Rican elections, whether or not they are citizens of the United States
Federico Hernández Denton, former Chief Justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court; Puerto Rico's first Consumer Affairs Secretary
Erick Kolthoff, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico; first Puerto Rican of African descent to be named Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
Victor Marrero, Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
Maite Oronoz Rodriguez, first openly LGBTQ female Chief Justice in United States history, the third woman to preside the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico and the youngest person to do so
Victor Manuel Pons Núñez, Chief justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico from 1985 until 1992; former Secretary of State of Puerto Rico from 1973 until 1974
Nitza Quiñones Alejandro, Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; first lesbian Latina ever to be nominated by a U.S. president, in this case President Obama, to serve as a federal judge
Sonia Sotomayor, first Puerto Rican woman to serve as an (2nd Cir.) U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge and first Hispanic to be nominated and confirmed as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
José Trías Monge, former Chief Justice, Attorney General of Puerto Rico, author
Marilyn Zayas, first Latina and Puerto Rican judge elected to an Ohio State Court of Appeals

Laws in the U.S. inspired by Puerto Ricans

Briana's Law – Briana Ojeda was an 11-year-old girl who died in the summer of 2010 when a police officer did not perform CPR on her after she suffered from an asthma attack. Briana's Law, which requires that every police officer and member of the State Police, including police officer trainees and state police cadets, receive CPR training prior to employment as well as during employment every two years, was named in her honor.
Gonzales v. Williams – Isabel González was a Puerto Rican activist who helped pave the way for Puerto Ricans to be given United States citizenship. González challenged the Government of the United States in the groundbreaking case Gonzales v. Williams (192 U.S. 1 (1904)). Her Supreme Court case is the first time that the Court confronted the citizenship status of inhabitants of territories acquired by the United States. González actively pursued the cause of U.S. citizenship for all Puerto Ricans by writing letters published in The New York Times.
Mendez v. Westminster – Felicitas Gomez Mendez was a pioneer of the American civil rights movement. In 1946, Mendez and her husband led an educational civil rights battle that changed California and set an important legal precedent for ending de jure segregation in the United States. Their landmark desegregation case, known as Mendez v. Westminster, paved the way for meaningful integration, public school reform, and the American civil rights movement.

Law enforcement

Nicholas Estavillo, NYPD Chief of Patrol (Ret.); in 2002, became first Puerto Rican and first Hispanic in the history of the NYPD to reach the three-star rank of Chief of Patrol
Faith Evans, Hawaiian-Puerto Rican, first woman to be named U.S. Marshal
Alejandro González Malavé, controversial undercover police officer
Irma Lozada, New York City transit police; first female police officer to die in the line of duty in New York City
José Meléndez-Pérez, INS officer who was named in 9/11 Commission Report; denied entry to terrorist in August 2001
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
Joe Sánchez, former New York City police officer and author whose books give an insight as to the corruption within the department
Pedro Toledo, retired FBI senior agent and longest-serving state police superintendent
Alex Villanueva, Los Angeles County Sheriff

Firefighters

Raúl Gándara Cartagena, first and longest-serving Commonwealth fire chief in Puerto Rico, 1942–1972
Carlos M. Rivera, former Fire Commissioner of the City of New York; first Hispanic commissioner in the New York City Fire Department's 127-year history

Military

16th century

Agüeybaná II, Cacique of "Borikén" (Puerto Rico); led the Taínos in the fight against Juan Ponce de León and the conquistadores in the Taíno Rebellion of 1511

17th century

Juan de Amézqueta, Captain, Puerto Rican Militia; defeated Captain Balduino Enrico (Boudewijn Hendricksz), who in 1625 was ordered by the Dutch to capture Puerto Rico

18th century

Rafael Conti, Colonel, Spanish Army; in 1790, 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.
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; 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 "Captain of Infantry"
José and Francisco Díaz, Sergeants, Puerto Rican militia; cousins in the Toa Baja Militia who helped defeat Sir Ralph Abercromby and defend Puerto Rico from a British invasion in 1797
Miguel Henríquez, Captain, Spanish Navy; in 1713, defeated the British in Vieques and was awarded the La Medalla de Oro de la Real Efigie (The Gold Medal of the Royal Effigy)

19th century

Ramón Acha Caamaño, Brigadier General, Spanish Army; defended the city of San Juan against the U.S. attack of Puerto Rico during the Spanish–American War; awarded the Cruz de la Orden de Merito Naval 1ra clase (The Cross of the Order of the Naval Merit 1st class) by the Spanish government for his role in the rescue of the cargo of the Spanish transoceanic steamer SS Antonio López
Juan Alonso Zayas, 2nd Lieutenant, Spanish Army; commander of the 2nd Expeditionary Battalion of the Spanish Army stationed in Baler which fought in the Siege of Baler in the Philippines
Francisco Gonzalo Marín, Lieutenant, Cuban Liberation Army; considered by many as the designer of the Puerto Rican flag; a poet and journalist; fought alongside José Martí for Cuba's independence
Demetrio O'Daly, first Puerto Rican to reach the rank of Field Marshal in the Spanish Army; first Puerto Rican to be awarded the Cruz Laureada de San Fernando (Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand – Spain's version of the Medal of Honor); elected as delegate to the Spanish Courts in representation of Puerto Rico
Luis Padial, Brigadier General, Spanish Army; in 1863, his battalion was deployed with the intention of "squashing" a pro-independence rebellion in the Dominican Republic, in which he was wounded; played an essential role in the abolishment of slavery in Puerto Rico
Ramón Power y Giralt, Captain, Spanish Navy; distinguished naval officer who from 1808 to 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
Ángel Rivero Méndez, Captain, Spanish Army; fired the first shot against the United States in the Spanish–American War in Puerto Rico; later invented Kola Champagne, a soft drink
Juan Ríus Rivera, Commander-in-Chief of the Cuban Liberation Army; fought in El Grito de Lares under the command of Mathias Brugman; 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 Grajales
Augusto Rodríguez, Lieutenant, United States Union Army; member of the 15th Connecticut Regiment (a.k.a. Lyon Regiment); served in the defenses of Washington, D.C.; led his men in the Battles of Fredericksburg and Wyse Fork in the American Civil War
Manuel Rojas, Commander in Chief of the Puerto Rican Liberation Army; on September 28, 1868, he led 800 men and women in a revolt against Spanish rule and took the town of Lares in the Grito de Lares
José Semidei Rodríguez, Brigadier General, Cuban Liberation Army; fought in Cuba's War of Independence (1895–1898); after Cuba gained its independence he continued to serve there as a diplomat
Antonio Valero de Bernabé, Brigadier General in the Latin American wars of independence; fought against the forces of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Siege of Saragossa; joined the Mexican Revolutionary Army headed by Agustín de Iturbide and was named Chief of Staff; successfully fought for Mexico's independence from Spain; fought alongside Simón Bolívar and helped liberate South America from Spanish Colonial rule; known as the "Puerto Rican Liberator"

20th century

Ricardo Aponte, Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force; fighter pilot in F-111s, politico-military affairs, former Director of the Innovation and Experimentation Directorate, United States Southern Command; first Puerto Rican to hold this position
Félix Arenas Gaspar, Captain, Spanish Army; 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
Joseph (José) B. Aviles Sr., CWO2, U.S. Coast Guard; on September 28, 1925, became the first Hispanic Chief Petty Officer in the United States Coast Guard; during World War II received a wartime promotion to Chief Warrant Officer, becoming the first Hispanic to reach that level as well
Rafael Celestino Benítez, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy; 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
Carlos Betances Ramírez, Colonel, U.S. Army; first Puerto Rican to command a battalion in the Korean War; in 1952, he assumed the command of the 2nd Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment
José M. Cabanillas, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy; in World War II he was Executive Officer of the USS Texas (BB-35) and participated in the invasions of Africa and Normandy (D-Day)
Richard Carmona, Vice Admiral, Public Health Service Commissioned Corps; served as the 17th Surgeon General of the United States under President George W. Bush
Modesto Cartagena, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army; 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
Carlos Fernando Chardón, Major General, Puerto Rico National Guard; Secretary of State of Puerto Rico 1969–73; Puerto Rico Adjutant General 1973–75
Félix Conde Falcón, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army; received the Medal of Honor posthumously on March 18, 2014, for his courageous actions while serving as an acting Platoon Leader in Company D, 1st Battalion, 505th Infantry Regiment, 3d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Ap Tan Hoa, Republic of Vietnam on April 4, 1969
Carmen Contreras-Bozak, Tech4, U.S. Women's Army Corps; first Hispanic to serve in the U.S. Women's Army Corps; served as an interpreter and in numerous administrative positions during World War II
Virgilio N. Cordero Jr., Brigadier General, U.S. Army; a Battalion Commander of the 31st Infantry Regiment who documented his experiences as a prisoner of war and his participation in the infamous Bataan Death March of World War II.
Juan César Cordero Dávila, Major General, U.S. Army; commanding officer of the 65th Infantry Regiment during the Korean War, thus becoming one of the highest ranking ethnic officers in the Army
Encarnación Correa, Sergeant, U.S. Army; 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 March 21, 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
Ruben A. Cubero, Brigadier General U.S. Air Force; of Puerto Rican descent; highly decorated member of the United States Air Force; in 1991 became the first Hispanic graduate of the United States Air Force Academy to be named Dean of the Faculty of the Academy
Pedro del Valle, Lieutenant General, U.S. Marine Corps; 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 II played an instrumental role in the defeat of the Japanese forces in Okinawa
Carmelo Delgado Delgado, Lieutenant, Abraham Lincoln International Brigade; 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
Alberto Díaz Jr., Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy; first Hispanic to become the Director of the San Diego Naval Medical District
Luis R. Esteves, Major General, U.S. Army; in 1915, became the first Puerto Rican and therefore the first Hispanic to graduate from the United States Military Academy; organized the Puerto Rican National Guard
Salvador E. Felices, Major General, U.S. Air Force; first Puerto Rican general in the U.S. Air Force; in 1953, he 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
Michelle Fraley (née Hernández), Colonel, U.S. Army; became in 1984 the first Puerto Rican woman to graduate from West Point Military Academy; former chief of staff of the Army Network Enterprise Technology Command
Rose Franco, CWO3, U.S. Marine Corps; first female Hispanic Chief Warrant Officer in the Marine Corps; in 1965 was named Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy, Paul Henry Nitze by the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson
Edmund Ernest García, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy; during World War II he was commander of the destroyer USS Sloat (DE-245) and saw action in the invasions of Africa, Sicily, and France
Fernando Luis García, Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps; first Puerto Rican awarded the Medal of Honor; posthumously awarded the medal for his actions against enemy aggressor forces in the Korean War on September 5, 1952.
Linda Garcia Cubero, Captain, U.S. Air Force; of Mexican-Puerto Rican heritage; in 1980 became the first female Hispanic graduate of any of the U.S. military academies when she graduated from the United States Air Force Academy
Carmen García Rosado, Private First Class, U.S. Women's Army Corps; was among the first 200 Puerto Rican women to be recruited into the WAC's during World War II; 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), 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
Mihiel Gilormini, Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force; World War II hero, recipient of 5 Distinguished Flying Crosses; together with Brig. General Alberto A. Nido and Lt. Col. Jose Antonio Muñiz, founded the Puerto Rico Air National Guard; previously flew for the Royal Canadian Air Force (1941) and the Royal Air Force (1941–1942)
Manuel Goded Llopis, General, Spanish Army; a Puerto Rican in the Spanish Army; one of the first generales to join General Francisco Franco in the revolt against the Spanish Republican government (also known as Spanish loyalists) in the Spanish Civil War; previously distinguished himself in the Battle of Alhucemas of the Rif War
César Luis González, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Force; first Puerto Rican pilot in the United States Army Air Force; first Puerto Rican pilot to die in World War II.
Diego E. Hernández, Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy; first Hispanic to be named Vice Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command; flew two combat tours in Vietnam during the Vietnam War; in 1980, took command of the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)
Haydee Javier Kimmich, Captain, U.S. Navy; highest ranking Hispanic female in the Navy; 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
Orlando Llenza, Major General, U.S. Air Force; second Puerto Rican to reach the rank of Major General (two-star General) in the United States Air Force; Adjutant General of the Puerto Rico National Guard
Carlos Lozada, Private First Class, U.S. Army; posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 20, 1967, at Dak To in the Republic of Vietnam
Carmen Lozano Dumler, 2nd Lieutenant, U.S. Women's Army Corps; 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
Antonio Maldonado, Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force; in 1965, became the youngest person to pilot a B-52 aircraft; his active participation in the Vietnam War included 183 air combat missions
Joseph (José) R. Martínez, Private First Class, U.S. Army; destroyed a German Infantry unit and tank in Tuniz by providing heavy artillery fire, saving his platoon from being attacked in the process; received the Distinguished Service Cross from General George S. Patton, becoming the first Puerto Rican recipient of said military decoration
Lester Martínez López, MPH, Major General, U.S. Army; first Hispanic to head the Army Medical and Research Command
Gilberto José Marxuach, Colonel, U.S. Army
Teófilo Marxuach, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army; 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, forcing the Odenwald to stop and to return to port where its supplies were confiscated
George E. Mayer, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy; first Hispanic Commander of the Naval Safety Center; led an international naval exercise known as Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2003 from his flagship, the USS Vella Gulf (CG-72); this 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
Angel Mendez, Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps; of Puerto Rican descent; was awarded the Navy Cross in Vietnam and is being considered for the Medal of Honor; saved the life of his lieutenant, Ronald D. Castille, who went on to become the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Enrique Méndez Jr., Major General, U.S. Army; 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
Virgil R. Miller, Colonel, U.S. Army; 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; 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
José Antonio Muñiz Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force; 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
William A. Navas Jr., Major General, U.S. Army; first Puerto Rican named Assistant Secretary of the Navy; a veteran of the Vietnam War; nominated in 2001 by President George W. Bush to serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)
Juan E. Negrón, Master Sergeant, U.S. Army; received the Medal of Honor posthumously on March 18, 2014, for courageous actions while serving as a member of Company L, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Kalma-Eri, Korea, on April 28, 1951
Héctor Andrés Negroni, Colonel, U.S. Air Force; first Puerto Rican graduate of the United States Air Force Academy; a veteran of the Vietnam War; was awarded the Aeronautical Merit Cross, Spai'ns highest Air Force peacetime award for his contributions to the successful implementation of the United States-Spain Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation
Alberto A. Nido, Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force; a World War II war 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; served in the Royal Canadian Air Force, the British Royal Air Force and in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II
Jorge Otero Barreto, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army; with 38 decorations, which includes 2 Silver Star Medals, 5 Bronze Star Medals with Valor, 4 Army Commendation medals, 5 Purple Heart Medals and 5 Air Medals, has been called the most decorated Puerto Rican soldier of the Vietnam War.
Dolores Piñero, U.S. Army Medical Corps; despite the fact that she was not an active member of the military, she was the first Puerto Rican woman doctor to serve in the Army under contract during World War I; at first she was turned down, but after writing a letter to the Army Surgeon General in Washington, D.C. she was ordered to report to Camp Las Casas in Santurce, Puerto Rico; in October 1918, she signed her contract with the Army.
José M. Portela, Brigadier General U.S. Air Force; served in the position of Assistant Adjutant General for Air while also serving as commander of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard; in 1972, became the youngest C-141 Starlifter aircraft commander and captain at age 22; the only reservist ever to serve as director of mobility forces for Bosnia
Marion Frederic Ramírez de Arellano, Captain, U.S. Navy; first Hispanic submarine commander; awarded two Silver Stars and a Bronze Star for his actions against the Japanese Imperial Navy during World War II
Antonio J. Ramos, Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force; 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
Agustín Ramos Calero, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army; with 22 military decorations, was the most decorated soldier in all of the United States during World War II
Fernando L. Ribas-Dominicci, Major, U.S. Air Force; 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
Frederick Lois Riefkohl, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy; born Luis Federico Riefkohl Jaimieson; one of the first Puerto Ricans to graduate from the United States Naval Academy; in World War I became the first Puerto Rican to be awarded the Navy Cross
Rudolph W. Riefkohl, Colonel, U.S. Army; played an instrumental role in helping the people of Poland overcome the 1919 typhus epidemic
Demensio Rivera, Private, U.S. Army; received the Medal of Honor posthumously on March 18, 2014, for his courageous actions while serving as an automatic rifleman with 2d Platoon, Company G, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Changyong-ni, Korea on May 23, 1951
Manuel Rivera Jr., Captain, U.S. Marine Corps; of Puerto Rican descent; first U.S. serviceman to die in Operation Desert Shield
Pedro N. Rivera, Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force; in 1994, became the first Hispanic to be named medical commander in the Air Force; responsible for the provision of health care to more than 50,000 patients
Horacio Rivero, Admiral, U.S. Navy; in 1964, became the first Puerto Rican and second Hispanic Admiral (four-star) in the U.S. Navy; participated in World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War; commander in 1962 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
Pedro Rodríguez, Master Sergeant, U.S. Army; member of Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry; earned two Silver Stars within a seven-day period during the Korean War
Antonio Rodríguez Balinas, Brigadier General, U.S. Army; 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
Fernando E. Rodríguez Vargas, Major, U.S. Army; odontologist (dentist), scientist and a Major in the U.S. Army who in 1921 discovered the bacteria which causes dental caries
Eurípides Rubio, Captain, U.S. Army; posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Tây Ninh Province in the Republic of Vietnam on November 8, 1966
Héctor Santiago-Colón, Specialist Four, U.S. Army; posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Quảng Trị Province, Vietnam as member of Company B of the 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division
Antulio Segarra, Colonel, U.S. Army; in 1943, 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 was conducting security missions in the jungles of Panama
Miguel A. Vera, Private, U.S. Army; was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while serving as an automatic rifleman with Company F, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division in Chorwon, Korea, on September 21, 1952
Humbert Roque Versace, Captain, U.S. Army; of Italian and Puerto Rican descent; posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions while a prisoner of war (POW) during the Vietnam War; first member of the U.S. Army to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions performed in Southeast Asia while in captivity
Raúl G. Villaronga, Colonel, U.S. Army; first Puerto Rican to be elected as mayor of a Texas city (Killeen)

21st century

Marta Carcana, Major General, U.S. Army; in 2015, became the first woman to be named Adjutant General of the Puerto Rican National Guard
Iván Castro, Captain, U.S. Army; of Puerto Rican descent; one of three blind active-duty officers who serves in the US Army; the only blind officer serving in the United States Army Special Forces
Hilda I. Ortiz Clayton, Specialist, U.S. Army, was a combat photographer killed in 2013 when a mortar exploded during an Afghan training exercise; she was able to photograph the explosion that killed her and four Afghan soldiers. The 55th Signal Company named their annual competitive award for combat camera work "The Spc. Hilda I. Clayton Best Combat Camera (COMCAM) Competition" in her honor.
Ramón Colón-López, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman, U.S. Air Force; a pararescueman; on June 13, 2007, was the first and only Hispanic among the first six airmen to be awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal; Commandant of the Pararescue and Combat Rescue Officer School
Olga E. Custodio, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force; first female Hispanic U.S. military pilot; first Latina to complete U.S. Air Force military pilot training; after retiring, became the first Latina commercial airline captain
Emilio Díaz Colón, Major General, U.S. Army; PRNG; first Superintendent of the Puerto Rican Police; served as the Adjutant General of the Puerto Rican National Guard
Rafael O'Ferrall, Brigadier General, U.S. Army; first Hispanic and person of Puerto Rican descent 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
María Inés Ortiz, Captain, U.S. Army; of Puerto Rican descent; first United States Army nurse to die in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom and the first to die in combat since the Vietnam War
Hector E. Pagan, Brigadier General, U.S. Army; 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
Maritza Sáenz Ryan, Colonel, U.S. Army; of Puerto Ricana and Spanish descent; head of the Department of Law at the United States Military Academy; first woman and first Hispanic (Puerto Rican and Spanish heritage) West Point graduate to serve as an academic department head; the most senior ranking Hispanic Judge Advocate
Marc H. Sasseville, Major General, U.S. Air Force; Puerto Rican mother; on September 11, 2001, was acting operations group commander under the 113th Wing of the DC Air National Guard; one of four fighter pilots commissioned with finding and destroying United Flight 93 by any means necessary, including ramming the aircraft in midair
Noel Zamot, Colonel, U.S. Air Force, a native of Rio Piedras, was the first Hispanic commandant of the Air Force's elite Test Pilot School. He is also a former combat and test aviator with over 1900 hours in B-52, B-1B, B-2A, F-16D and over 20 other aircraft.
Irene M. Zoppi, Brigadier General, U.S. Army; first Puerto Rican woman to reach the rank of Brigadier General in the United States Army; Deputy Commanding General – Support under the 200th Military Police Command at Fort Meade, Maryland; Bronze Star Medal recipient

Physicians, scientists and inventors

Joseph M. Acaba, scientist, educator, first Puerto Rican astronaut
Carlos Albizu Miranda, psychologist; first Hispanic educator to have a North American university renamed in his honor; one of the first Hispanics to earn a PhD in psychology in the U.S.
Ricardo Alegría, anthropologist, archaeologist and educator; "father of modern Puerto Rican archaeology"
Jorge N. Amely Vélez, electrical engineer and inventor; holds various patents in the field of medical technology
Bailey K. Ashford, author, physician, soldier, and parasitologist; Colonel in the U.S. Army, arrived in Puerto Rico during the Spanish–American War and made the island his home; organized and conducted a parasite treatment campaign which cured approximately 300,000 people (one-third of the Puerto Rico population) and reduced the death rate from this anemia by 90 percent
Pedro Beauchamp, surgeon; first Puerto Rican specialist certified by the American Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Board; performed the first in vitro fertilization technique on the island in 1985
Víctor Manuel Blanco, astronomer; in 1959, discovered a "Blanco 1", a galactic cluster; second Director of the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, which has the largest 4-m telescope in the Southern Hemisphere; in 1995, the telescope was dedicated in his honor as the "Víctor M. Blanco Telescope", also known as the "Blanco 4m"
Rafael L. Bras, former chair of Civil Engineering at MIT; leading expert on hydrometeorology and global warming
Anthony M. Busquets, electronic engineer, aerospace technologist; 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
Carlos E. Chardón, a.k.a. the "father of mycology in Puerto Rico"; first Puerto Rican mycologist; discovered the aphid "Aphis maidis", the vector of the mosaic of sugar cane, in 1922; author of the Chardón Plan; first Puerto Rican to hold the position of Chancellor of the University of Puerto Rico
Nitza Margarita Cintron, scientist; Chief of NASA's (JSC) Space and Health Care Systems Office
Pablo Clemente-Colon, first Puerto Rican Chief Scientist of the National Ice Center (2005–present)
Antonia Coello Novello, physician; first Hispanic and first woman U.S. Surgeon General (1990–93)
Martín Corchado (born 1839), physician, medical researcher, and president of the Autonomist Party of Puerto Rico
José F. Cordero, pediatrician; founding director of the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Milagros J. Cordero, pediatrician; founder and President of Team Therapy Services For Children
María Cordero Hardy, physiologist, educator and scientist; did important research on vitamin E
Juan R. Correa-Pérez, scientist; first clinical andrologist and embryologist in Puerto Rico
Juan R. Cruz, NASA scientist, played an instrumental role in the design and development of the Mars Exploration Rover parachute
Carlos Del Castillo, NASA scientist; Program Scientist for the Ocean Biology and Biogeochemistry Program at NASA; recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers award, the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on scientists and engineers beginning their independent careers
Manuel de la Pila Iglesias, multi-faceted physician; introduced the first EKG and X-ray machines into Puerto Rico; founded a medical clinic which today houses a respected medical center in Ponce
Rurico Diaz Rivera, cardiologist; first Chief of Medicine at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine; leader in United States research for dengue fever
Alfonso Eaton, mechanical engineer, aerospace technologist; first Puerto Rican to work for NASA
Enectalí Figueroa-Feliciano, astronaut applicant and astrophysicist with NASA; pioneered the development of position-sensitive detectors
Orlando Figueroa, mechanical engineer at NASA; former Director for Mars Exploration and the Director for the Solar System Division in the Office of Space Science; now Director, Applied Engineering & Technology at the NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center; as Director of Engineering he manages the full scope of engineering activities at Goddard
Adolfo Figueroa Viñas, first Puerto Rican astrophysicist at NASA working in solar plasma physics; senior research scientist; involved in many NASA missions such as Wind, SOHO, Cluster and MMS projects
José N. Gándara, lead physician attending to the wounded of the Ponce massacre and later an expert witness at the trials of the "Nacionalistas" as well as before the Hays Commission; held numerous government positions, including Secretary of Health of Puerto Rico; co-founded the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
Joxel García, first Puerto Rican Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Admiral in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
Mario García Palmieri, cardiologist; first Hispanic to be designated a "Master" by the American College of Cardiology
Sixto González, scientist; first Puerto Rican Director of the Arecibo Observatory, with the world's largest single dish radio telescope
Rosa A. González, registered nurse; founded the Association of Registered Nurses of Puerto Rico; wrote various books related to her field in which she denounced the discrimination against women and nurses in Puerto Rico.
Isaac González Martínez, urologist; first Puerto Rican urologist; pioneer in the fight against cancer in the island
Olga D. González-Sanabria, NASA engineer; highest ranking Hispanic at NASA Glenn Research Center; member of the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame
Amri Hernández-Pellerano, NASA engineer; designs, builds and tests the electronics that regulate the solar array power at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Gloria Hernandez, physical scientist, aerospace technologist; Science Manager for the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment at NASA Langley Research Center; her supersonic aerodynamic research has resulted in economic advances in supersonic flight
Lucas G. Hortas, aerospace engineer and technologist; author and or co-author of over 35 technical papers
Chris Kubecka (full name Christina Kubecka de Medina), a Computer Scientist specialist in cyberwarfare, established international business operations for Saudi Aramco after the world's most devastating Shamoon cyber warfare attacks. Detected and helped halt the second wave of July 2009 cyberattacks cyberwar attacks against South Korea.
Ramón E. López, physicist; professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Texas at Arlington; Fellow of the American Physical Society; recipient of the 2002 Nicholson Medal for Humanitarian Service; co-authored a book on space weather, Storms from the Sun
Fernando López Tuero, agricultural scientist and agronomist; discovered the bug (believed at first to be a germ) which was destroying Puerto Rico's sugar canes
Carlos A. Liceaga, electronic engineer, aerospace technologist; leads the development of proposal guidelines, and the technical, management, and cost evaluation of the proposals For the Explorer Program
Ariel Lugo, scientist and ecologist; Director of the International Institute of Tropical Forestry in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, based in Puerto Rico; founding member of the Society for Ecological Restoration; member-at-large of the Board of the Ecological Society of America
Melissa Cristina Márquez, "Mother of Sharks," marine biologist, author, and science communicator
Debbie Martínez, computer engineer, aerospace technologist; Flight Systems and Software Branch software manager for the Cockpit Motion Facility at NASA Langley Research Center
Lissette Martinez, electronic engineer, rocket scientist; lead electrical engineer for the Space Experiment Module program at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility
Manuel Martínez Maldonado, nephrologist, educator; author of numerous scientific publications; discovered a natriuretic hormone
Antonio Mignucci, marine biologist, oceanographer; founder of "Red Caribeña de Varamientos"
Carlos Ortiz Longo, NASA engineer and scientist, and pilot
Joseph O. Prewitt Díaz, psychologist; specialized in psychosocial theory; recipient of the American Psychological Association's 2008 International Humanitarian Award
Mercedes Reaves, research engineer and scientist; 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
Juan A. Rivero, scientist and educator; founded the Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo in Mayagüez, has discovered numerous animal species; author of several books
Miriam Rodón Naveira, NASA scientist; first Hispanic woman to hold the Deputy Directorship for the Environmental Sciences Division in the National Exposure Research Laboratory
Miguel Rodríguez, mechanical engineer; Chief of the Integration Office of the Cape Canaveral Spaceport Management Office
Pedro Rodriguez, inventor, mechanical engineer; director of a test laboratory at NASA; invented a portable, battery-operated lift seat for people suffering from knee arthritis
Helen Rodríguez Trías, physician and activist; first Latina president of the American Public Health Association; a founding member of the Women's Caucus of the American Public Health Association; recipient of the Presidential Citizen's Medal
Fernando E. Rodríguez Vargas, dental scientist; discovered the bacteria which causes dental cavities
Monserrate Roman, scientist, microbiologist; helped build the International Space Station
Gualberto Ruaño, biotechnology pioneer and founder of Genomas, Inc.; pioneer in the field of personalized medicine; inventor of a system used worldwide for the management of viral diseases; President and founder of Genomas, a genetics-related company; director of genetics research at Hartford Hospital's Genetic Research Center
José Francisco Salgado, Emmy-nominated astronomer, visual artist, and science communicator; former astronomer at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago; member of the audiovisual ensemble Bailey-Salgado Project
Ulises Armand Sanabria, of Puerto Rican and French descent; developed mechanical televisions and early terrestrial television broadcasts
Eduardo Santiago Delpín, surgeon; wrote the first book in Spanish about organ transplants
Yajaira Sierra Sastre, astronaut; part of a NASA project on astronaut nutrition and health; She will live for four months isolated in a planetary module at a base in Hawaii to simulate life at a future base on Mars
Diego R. Solís, physician; performed the first simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant in Puerto Rico
Félix Soto Toro, electrical engineer, astronaut applicant; developed the Advanced Payload Transfer Measurement System (ASPTMS), an electronic 3D measuring system
Agustín Stahl, scientist in the fields of botany, ethnology and zoology
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
Fermín Tangüis, scientist, agriculturist and entrepreneur; developed the Tanguis cotton in Peru and saved that nation's cotton industry
Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist, television and radio host; Puerto Rican mother; director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City; host of the PBS series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage

Politicians

19th century

Román Baldorioty de Castro, "the father of Puerto Rico's autonomy"
José Celso Barbosa, "the father of Puerto Rico's statehood movement"
Ramón Emeterio Betances y Alacán, "father of the Puerto Rican nation"; main leader of the Grito de Lares revolution
Eugenio María de Hostos y Bonilla, a.k.a. "El Gran Ciudadano de las Américas" (the Great Citizen of the Americas), educator, philosopher, intellectual, lawyer, sociologist, and independence advocate
José M. Dávila Monsanto, senator, politician and lawyer; a co-founder of the Partido Popular Democrático de Puerto Rico
José de Diego y Martínez, "the father of the Puerto Rican independence movement"; elected to the House of Delegates, the only locally elected body of government allowed by the U.S.; presided 1904–1917
Federico Degetau, first resident commissioner to the U.S.
José María Marxuach Echavarría, the only Puerto Rican to serve as the mayor of San Juan under both Spanish and American rule; served in 1897 for the Liberal Reformista Party and 1900–01 for the Puerto Rican Republican Party
Antonio Mattei Lluberas, leader of the second and last major revolt against Spanish colonial rule in Puerto Rico in the Intentona de Yauco of 1897; mayor of Yauco 1904–1906
Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón, political leader; 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
Luis Muñoz Rivera, former Resident Commissioner, journalist, politician (father of Luis Muñoz Marín)
Ramón Power y Giralt, first Vice President of the Cortes of Cádiz (1810–1813)
Francisco Mariano Quiñones, first president of Puerto Rico's Autonomic Cabinet
Francisco Ramírez Medina, President of the Republic of Puerto Rico (September 23, 1868) during the Grito de Lares revolt
Segundo Ruiz Belvis, leader of the Grito de Lares revolt
Manuel Zeno Gandía, novelist and leader of cooperative movement in Puerto Rico

20th century

Baltasar Corrada del Río, former Resident Commissioner 1977–1985; Mayor of San Juan 1985–1989; 1988 NPP gubernatorial candidate, Secretary of State 1992–1995; Supreme Court Justice 1995–2005
Héctor Luis Acevedo; former Mayor of San Juan; 1996 PDP gubernatorial candidate
Pedro Albizu Campos, President and principal leader of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
José S. Alegría, poet, writer, lawyer and politician; a founding member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party and its president from 1928 to 1930
Santos P. Amadeo, "champion of hábeas corpus"; former Senator in the Puerto Rico legislature
María Luisa Arcelay, first woman in Puerto Rico elected to a government legislative body
José Enrique Arrarás, politician, educator, attorney, public servant and sports leader
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.
Josefina Barceló Bird de Romero (birth name: Maria Antonia Josefina Barceló Bird), elected president of the Liberal Party after her father died in 1938; first woman elected to lead a major political party in Puerto Rico
Ángel O. Berríos, former Mayor of Caguas
Rubén Berríos Martínez, President of the Puerto Rican Independence Party
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
Severo Colberg Ramírez, served as a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, and was the Speaker from 1982 to 1985
Gilberto Concepción de Gracia, founder of the Puerto Rican Independence Party
Cayetano Coll y Cuchí, first President of Puerto Rico House of Representatives
José Coll y Cuchí, founder of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
Maria Colón Sánchez, activist and politician; in 1988, became the first Hispanic woman elected to the Connecticut General Assembly
Rafael Cordero, former Mayor of Ponce
Miguel del Valle, Illinois State Senator; first Latino City Clerk of Chicago; 2011 mayoral candidate
Nelson Antonio Denis, former New York State Assemblyman
Rubén Díaz, New York State Senator and religious leader
Antonio Fernós Isern, first Puerto Rican cardiologist and the longest serving Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico in the United States Congress
Leopoldo Figueroa, co-founder of the Independence Association, one of three political organizations which merged to form the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party; changed political ideals and in 1948 was a member of the Partido Estadista Puertorriqueño (Puerto Rican Statehood Party); the only member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives that year who did not belong to the Partido Popular Democrático (PPD), he opposed the PPD's approval of the bill that became the Ley de la Mordaza (Gag Law), which violated the civil rights of those who favor(ed) Puerto Rican independence
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
Oscar García Rivera Sr., former New York State Assemblyman; in 1937 became the first Puerto Rican elected to public office in the continental U.S.; in 1956, became the first Puerto Rican to be nominated as the Republican candidate for Justice of the City Court
Miguel A. García Méndez, youngest Speaker of the House in Puerto Rico's history; the Mayagüez General Post Office was named after him
María Libertad Gómez Garriga, the only woman in the Constitutional Convention of Puerto Rico, formed in 1951; the only woman to sign the 1952 Constitution of Puerto Rico
Luis Gutiérrez, United States Representative from Illinois
Santiago Iglesias, founder of the first Puerto Rico Socialist Party, labor activist and former Resident Commissioner
Margarita López, former New York City Council member and political activist
Juan Francisco Luis, 24th governor of the United States Virgin Islands, 1978–1987
Juan Mari Brás, founder of the Movimiento Pro Independencia and the modern Puerto Rican Socialist Party
Antonio "Tony" Méndez, first native-born Puerto Rican to become a district leader of a major political party in New York City
Olga A. Méndez, first Puerto Rican New York State Senator
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 the 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 of the Puerto Rican Renewal Party
Antonio Pagán, former New York City Council member
Eddie Perez, former Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut
María de Pérez Almiroty, first woman to be elected senator in Puerto Rico
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)
Roberto Rexach Benítez, former Senate President, educator; current columnist for the El Vocero newspaper
Felisa Rincón de Gautier, first woman to be elected Mayor of a capital city in the Americas (Western Hemisphere)
Ramón Luis Rivera, Mayor of Bayamón 1977–2001
Manuela Santiago Collazo, Mayor of Vieques (1985–2000)
Jorge Santini, former three-term Mayor of San Juan 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 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 elected mayor in Texas (Killeen)

21st century

Liston Bochette, Olympian and politician
Richard Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the United States
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, former Secretary of State of New York
Rubén Díaz Jr., former New York State Assemblyman; Bronx Borough President (2009–present)
Wilda Diaz, first female mayor of Perth Amboy, New Jersey; first Puerto Rican, first woman, and first Latino elected mayor in New Jersey
Jenniffer González, former Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives
Raúl Labrador, Congressman representing Idaho's 1st congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives
Saige Martin, Raleigh City Councilman
Kenneth McClintock, 13th President of the Puerto Rico Senate; 22nd 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
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democratic congresswoman for United States House of Representatives New York District 14
Cesar A. Perales, 67th Secretary of State of New York
Pedro Pierluisi, Governor of Puerto Rico (2021–present); de facto governor of Puerto Rico (2019); Secretary of Justice (1993–1997); Resident Commissioner (2009–2017)
Roberto Prats, co-chair of winning Hillary Clinton primary campaign; Democratic State Chair; 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, 14th President of the Senate of Puerto Rico
Melinda Romero Donnelly, three-term at-large legislator, two terms in House, one in Senate Senate; Caribbean Business journalist
Pedro Segarra, Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut
Darren Soto, Representative in Florida House of Representatives, Florida Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.
Manuel A. Torres, Puerto Rico's first Electoral Comptroller, and longest serving modern Secretary of the Senate of Puerto Rico
Daryl Vaz, Minister of Information and Telecommunication for Jamaica (Puerto Rican mother)
Hydee Feldstein Soto, Los Angeles City Attorney; born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico; first female City Attorney and first Latina elected to citywide office in Los Angeles

Sports

Benjamin Agosto, figure skater and Olympic medalist (Puerto Rican father)
Roberto Alomar, baseball player, MLB All-Star, third Puerto Rican inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame (2011)
Sandy Alomar Jr., baseball player
Sandy Alomar Sr., baseball player
Carmelo Anthony, NBA player, Los Angeles Lakers (Puerto Rican father)
Orlando Antigua, in 1995, the first Hispanic and first non-black in 52 years to play for the Harlem Globetrotters (Puerto Rican mother)
Chris Armas, soccer player (Puerto Rican mother)
Carlos Arroyo (born 1979), former NBA player, member and captain of the Puerto Rican national basketball team
Harry Arroyo, boxer, former IBF Lightweight Champion
Nolan Arenado, baseball player, Colorado Rockies (Puerto Rican mother)
Jake Arrieta, baseball player, Chicago Cubs (Puerto Rican grandfather)

Javier Báez, baseball player, Detroit Tigers
Juan Báez, former basketball player; recipient of Puerto Rico Olympic Medal of Honor
J. J. 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
Bayley, WWE wrestler, real name Pamela Rose Martinez
Eddie Belmonte, thoroughbred racing jockey
Carlos Beltrán, baseball player, outfielder/designated hitter, Texas Rangers
Wilfred Benítez, boxer, member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
David "Kike" Bernier, retired fencer, former Secretary of Sports and Recreation
Hiram Bithorn, baseball player, first Puerto Rican in Major League Baseball
Liston Bochette, Olympian and politician
Devin Booker, NBA player, Phoenix Suns (Puerto Rican mother)
Kristina Brandi, tennis player
Isabel Bustamante, Paralympic athlete, first gold medalist for Puerto Rico at a Paralympic or Olympic games competition, gold at the 1988 Women's shot put 1B paralympic competition

Iván Calderón, baseball player
Iván Calderón, boxer, world champion
Hector 'Macho' Camacho, boxer, former world champion and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, hurdles, won Puerto Rico's second Olympic Gold Medal in the Women's 100m Hurdles in the Olympic games which were celebrated in Tokyo, Japan.
Fernando J. Canales, swimmer, first Puerto Rican to reach final championships
Pedro Miguel Caratini, baseball player; born in Puerto Rico, "the father of Dominican baseball"
Orlando Cepeda, baseball player, member of Baseball Hall of Fame
Pedro Anibal Cepeda, a.k.a. "Perucho" and "The Bull", baseball player; father of Orlando Cepeda; known as "the Babe Ruth of Puerto Rico"
Nero Chen, Puerto Rico's first professional boxer
Julie Chu, Olympic ice hockey player; forward on the U.S. women's ice hockey team; of Chinese and Puerto Rican descent
Alex Cintrón, former professional baseball infielder and current hitting coach for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball
Conchita Cintrón, bullfighter (Puerto Rican father)
Kermit Cintrón, boxer, former International Boxing Federation welterweight champion (2006–08)
Roberto Clemente, 3,000-hit baseball player, first Puerto Rican member of Baseball Hall of Fame
Rebekah Colberg, known as "the mother of Puerto Rican women's sports"; participated in various athletic competitions in the 1938 Central American and Caribbean Games in Panama, where she won gold medals in discus and javelin throw
Carlitos Colon, former professional wrestler and member of the WWE Hall of Fame
Carly Colón, professional wrestler
Alex Cora, became the first Puerto Rican to manage a World Series winning team when the Boston Red Sox defeated the LA Dodgers in 2018.
Ángel Cordero Jr., jockey, member of Jockey Hall of Fame
Carlos Correa, first pick of the 2012 MLB Draft; 2015 AL Rookie of the Year
Maritza Correia, first Afro-Puerto Rican female on the U.S. Olympic swimming team
Joe Cortez, boxing referee; member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
Carla Cortijo, basketball player, first Puerto Rican-born woman to play in the WNBA; guard for the Atlanta Dream
Miguel Cotto, professional boxer, former light welterweight, welterweight and junior middleweight world champion
Eva Cruz, volleyball player
José "Cheo" Cruz, baseball player whose number was retired by the Astros
Orlando Cruz, boxer; first professional boxer to publicly announce he is gay
Teófilo Cruz, basketball player
Victor Cruz, NFL football player
Javier Culson, Olympic athlete; bronze medalist; specialises in the 400 metre hurdles

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 in two Olympic Games
Carlos Delgado, baseball player, New York Mets
Edwin Díaz, baseball player, Seattle Mariners; by reaching his 50th strikeout in only 25 and a third innings, Díaz became the first pitcher to do so in at least 123 years

Ivelisse Echevarría, inducted into the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame (2003)
Alfredo Escalera, boxer, former world champion
Alfredo L. Escalera, baseball player, youngest player ever drafted by an MLB organization; drafted in 2012 by the Kansas City Royals franchise
Nino Escalera, baseball player, first Hispanic in the Cincinnati Reds franchise
Sixto Escobar, boxer, first Puerto Rican world champion and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
Ángel Espada, boxer, former champion

Gigi Fernández, tennis player, in 1992 became the first female athlete from her native Puerto Rico win an Olympic gold medal; first female athlete from Puerto Rico to turn professional; first Puerto Rican woman inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
Lisa Fernandez, softball player, Olympic gold medalist (Puerto Rican mother)
Orlando Fernández, a.k.a. "the Puerto Rican Aquaman"; swimmer; first Puerto Rican to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar
Ed Figueroa, baseball pitcher, first Puerto Rican to win 20 games in Major League
Enrique Figueroa, sailing

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

Herbert Lewis Hardwick, a.k.a. "Cocoa Kid", boxer, inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2012
Ivonne Harrison, track and field athlete
Von Hayes, former professional baseball player whose Major League Baseball (MLB) career spanned from 1981 to 1992 for the Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, and California Angels.
Aaron Hernandez, NFL football player and former member of the New England Patriots
Enrique Hernandez, baseball player, known colloquially as "Kiké"
James Chico Hernandez, wrestling champion and member of the Latin-American Martial Arts Hall of Fame
Laurie Hernandez, Olympic gold and silver medalist; member of the United States women's gymnastics team
Ramón Hernández, baseball player

Reggie Jackson, baseball player, member of Baseball Hall of Fame (Puerto Rican father)

Julio Kaplan, chess International Master; former World Junior Chess Champion
Konnan, professional wrestler
Karrion Kross, professional wrestler, previously known as Killer Kross, real name Kevin Kesar

Anita Lallande, former Olympic swimmer; holds the island record for most medals won at CAC Games: 17 and 10 gold
AJ Lee, WWE Divas Champion
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
Francisco Lindor, baseball player, New York Mets
Laura Daniela Lloreda, member of the Mexican national volleyball team
Javy López, baseball player, Atlanta Braves
Mike Lowell, baseball player, Boston Red Sox

Felix Magath, German soccer star and coach (Puerto Rican father)
Martín Maldonado, Major League Baseball catcher and Gold Glove Award winner
Mario Rivera Martino, Boxing sports writer and eventual commissioner. Member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
Edgar Martínez, former Major League Baseball player and fifth Puerto Rican member of Baseball Hall of Fame
Denise Masino, bodybuilder
Mark Medal, boxer, former IBF Light Middleweight Champion
Orlando Melendez, a.k.a. "El Gato", in 2008, became the first Puerto Rican-born basketball player to play for the Harlem Globetrotters
Alberto Mercado, Olympian boxer
Jerome Mincy, basketball player
Bengie Molina, Major League Baseball catcher and Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner
John John Molina, boxer, former world champion
José Molina, Major League Baseball catcher
Yadier Molina, Major League Baseball catcher, All-Star, and Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner
David Monasterio, swimmer, member of the 1992 Olympic team for Puerto Rico
Pedro Montañez, boxer and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
Mario Morales, BSN basketball player
Pedro Morales, wrestler, member of WWE Hall of Fame
Jonny Moseley, skier, first Puerto Rican member of the U.S. ski team

Emilio Navarro, first Puerto Rican to play in the Negro leagues

Luis Olmo, first Puerto Rican to hit a home run in the World Series
Fres Oquendo, professional boxer
John Orozco, Olympic gymnast
Carlos Ortiz, boxer, former, junior welterweight and lightweight champion; member of the International 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

Raúl Papaleo, member of Puerto Rican national volleyball team
Charlie Pasarell, tennis player
Ernesto Pastor, bullfighter, only Puerto Rican member of the Bullfighting Hall of Fame
Victor Pellot, a.k.a. "Vic Power", baseball player, second Afro-Puerto Rican in Major League Baseball
Anthony "Tony" Perez, boxing referee and judge.
Jorge Posada, baseball player, New York Yankees
Damian Priest, WWE wrestler, real name Luis Martinez (Born in New York City to Puerto Rican parents, raised in Dorado, Puerto Rico)
Monica Puig, tennis player; in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, won Puerto Rico's first-ever Olympic gold medal

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

Peter John Ramos, former NBA and international basketball player
Rico Ramos, professional boxer
Héctor Ramos, professional football player, Puerto Rico national football team captain and top scorer
Heliot Ramos, baseball center fielder for the San Francisco Giants
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 former point guard on Puerto Rico national basketball team
Jorge Rivera, mixed martial artist
Neftalí Rivera, basketball player, record holder for most points scored in a game in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional league with 79 points.
Marco Rivera, NFL football player, first Puerto Rican selected to Pro Bowl
Ron Rivera, NFL football player, first Puerto Rican in the National Football League and to coach an NFL team
Iván Rodríguez, former baseball player for the Texas Rangers. Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017
Rubén Rodríguez, basketball player
José Roman, boxer, first Puerto Rican to fight for the world heavyweight title
Francisco Rosa Rivera, "the trainer of stars"; personal trainer and self-made bodybuilding entrepreneur
Edwin Rosario, boxer, former lightweight and junior welterweight champion; member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame (2006)
Juan "Chi-Chi" Rodríguez, golfer, member of Golf Hall of Fame
John Ruiz, a.k.a. "The Quietman", first Hispanic to become the heavyweight boxing champion of the world

Natasha Sagardia, bodyboarding athlete; first Puerto Rican to win a gold medal at the ISA World Surfing Games
Alex Sánchez, a.k.a. "El Nene Sanchez", boxer, former champion
Rey Sanchez, baseball player
Benito Santiago, former MLB 1987 Rookie of the Year
Daniel Santiago, former NBA basketball player
O. J. Santiago, NFL player
Samuel Serrano, boxer, former world champion
Jessica Steffens, U.S. Olympic 2012 gold medal winner (Puerto Rican father)
Margaret "Maggie" Steffens, U.S. Olympic 2012 gold medal winner; sister of Jessica Steffens

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

Lisa Marie Varon, WWE wrestler
Jesse Vassallo, swimmer; current president of PR Swimming Federation; 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
John Velazquez, jockey, member of Jockey Hall of Fame
Ada Vélez, first Puerto Rican female boxer to win a championship
Juan Evangelista Venegas, boxer; first Puerto Rican to win an Olympic medal
Dick Versace, first person of Puerto Rican descent to coach an NBA team
Juan "Pachín" Vicéns, basketball player, led the Ponce Lions team to six championships

Mark Watring, equestrian
Bernie Williams, baseball player, New York Yankees
Mary Pat Wilson, Puerto Rico's first and only female Olympic skier; only woman in the Puerto Rican Ski Team in the 1988 Winter Olympics

Taínos

Agüeybaná (Great Sun), Supreme Taíno chief, Supreme Cacique of Puerto Rico who welcomed Juan Ponce de León to the island; based in Guayanilla
Agüeybaná II (The Brave), cacique and brother of Agueybaná; led the Taíno rebellion of 1511 against Juan Ponce de León 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
Imna Arroyo, artist
Myrna Báez, painter and printmaker
Jean-Michel Basquiat, painter (Puerto Rican mother)
Tomás Batista, sculptor of "El Jibaro Puertorriqueño" monument and Zeno Gandía statue
Isabel Bernal, painter from San Sebastian
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
Javier Cambre, sculptor, photographer, video artist
José Campeche, artist
José Caraballo, artist; President of Hispanic Art League, 1979
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, artist and architect
Obed Gómez, contemporary artist known as the "Puerto Rican Picasso"
Vilma G. Holland, painter
Lorenzo Homar, graphic artist
Antonio López, fashion illustrator
Teresa López (born 1957), artist, graphic designer and art professor
Daniel Lind-Ramos (born 1953), conceptual sculptor and painter
Roberto Lugo, Visual Artist,
Soraida Martinez, contemporary painter known for creating socially conscious Verdadism art since 1992
Antonio Martorell, painter and graphic artist
Ralph Ortiz, visual artist and founder of the El Museo del Barrio
Francisco Oller, impressionist artist and painter
María de Mater O'Neill, painter, educator, and graphic artist
María Luisa Penne, painter, educator, and graphic artist
Manuel Rivera-Ortiz, photographer
Arnaldo Roche Rabell (1955–2018), painter
Angel Rodriguez-Diaz (1955–2023), painter and sculptor
Julio Rosado del Valle, internationally known abstract expressionist
Samuel E Vázquez, abstract expressionist painter
Miriam Zamparelli, sculptor

Miscellaneous

Reynold Alexander, illusionist, magician
Arthur Aviles, dancer and choreographer
Jose Baez, criminal defense attorney; notable for his defense of accused child murderer Casey Anthony
Marie Haydée Beltrán Torres, nationalist, convicted for a bombing in Manhattan
Felipe Birriel, "El Gigante de Carolina", the tallest Puerto Rican
David Blaine, illusionist, magician (Puerto Rican father)
Miguel de Buría, slave, known as King Miguel I de Buría
Desiree Casado (born 1985), former actress
Elisa Colberg, founder of the Puerto Rican Girl Scouts
Inez García, cause celebre of the feminist movement
Juan Manuel García Passalacqua, political commentator, lawyer
Félix Rigau Carrera, first Puerto Rican pilot; first pilot to fly on air mail carrying duties in Puerto Rico
Crazy Legs, breakdancer, president of Rock Steady Crew
Michael Ommy Archived August 29, 2022, at the Wayback Machine, Social Impact, Founder of Talent4Change, Inc. Founder of The Talent Catalog
Clara Livingston, Puerto Rico's first female aviator
Agustina Luvis Núñez (born 1959), theologian and writer
Salixto Medina, lawyer, assistant U.S. attorney
Emiliano Mercado del Toro, World's oldest living person from December 11, 2006 – January 24, 2007; oldest verified military veteran and Puerto Rican ever
Filiberto Ojeda Ríos, commander in chief ("Responsible General") of the Boricua Popular Army
Richard Peña, organizer of New York Film Festival; professor of film studies at Columbia University
Tina Ramirez, dancer and choreographer born in Venezuela, best known as the Founder and Artistic Director of Ballet Hispanico of New York
Gabriela Rose Reagan (born 1988), former actress, and daughter of Sonia Manzano
José Rodríguez, head of CIA division (2004–2008)
Antulio "Kobbo" Santarrosa, "La Cháchara", "La Condesa", "La Comay"
Jock Soto, principal ballet dancer with the New York City Ballet
Filipo Tirado, puppeteer
Carlos Alberto Torres, nationalist and former political prisoner
Teodoro Vidal, government official, art historian, and folklorist who collected Puerto Rican art

Gallery

References

Bibliography

Luis, William (Autumn 1992), "From New York to the World: An Interview With Tato Laviera" (PDF), Callaloo, 15 (4): 1022–1033, doi:10.2307/2931917, hdl:1803/3978, JSTOR 2931917, archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. (JSTOR subscription required to access article online.)
Martínez, Elena (2016). "Hernández, Victoria (1897–1998), Latin music entrepreneur". In Knight, Franklin W.; Gates, Henry Louis Jr. (eds.). Dictionary of Caribbean and Afro–Latin American Biography. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-199-93580-2. – via Oxford University Press's Reference Online (subscription required)
"1910 U. S. Federal Census, Tamarindo, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico". FamilySearch (in Spanish). Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. April 21, 1910. pp. 10A–10B. NARA microfilm publication T624, roll #1757, p. 10A lines 23–25 and on p. 10B lines 26–27. Retrieved February 18, 2018.

Text submitted to CC-BY-SA license. Source: List of Puerto Ricans by Wikipedia (Historical)

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List of Puerto Ricans

Actors, actresses, comedians and directors

Adult film entertainers

Hosts/presenters

Architects

Authors, playwrights and poets

Beauty queens and fashion models

Business people and industrialists

Cartoonists

Civil rights and political activists

Nationalists

Clergy, religion

Composers, singers, musicians and opera performers

Opera

Criminals and outlaws

Diplomats

Educators

Governors of Puerto Rico

First Ladies of Puerto Rico

First Gentleman of Puerto Rico

Historians

Journalists

Judges, law enforcement and firefighters

Military

Physicians, scientists and inventors

Politicians

Sports

Taínos

Visual artists

Miscellaneous

Gallery

See also

References

Bibliography

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