Alberto Hernandez is the Director of Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), USCG Sector Houston-Galveston. He began his career at VTS in 2005 as a Supervisory Vessel
Traffic Management Specialist and later promoted to Operations Manager. He is passionate about his role as Director to build and lead a team of professional active duty and civilian Vessel Traffic Managers dedicated to facilitating maritime commerce by increasing the good order, predictability, and security of vessels transiting the Houston-Galveston waterways.

Alberto began maritime service in the Navy aboard USS REUBEN JAMES (FFG 57) in Pearl Harbor, HI as Undersea Warfare Officer. He completed a Western Pacific Tour in support of United Nations Sanctions against Iraq. He qualified as Officer of the Deck (underway) and earned the Surface Warfare Officer designation. His second assignment was in USS FREDERICK (LST 1184) as Navigator, completing a Western Pacific Combined Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) tour. He completed numerous beachhead landings and amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) launches with six allied nations.

During his follow-on shore tour as Assistant Port Engineer for two naval vessels, he was responsible for planning and coordination of scheduled maintenance, shipyard overhaul, and drydock availability. He simultaneously served as the Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific Repair Officer and Comptroller, coordinating projects and budget allocations of over $50M. Alberto also held significant collateral duties as Public Affairs Officer and Investigation Officer for Naval Station Pearl Harbor.

Following active-duty service, Alberto completed reserve tours with Military Sealift Command Expeditionary Port Unit 110 and Pacific Submarine Strike Group Operations Detachment H. He departed naval service with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. During his civilian years, Alberto was employed with H-E-B Grocery Company as an engineer and later as a Plant Manager in the Manufacturing Division. He completed capital projects, brown field expansion, new product line design and implementation, and successfully achieved business development goals.

Alberto is a Houston native. He graduated high school from Magnolia, TX where he met and married his high school sweetheart, Christie. They have four children: Christian, Ethan, Kara, and Bethany. Alberto and the family are Sea Scout, 4-H, and livestock show volunteers. They enjoy life on their small hobby farm.

Alberto graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in General Engineering. He holds a Master of Engineering in Cyber Security Policy and Compliance from The George Washington University. His awards include two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Expeditionary Medal, two Battle “E” Ribbons, the Navy League of the United States Sea Service Award, the Sea Scout Leadership Award, and others.