Capt. Kathlene Contres was the highest-ranking Hispanic-American woman officer in the U.S. Navy until her retirement in 2010 after 30 years of service. She was the first Hispanic-American woman officer to command the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute. Contres selflessly and with great determination opened doors to generations of women who followed in her footsteps. She also served as president of the Association of Naval Services Officers (ANSO), an organization dedicated to the recruitment, retention, and promotion of Hispanics and Latinos across all ranks of the sea services.