Boticario Speaks to Students about Serving Country as Commissioned Officers
Upper School Mathematics Teacher and Retired United States Navy Captain Luis Boticario spoke to students, faculty, staff and families about his journey from being a midshipman to a commissioned officer during this year’s Middle and Upper School Veteran Days Program on Nov. 9, 2023.
“Part of the reason I joined the Navy was to see the world,” Boticario said. “You see a lot of areas of the world you wouldn’t see otherwise.”
During the program, he spoke to students about how they could serve their country as commissioned officers through ROTC programs in college or attending military academies post-college and to officer candidate schools.
Boticario, who’s a native of Madrid, Spain, graduated from the University of Michigan and was commissioned through the Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps into the U.S. Navy. In 2014, he retired after 28 years of service. During his naval career, he served in various operational and ashore assignments as a division officer, department head, executive officer and commanding officer and was awarded the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Medals and various operational and service awards. Upon his retirement, he pursued his interest in teaching mathematics through the Old Dominion University Career Switcher Program.
During the Veterans Day program, he reflected on what he’s learned from his time in the service.
“It was a life of service,” he told students. “One where you gain experiential service.”
Along the way, you learn to lead, become flexible and adapt to crises.
“You become global citizens,” he said. “We once volunteered in a leper village. Those things really stuck with you.”
And you meet people from all over the world, including his now spouse. It’s a world of opportunity.
