Davis, Rhonda, former Petty Officer First Class, U.S. Navy (1995-2006)

Rhonda Davis is from the small town of Buena Vista, Virginia. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from James Madison University with a B.A. degree in 1992, and went on to take graduate courses and teach English at JMU before joining the Navy in 1995. For the next four years, Rhonda served as a Radioman in Rota Spain and later, aboard the USNS Concord in Norfolk, Virginia.

After successfully completing a four-year enlistment, Rhonda decided not to re-enlist, but remained in the active reserves, serving in a Mobile Inshore Undersea War Unit in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia for nearly two years.

In September 2000, Rhonda took a job at a language school in Poland, teaching English and Spanish for a one-semester term, then returned to the U.S. and re-joined the military. The exotic travel and lifestyle of the Navy called her back, despite "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and she re-entered as a Navy journalist. After graduating top of the class in both the Defense Information School’s Journalism and Broadcasting courses, Rhonda accepted a billet at the American Forces Network, Yokota Air Base, Japan. There, she worked in all areas of journalism and broadcasting, including news production, directing, reporting, TV news anchor, radio DJ for Eagle 810, and Operations Manager. She won six civilian broadcasting awards for radio and television spots, two Navy Chief of Information (CHINFO) award for Best Radio Entertainment Program and Best Informational Program, 3 Air Force Media awards, an Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service to Air Force News, numerous photography awards, and was voted Pacific Stars & Stripes AFN Personality 2004.

In January 2006, Rhonda transferred to Navy Recruiting District New York where she served as Public Affairs Officer until being discharged for homosexual admission in July of the same year.

Now Rhonda lives in Long Island with her partner of more than 3 years, and she works with Soulforce and Military Equality Alliance to end the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

She has appeared on CNN’s Paula Zahn Now and American Morning, as well as in such publications as Stars & Stripes, Navy Times, Newsday, and The Advocate. Rhonda also lobbies with immigration equality organizations for the "Uniting American Families Act," a law that would offer binational same-sex couples the same recognition and treatment afforded to binational married heterosexual couples.