Originally a native of the archipelago of the Azores, Portugal,

Captain Luis A. Benevides graduated from Thomas A. Edison

State College, New Jersey in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts in

Biology. He continued his academic achievements by attaining a

Master’s degree of Science in Radiation Science from Georgetown

University, a Master’s degree of Science in Health Care

Administration from Central Michigan University and ultimately

completed a Doctorate of Philosophy in Nuclear Engineering from

the University of Florida.

CAPT Benevides' active duty career began as a U.S. Army,

Medical Laboratory Technician, Armed Forces Whole Blood

Processing Laboratory, from November 1983 to September 1986,

McGuire AFB, New Jersey. He was commissioned as a Surface

Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy after having successfully

completed the Officer Candidate School, in Newport, Rhode

Island in 1987. His first assignment as an Ensign was onboard the USS Implicit (MSO-455), homeported in

Tacoma, Washington where he served as the Operations Officer. 

In late 1988, he transferred to USS

Conquest (MSO-488) as the Operations Officer where he performed Mine Hunting and Clearance

Operations in the Arabian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq War. Soon after returning from the Arabia Gulf in

1989, he attained his Surface Warfare Qualification onboard the USS Implicit. He was subsequently

assigned as Linguist Project Officer for Destroyer Squadron Three Three, Brazilian Fleet Introduction

Team attached to the USS Albert David (FF-1050), homeported in San Diego, California. As part of this

assignment, he was the Detachment Officer in Charge (Ex-USS Albert David) to deliver the Brazilian ship

(CT Paraiba (D28)) to its homeport of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In 1990, LT Benevides transferred to the Medical Service Corps as a Radiation Health Officer

(RHO). His first assignment as an RHO was at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute

(AFRRI), Bethesda, MD as the Special Projects Officer. LT Benevides was subsequently transferred to

Naval Medical Clinic Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as Department Head of Radiation Health. In 1996, he was

selected to assume duties as the Clinic Director of the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Branch Clinic. During

his Hawaii Assignment, he served as the Mammography physicist for Hawaii, Japan, and Guam. He also

held a professorship position at Hawaii Pacific University where he taught biology and mathematics. At the

completion of his tour in Hawaii in 2000, LCDR Benevides was assigned to the Radiological Affairs

Support Office, Yorktown, VA as the Director for Training. In 2005, after completing his doctorate, CDR

Benevides reported to the Naval Dosimetry Center, Bethesda, MD as the Science Advisor where he was

technical manager responsible for maintaining the Navy's dosimetry processing and the primary subject

matter expert for dosimetry for the Navy and Marine Corps. In 2007, he assumed the duties of Officer in

Charge of the Naval Dosimetry Center. During this period, he also served as the mammography physicist

for Naval Hospital Sigonella, and Naval Hospital Naples, Italy. In 2009, Captain Benevides became the

Director for Radiological Controls at Naval Sea Systems Command. His duties included oversight and

management of all the industrial, research and operational uses of radiation sources in the Navy and Marine

Corps. After the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear accident in March 2011, his responsibilities were expanded to

include the consequence management of 30 ships and over 200 aircraft that were potentially contaminated

while providing humanitarian and disaster relief to the citizens of Japan following the earthquake and

tsunami. Captain Benevides final assignment was as the Special Project Officer for transitioning the Naval

Dosimetry Center to a new facility. His expertise in dosimetry and management experience were vital in

smoothly navigating through the complex contract and relocation process.

Captain Benevides retired on 30 Sep 2014 after thirty-one years of service to our Armed Forces. Dr.

Benevides went to work at US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US NRC), Office of Regulatory Research.

Dr. Benevides joined Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSWCCD) as a scientist in the

Radiation Technology Group. In 2018, he accepted the position of Radiation Safety Officer for NSWCCD.

He also is holds an Adjunct Assistant Professor position at Georgetown University in the Health Physics

Program. Captain Benevides' personal military awards included Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious

Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (three-gold stars), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation

Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (gold star), and Army Achievement Medal.