About Me

Born in Havana Cuba, grew up in Miami Florida and current resident of Virginia Beach, Virginia since 1985

Education:

Participated in the Dade County Florida Gifted Student Education Program in high school.

U.S. Naval Academy 1983 graduate with Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering

Military Service:

Enlisted in the Navy Delayed Entry Program 1978.

Commissioned an Officer in the US Navy, May 1983.

Became Naval Flight Officer for the A-6 Intruder 1985.

Aviation experience consists of 928 flight hours in 8 different aircraft including the A-6 Intruder TA-4 Skyhawk and T- 2 Buckeye.

Completed 256 carrier landings on the USS Saratoga and USS America.

Commanding Officer of the NR Commander Naval Forces South, Roosevelt Roads Naval Base, Puerto Rico.

Highest award, Air Medal with Combat Valor for combat action in Operation Prairie Fire, Libya.

Retired US Navy Captain 2013, after 30 years of service.

Civilian Occupation:

Founder and President, Loyola Enterprises Inc.

Loyola Enterprises Inc., an engineering service established in 1991 is an engineering services contracting firm headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Received the 1995 Tidewater Regional Small Business of the Year Award.

Received the Small Business Administration 8(a) certification in 1996 and graduated in 2005.

Named to Virginia’s Top Fantastic 50 Companies in 1996 by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

Loyola Enterprises Inc. has become a leading engineering services firm providing Information Technology, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Modeling and Simulation, and Audio-Visual systems design, sales, installation, and training.

Public Service:

Chairman for the Back Bay Amateur Astronomy Association Scholarship Committee. (2004-Pres)

Chairman, St John’s Catholic School Board (2016-Pres)

Commissioner Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission (2012–2018)

Vice Chairman Commonwealth of Virginia Public School Authority (2012-2018)

Board Member Old Dominion University Virginia Modeling Analysis & Simulation Center (VMASC). (2001- 2006)

Board Member of the Emergency Management Training, Analysis & Simulation Center (EMTASC) (2005-2008) Board Member of the Virginia Ballet (2001-2004)

Personal Life:

Ben is married to Gretchen Loyola. Gretchen is an accomplished musician who plays violin in a Quartet and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and is a Physician Assistant with a Cardiovascular Specialty. They have a daughter, Isabel and Josefina. Ben and his family are members of Saint John Catholic Church in Virginia Beach.