Ray Cerda

Background

About Ray Cerda

Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit! Grandparents had a home at the base of the Ambassador Bridge. 21st & Bagley baby! I graduated from Flat Rock High School, Flat Rock, Michigan. After high school I enlisted in the U.S. Navy and made a military career of it. Afloat I served with the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. Afloat assignments include Captain's Yeoman, USS Barbey (FF 1088); Legal Clerk, USS South Carolina (CGN 37); Independent Duty Legalman, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion SEVENTY-FOUR (NMCB-74); Legal Officer, USS Yellowstone (AD 41). Ashore I served on the staff of Atlantic Fleet Headquarters Support Activity; Commander-in-Chief US Atlantic Fleet; Special Assistant to Legal Counsel, Chief of Naval Personnel; Senior Enlisted Advisor, Naval Legal Service Office, National Capitol; and Clerk of Court to the Chief Judge, Navy/Marine Corps Trial Judiciary. I graduated with distinction from the Naval Justice School, from the Legalman & Legal Officer courses. While on active duty I earned my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology. I began my civilian employment with Massachusetts Institute Technology Research & Engineering (MITRE) Corp, as a Project Liaison Officer to the Joint Tactical Radio Systems (JTRS) Program and Human Resources Leadership & Management Department. I certified as a Naval Science Instructor in 2001 and taught the NJROTC program at St. Stephens High School until 2012. In 2013 I completed my Masters Degree with Appalachian State University in Criminology. In 2014 I collaborated with community partners to pursue a Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) in the NC 25th Prosecutorial District. The seed was planted! Fast forward seven years and the NC 25th Prosecutorial VTC grand opening is scheduled for April 28, 2021. Thank you to those who picked up the torch to make this happen. Godspeed. In 2016 I began teaching for Catawba Valley Community College Criminal Justice Department Adjunct Faculty teaching Criminology, Terrorism: Homeland Security and as of 2021 Juvenile Justice in America. My full-time job and last duty station is with the VA Compensation and Pension clinic serving my fellow Vets! I couldn’t think of a more apt finish to my working career before the beach and retirement beckons! I