About Rafael
I am a husband, father, and grandfather. I am a retired naval officer, professional photographer, picture framer, and community organizer. I served 22 years in the U.S. Navy as the Supply Officer onboard a Bath-built destroyer, the Supply Officer of the U.S. Naval base in Sasebo, Japan, an Afghanistan veteran, and served in many other naval support operations since 1989.
I’ve been married to Jemma for 28 years and have three adult daughters and a son. We first moved to Topsham in 2007 and knew right away Maine was where we wanted to settle for good. I sailed away in 2009 and returned after my retirement in 2013.
I deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan in 2006 with the 53rd Transportation Battalion. Upon my return to the states, I served as the Flag Aide to the Chief of the Supply Corps in Mechanicsburg, PA and was rewarded with orders to Bath, Maine as the Pre-commissioning Supply Officer. I was responsible for manning and training the crew of the USS STOCKDALE (DDG 106). My role required outfitting and readying the ship and all supply department spaces for sail-away, including the galley, the ship’s store, storerooms, and providing crew disbursing and laundry services.
While in Afghanistan, I was convoy commander and officer-in-charge of the detachment of soldiers and sailors attached to the Kabul Military Training Center (KMTC) on the outskirts of Kabul. We trained the Afghan military on supply operations of the Central Issue Facility (CIF).
Since 2013, I’ve been photographing the people and places of Maine. I’ve traveled extensively throughout Maine and have seen how beautiful but fragile it is. We all are so fortunate and blessed to live here. I want to ensure the health, safety, and beauty of our state for all future generations of Mainers.
As your representative, I will continue to stand by my oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America.
Please send me to Augusta to support and defend our state, its resources, and the rights of all Maine residents.