“This Veterans Day, I encourage all to take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices that our service members bear for all Americans and for the principles of democracy. Our heroes continue to serve in a variety of ways that benefit our communities. I salute all veterans as well as current servicemen and women. I express my sincerest thanks to them and their families for their dedication and commitment, and for their continued service to protecting our freedom wherever they are deployed.  

The Florida Keys and the College have indeed benefitted from the contributions of many veterans over the years. Each one deserves special recognition. Today, I salute one veteran in the CFK family: U.S. Army Sergeant Dr. Ray Rhash, who is an alumnus and instructor at the College’s Upper Keys Center in Key Largo. 

Rhash, a lifelong Keys resident, enlisted in the Army in 1978, 13 days after his high school graduation. At the tender age of 17, he was driven by a desire for adventure and to serve our country. Soon, he was a member of the Charlie Company 1/75th Ranger Battalion and began the intense Ranger training program. In Jump School, Rhash first learned how to safely hit the ground before progressing to jumping from 250-foot-tall towers and eventually jumping out of moving aircrafts with 80 to 100 pounds of gear. Rhash’s training included day and night jumps in settings ranging from jungle to desert to winter landscapes. 

Around the time that Rhash began training as a Ranger, top secret plans were being developed to rescue American hostages held captive in Iran. Unbeknownst to Rhash and his fellow Rangers, they were training for Operation Eagle Claw, a newly created joint task force with the mission of rescuing the hostages. For six months, they rehearsed under cover of night to preserve the secrecy of the mission. 

In April 1980, Rhash’s unit headed overseas, still unaware of the job ahead. After several stops, they arrived in Egypt where their mission was revealed to them. While Mission Eagle Claw was ultimately unsuccessful, the servicemen and women involved were lauded for their heroism. Many special operations procedures developed for the mission are still used today. Rhash earned a Humanitarian Service Medal for his contributions and bravery. He served the remainder of his four-year service in the Infantry at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant E5 with 36 jumps to his credit. 

Rhash happily returned home to the Keys in 1985, and shortly thereafter began a career at the Florida Keys Electrical Co-Op on the line construction crew. He worked his way to higher roles, but he knew that he needed an education to be where he wanted to be in life. So, he enrolled in classes at CFK’s Middle Keys Center and earned an Associate in Arts in 2004. He continued his academic pursuit by earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Accounting and a Doctorate in Business Administration from St. Leo University. 

Today, he is the Planning, Rate, and Budget Analyst at Florida Keys Electrical Co-Op. His involvement in the community has included serving on the Marathon Chamber of Commerce board, as a Rotarian, and as president of Leadership Monroe County. For the past two years, Rhash has taught the Student Success Skills class to new students in CFK’s Upper Keys Center, an experience he describes as ‘more rewarding than he ever thought possible.’  

One of the lessons he imparts to his students, which he learned in the military, is the value of discipline. ‘Nothing comes easy,’ advises Rhash. ‘You have to push your limits mentally and physically, every day, to reach what you want in life.’ 

Rhash’s discipline helps him make time to teach in the evenings, on top of a full-time career. Outside of the classroom, Rhash is contributing to the College’s plans to improve and expand its student success initiatives beyond the Student Success Skills course. 

It is with great honor that on this Veterans Day 2021, The College of the Florida Keys and I salute Army Sergeant Dr. Raymond Rhash. He exemplifies the vast talent, grit, selflessness, and grace of the U.S. military. Thank you for your continuous service to our country, state, and community. May such achievements, sacrifice, and generosity serve as an inspiration for all.”