Rafael Hernández Ochoa (June 4, 1915 – May 18, 1990) was a Mexican politician and lawyer, Governor of Veracruz, from 1 December 1974 to 30 November 1980.

He was born in Santa Gertrudis, in municipality of Vega de Alatorre, Veracruz, on June 4, 1915.

From 1938 to 1941 studied law at the Faculty of Law and Political Science of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,[1] obtaining a professional degree in the year 1944 with a thesis entitled "La Intervención del Estado" (State Intervention).

He was President of the National Livestock Confederation and Head of the Legal Department of the Veracruz state government.

During his two terms, Ochoa is credited with restructuring the entire Veracruz state university system and transformed old arts training schools into official departments of universities.