By Allison Weissert, PEO IEW&S Public Affairs Specialist
Link to orignial article

The Army recognizes National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 thru October 15. This observance provides the opportunity to recognize Hispanic Americans and their achievements to the Army and to the nation. The Army values the contributions of American Soldiers with ancestry from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central, and South America. This year’s theme is “Latinos: Driving Prosperity, Power and Progress in America.” The Army embraces and celebrates diversity and is committed to building high performing and cohesive teams. Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare & Sensors (PEO IEW&S) shares in this commitment.

A few members of the Hispanic Community within PEO IEW&S volunteered to share their thoughts on their heritage and the role of Hispanic culture in their lives.

Maj. Nefjoveny Rosa

Please state your name, title, organization you represent and number of years of service.

Maj. Nefjoveny Rosa, Assistant Product Manager for Project Manager Intelligence Systems and Analytics (PM IS&A) with 14 years of service.

What programs and/or systems do you support?

I am the Assistant Product Manager for the Army Intelligence Data Platform (AIDP). The platform is a commercial product providing data storage, data management, and analytics for All Source Intelligence.

Tell us about how your Hispanic heritage play a positive role in your life?

I was born and raised in Carolina, Puerto Rico. I learned the meaning of family, friendship, and community while living there. Although Carolina is considered metropolitan area, my neighborhood had a small town feel to it. Everyone knew and looked out for each other, and those ties remain ever present.

Why is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month is important?

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage allows us to share our culture and add to the outstanding diversity that makes up the United States. Hispanics have contributed to the fabric of America for decades and continue to have an impact today.

Please share an interesting story or fact about being part of Hispanic culture.

Hispanics are multi-cultural and vary from country to country. Puerto Ricans, for example, carry African, Spanish (European), and Taino Indian (indigenous People of the Caribbean) roots and traditions. Our music, arts, food, language, and other cultural traditions reflect aspects from all three roots.

Natalie Martinez-Vega

Please state your name, title, organization you represent and number of years of service.

Natalie Martinez-Vega, Land Surveyor, US Army Corps of Engineers, Army Geospatial Center (USACE AGC), 8 years

What programs and/or systems do you support? Please provide a 2-3 sentence description.

I provide support for the Product Manager Combat Terrain Information System (PD CTIS) specifically, Automated Integrated Survey Instruments (AISI) and Global Positioning System -Survey (GPS-S) systems. My main responsibilities lie as a trainer in the Survey Section under the US Army Corps of Engineers where I act as a subject matter expert in relation to surveying topics, technology, and processing for all Army Components (Active, National Guard, Reservist). It is there where I assist in breaching the knowledge gap by utilizing modern tools as well as providing best practices for processing.

Tell us about how your Hispanic heritage play a positive role in your life?

My Hispanic roots serve to keep me grounded regardless if I am traversing an established path or paving the way for others to follow. I find deep fulfillment when I am able to excel in my duties, represent my culture and make an impact wherever I go. While the Hispanic community might be part of a minority group in many agencies, our drive and dedication to our craft often speaks volumes regarding the quality work that we are able to produce.

Why is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month is important?

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month allows us to remember the significant contributions the Hispanic community has made in the past while laying the foundations for the current generation to continue to educate and provide best-in-class solutions for modern challenges.

Please share an interesting story or fact about being part of Hispanic culture.

One pivotal moment in my life was when I volunteered to be part of the US Corps of Engineer’s first responder team efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc in 2017. While going back home after the destruction was extremely heartbreaking, being part of a larger team that helped restore my home island and provide relief to its inhabitants remains to this day, as one of my most precious memories of all time.

Waldemar Ramírez III

Please state your name, title, organization you represent and number of years of service.

Waldemar Ramírez III, Director of International Programs, Program Manager Aircraft Survivability Equipment (PM ASE), or Foreign Military Sales Lead, 15 years of service (2 years counted from Active duty).

What programs and/or systems do you support? Please provide a 2-3 sentence description.

Liaison between the Program Management Office Aircraft Survivability Equipment (PM ASE) and other Security Assistance Enterprise entities, and Materiel Developers engaged in International Program efforts. Provides for coordination, and oversight for International Program accomplishments across the PM ASE portfolio.

Tell us about how your Hispanic heritage play a positive role in your life?

Knowing more than one language has played a positive role. Raising our children in a household where we speak Spanish at home, they have been raised learning both languages and are able to communicate with other family members that are limited speaking the English language. The culture I was raised in made me who I am today (family first), thanks to the positive qualities of love, family, and hard work. There are so many different countries that are considered Hispanic origin, from Mexico to Puerto Rico , and each of these countries have different cultures and backgrounds that make them unique. I am from Puerto Rico.

Why is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month is important?

I believe in a diverse, well-educated, and informed workforce. I currently serve both, in the military in the Army Reserves for over 20 years, and with the DA Civilian Corps for over 13 years, and if the US is going to maintain asymmetric advantage over its competitors, we need to acquire, develop, employ and retain talented Americans from all backgrounds. Diversion Inclusion is another warfighter imperative. Throughout my career, Latinos have been and are still well underrepresented within the officer and civilian corps, most notable in the higher Pay Grades and SES/GO ranks.

Please share an interesting story or fact about being part of Hispanic culture.

I am from the Town Guánica, PR, which is the town where General Miles and US troops landed to take PR from Spain, during the Spanish-American War in 1898. And since, the Island of Puerto Rico has endured with its culture and traditions even though, since 1898 it has been a US Territory, in 1917 inhabitants became US citizens (with the Jones Act) , and then in 1952 became a US Commonwealth.