Puerto Rico Adjutant General

The Puerto Rico Adjutant General (Spanish: Ayudante General de Puerto Rico) is the commander of the Puerto Rico National Guard.[1] As the adjutant general he is also the senior military advisor to the Governor of Puerto Rico and oversees both State and Federal Missions of the Puerto Rico National Guard. He provides leadership and management in the implementation of all programs and policies affecting more than 10,500 citizen-soldiers and airmen, and civilian employees of the three components of the PR National Guard: Puerto Rico Army National Guard, Puerto Rico Air National Guard and Puerto Rico State Guard.[2] It is the responsibility of the Adjutant General of the Commonwealth to share his reports with the Secretary of the Army or the Secretary of the Air Force.[3]

Puerto Rico Adjutant General
Seal of the National Guard Bureau
Incumbent
Brigadier General Miguel A. Mendez
since January 31, 2023
Puerto Rico National Guard
Reports toSecretary of Public Safety
NominatorGovernor of Puerto Rico
with advice and consent from the Senate
AppointerGovernor of Puerto Rico
Formation1938 (1938)
DeputyDeputy Adjutant General
Websitewww.nationalguard.com

The adjutant general has a deputy adjutant general, who is the principal advisor assisting in the discharge of responsibilities in the areas of logistics, fiscal compliance, and personnel administration.[4]

History

In 1906, a group of Puerto Ricans met with the United States appointed Governor of Puerto Rico Beekman Winthrop, and suggested the organization of a Puerto Rican National Guard. The petition failed because the U.S. Constitution prohibits the formation of any armed force within the United States and its territories without the authorization of Congress.[5]

Puerto Ricans served in the "Porto Rico Regiment" (later renamed 65th Infantry Regiment) as part of the regular United States Army during World War I, many of which received their military training at Camp Las Casas in Santurce a sector of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Luis R. Esteves, the first Puerto Rican to graduate from the United States Military Academy, helped organize the 23rd Battalion, which would be composed of Puerto Ricans and be stationed in Panama during World War I.[6]

It became apparent to Esteves that Puerto Rico was in need of a National Guard. Esteves and various officers took up the matter with then U.S.-appointed governor of Puerto Rico Arthur Yager after the war. Esteves' efforts were successful and with the approval of the Governor and the Insular Legislature, the Puerto Rican National Guard was organized in 1919.[7]

In 1919, Governor Yager named Major John A. Wilson (U.S. Army) the first adjutant of Puerto Rico. The Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. The position did not require that Wilson hold the rank of general. The appointment of the Adjutant of Puerto Rico was the responsibility of the Governor. As such, he assisted the Governor in military matters.[7] Major Wilson served as Adjutant of Puerto Rico until his death in 1938.

Major General Luis Raul Esteves, was the first commanding officer of the Puerto Rico National Guard, and in 1938, became the first "Adjutant General", a position which he held until his retirement on June 30, 1957. As adjutant general he was the Governor's senior military adviser and oversaw both state and federal missions of the Puerto Rico National Guard.[7]

Adjutant General appointments: 2015 - present

In July 2015, Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla named Colonel Martha Carcana Adjutant General of the Puerto Rican National Guard. She is the first Puerto Rican woman to be named as such.[8]

In January 2017, Brigadier General Isabelo Rivera was named adjutant general by Governor Ricardo Rosselló.[9]

Commands

Among the units under the command of the Adjutant Generals command are the following:

Former generals

The following are the former and current Adjutant Generals of Puerto Rico:[10]

See also

Further reading
  • Military notes on Puerto Rico (1898); Author: United States. Adjutant-general's office. Military information div.; Publisher: Washington, Gov't print. off.; Call number: 9599782; Digitizing sponsor: The Library of Congress; Book contributor: The Library of Congress;Collection: library_of_congress; Americana.[24]

Notes
  1. The rank of major general held by Roig and Chardón were only recognized as such by the Puerto Rico National Guard but not by the regular United States Army.

References
  1. "Puerto Rico Military Code". Act No. 62 of 1969 (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  2. Puerto Rico National Guard Archived 2013-02-15 at the Wayback Machine
  3. 32 USC 314 - Adjutants general
  4. Deputy Adjutant General
  5. "Puerto Rico National Guard". Globalsecurity.org. May 23, 2005. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  6. Bruce C. Ruiz (November 1, 2002). "Major General Luis Raúl Esteves Völckers". Archived from the original on January 27, 2010. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  7. BRIGADIER GENERAL (PR) Antonio J. Vicens-Gonzalez Archived 2010-05-04 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Designan nuevamente a Martha Carcana para dirigir la Guardia Nacional
  9. Rosselló nombra al ayudante general de la Guardia Nacional
  10. Negroni, Hector Andres (1992). Historia militar de Puerto Rico. Coleccion Encuentros (in Spanish). Sociedad Estatal Quinto Centenario. ISBN 84-7844-138-7.
  11. Hispanic Heritage Month Archived 2007-03-25 at the Wayback Machine
  12. Puerto Rico Herald
  13. Fernando Chardón Archived 2013-02-17 at archive.today
  14. Virgin Island News
  15. Puerto Rico Herald - Profile: Orlando Llenza
  16. Carmona, José L. (November 28, 2002). "Person Of The Year, Public Sector: William Miranda Marin". Caribbean Business. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
  17. National Guard Bureau Archived 2012-06-04 at the Wayback Machine
  18. State Adjutants General
  19. "South Command". Archived from the original on 2010-11-23. Retrieved 2013-02-03.
  20. Carmona, José L. (November 28, 2002). "Person Of The Year, Public Sector: William Miranda Marin". Caribbean Business. Retrieved 2006-04-29.
  21. "Home - el Nuevo Día". Archived from the original on 2014-03-09. Retrieved 2014-02-26.
  22. National Guard
  23. Puerto Rico National Guard Youth Program Develops Future Leaders
  24. The Library of Congress
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