During National Hispanic Heritage Month, from September 15 – October 15, the US government celebrates the countless contributions of more than 60 million Hispanic Americans, Latinos, Latinas, and Latinx-identifying people to our culture and society. Hispanic Americans are the largest minority group in the United States today, and Hispanic Americans have long contributed to making our country strong and prosperous. They contribute to our Earth indescribably. Hispanic Americans embody the best of our American culture, including devotion to faith, family, and country. The Hispanic-American community has left an indelible mark on our government, culture, and economy.
During National Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize the contributions and significance of Hispanic and Latin American people in the U.S. and within the State Department. In collaboration with the Hispanic Employee Council of Foreign Affairs Agencies (HECFAA), the Department presents the profiles of outstanding Hispanic employees who support embassies around the world. This year we are again celebrating the 40th anniversary of the founding of HECFAA and its mission to promote the recruitment, retention, and career advancement of Hispanic workers. To view videos of Hispanic employees discussing their experiences working for the Department, visit the HECFAA YouTube Channel.
Alexandra Aitken joined Overseas in 2008 and is currently the Director of the Office of Allowances in the Business of Administration – Operations. Priority areas include Bahrain, Luxembourg, Hanoi, and Accra. Alexandra holds a Bachelor of Science in International Studies from Spring Hill College and a Master of Public Administration-Organizational Performance Assessment from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
Mery Arcila is a Public Diplomacy assigned Foreign Service Officer serving as the Assistant Information Officer at the US Embassy New Delhi. Before coming to India, he served as Vice-Consul in Santo Domingo. He joined Foreign Affairs in September 2018 through the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship. Mary earned a B.A. in diplomacy and international relations from Seton Hall University in 2013 and an M.A. in public administration from New York University in 2018. He was born and raised in Colombia and considers Miami his hometown.
Maria Macarena Apud is on temporary assignment as the Regional China Officer in the U.S. Embassy Lima. He is a regional economist in the WHA’s Economic Policy Office where he previously worked on the Summit of the Americas team and as an Energy Officer. He started his Government career on the Colombian desk. He was HECFAA’s Vice President of Government from 2021-2022 and is a 2018 International Career Advancement Program Fellow. He has an MA in International Affairs from George Washington University and is fluent in Spanish and French.
Oscar Alejandro Baez is a U.S. Political Consultant. Mission to the United Nations. In Washington, he worked in the White House as a Special Assistant in the Office of the Vice President and in the Operations Center as a Supervisor. Oscar served in Brazil, Shanghai, and on temporary assignments in Tunisia, Haiti, Angola, and Belgium. He was given the title of Linguist of the Year for using foreign languages to promote national security. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Boston, Oscar holds a B.A. in Political Science from Amherst College and a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University.
Jorge (George) Benavides serves as chief of the economic desk in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs’ Office of Israeli and Palestinian Affairs. He has worked in Peru, South Africa, and FSI’s long-term Economic Course. A Pickering Fellow, he joined the Department in 2015 after earning an MA from American University and a BA from the University of San Diego. He grew up in Orange County, California and has family roots in Mexico and Honduras.
Emmania Rodriguez Blum works as the Vice President of InL Bogota. He previously worked at the US Consulate Toronto as a General Services Officer. Early visits include Guadalajara and Sofia. An alumna of the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship, she received an MPA from Columbia University and a BA from Northeastern University in International Affairs. He is of Nicaraguan and Dominican ancestry.
Maria E. Brewer, U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Lesotho, previously served as U.S. Ambassador in Sierra Leone. During his 26-year career, Ambassador Brewer served as the Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy Nigeria, with postings in Islamabad, Colombo, Mumbai, Lagos, and Washington, DC. He earned a B.A. from Valparaiso University and an M.S. from the National Defense University. His mother’s family is from Mexico, by way of Texas.
Olga Cabello Henry is the Senior Health and Scientific Advisor in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA). She was the Deputy Special Coordinator of the Department of the Coronavirus Global Response Coordination Unit, and ESTH Advisor in the WHA since 2013. Olga grew up in Mexico City and is a Spanish speaker. Before joining the Department Olga earned a BS, MS, and PhD, and directed an academic program of biomedical research. She has two grown daughters and lives with her husband in Maryland.
Karen Castro is a Foreign Service Generalist currently serving as Consular Manager in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He joined the State Department in 2016 and did his first assignment in Guangzhou, China followed by a tour in Washington as 1CA’s Diversity and Inclusion Officer in the Bureau of Consular Affairs. Karen holds a Master’s degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University and a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Otterbein University. He speaks Portuguese, Spanish, and intermediate Mandarin.
Gabriel Cortez joined the Foreign Service in 2021. He currently works as a Political Officer in Sofia, Bulgaria, where he works on human rights and refugee issues. Gabriel was born and raised in California. He earned a B.S. from Northern Arizona University and an MA from The LBJ School at the University of Texas Austin. Prior to joining the Department, Gabriel had previous government experience as Director of Peacekeeping Volunteers in Ukraine and at the US Helsinki Commission and the Department of Health and Human Services.
John Dockery is currently the Minister of Administrative Affairs in Pakistan. John is a native of Bryan/College Station, Texas, and graduated from Texas A&M in 1985. He joined the Department in 1998, following his wife, Rebecca Dockery, and his mother, Irene Buentello. John is a member of a large Hispanic family, many of whom have worked in public service over the past 50 years and have volunteered with organizations such as LULAC and the Hispanic Forum of Bryan/College Station.
Adah Ellenport is a Staff Assistant in the Office of the Assistant Secretary, A Bureau. He started his career as a Civil Servant in GTM/FO. He serves as the Scholarship Chair in AAFSW. He earned a BA and studied a Master’s in Education in Mexico. He has worked as an EFM in China, Cambodia, and Bahrain and domestic projects. Before joining the Department as an EFM, Adah taught Middle East History in Mexico. He is a Spanish speaker, studied Hebrew, Chinese and Arabic. He is especially fond of flamenco and photography.
Karina G. Garcia joined the Bureau of Intelligence and Research as an EU Analyst in August 2021. She previously served as Desk Officer for Ecuador, helping to rebuild the U.S.-Ecuador partnership. While in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Karina was selected for the first cohort of Next Gen Fellows, a program for middle management. Karina covered Brexit, Eastern Partnership, and EU-Russia relations in EUR/ERA. He worked at Embassies Dublin and Bogota. Karina received an MIA from SIPA at Columbia University and a BA from UCLA.
Leslie Núñez Goodman recently celebrated 16 years in the U.S. Foreign Service. He is currently the Country Public Affairs Officer for the US Mission New Zealand, including the Cook Islands and Niue, and the Embassy of US Samoa. His previous diplomatic positions include Venezuela, the Republic of Georgia, Pakistan, Peru, and Latvia. Most recently he was the West Unit Chief of the Public Diplomacy Office of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs in Washington, D.C.
Natalie Guerrero joined International Service in 2011 and worked as an Office Manager in Caracas, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Madrid and Paris. Other key areas of work include supporting the Afghan evacuation mission in the United Arab Emirates to provide humanitarian aid; to carry out repatriation work for USG staff, embassy funds and medical supplies; organize an Aviation Safety Conference; and U.S. workers. Women’s Soccer Envoy. Natalie earned her M.A. and B.A. from DePaul University in Chicago, his hometown.
Kelly Keiderling: We Latin@s carry many races, ethnicities, and experiences. Diplomacy is good for us! I entered the Foreign Service after growing up in Latin America and Portugal, and served in Zambia, Ethiopia, Dominican Republic, Kyrgyzstan, Botswana, Cuba, Moldova, Venezuela, and Uruguay. My Main State jobs were in WHA, NEA, GTM, ECA, and now SCA. As DAS, I lead our dynamite public diplomacy and Nepal-Sri Lanka-Bangladesh-Bhutan-Maldives teams, where we attract international audiences to engage with the U.S.
Megan Lysaght (she/her) is a Management Analyst in the Global Talent Management Bureau’s Retention Unit. From Ventura, CA, Ms. Lysaght is Mexican-American and a first-generation college graduate. He earned both his BA and MPPA from California Lutheran University, a proud Hispanic Serving Institution. Mrs. Lysaght began her civil service as a Peace Corps Community Economic Development Volunteer in Azerbaijan, where she met her husband.
Olimar (Oli) Maisonet-Guzman is an economist from Puerto Rico. He currently works as a Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, dealing with human rights, religious freedom, and domestic affairs. His first job was in the U.S. Consulate General Hyderabad, where he supported the repatriation efforts of more than 600 American citizens. Before joining Foreign Affairs, Oli worked as a program manager and staff assistant at the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.
Carlos F. Matus is a special representative with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) currently serving as the Deputy Assistant Secretary and Director of the Diplomatic Security Service. DS is the Department of State’s policy office, leading international security and policy efforts to advance US foreign policy and protect national security interests. Mr. Matus is a 35-year veteran of the State Department, and a member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister-Counselor.
David Mendez is an expat from Riverside, California, who joined the Department in 2015 through a Rangel Fellowship. The proud son of Guatemalan immigrants, David spent his first tour in Tegucigalpa, and also worked in Vienna and the Operations Center. David is currently the Greece Desk Officer and enjoys continuing to work on transatlantic and hemispheric issues.
Moises Mendoza is a Colombian-American Foreign Service Officer who serves as the Chief Warden in the Department of Labor. Moises served in Matamoros, Mexico and Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He received the 2020 Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad and the 2019 W. Averell Harriman Award for Constructive Dissent by an Entry Level Officer. Moises holds master’s degrees from Columbia University and the Hertie School of Governance, and a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University. He speaks French, German, and Spanish.
Natalia Molano is a Foreign Service Officer currently serving as a spokesperson for the U.S. Consulate in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He joined Foreign Affairs in 2009 as a Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellow and has worked in Washington, Guatemala City, Port Moresby, Kabul, and Lima. He earned a B.A. in International Affairs and an M.P.A. from George Washington University. Natalia is a Floridian with Colombian roots.
Emili Morales-Kuchler has worked for the State Government as a State Government since 1995. She has worked as a Clinical Social Worker with the Department of State, Office of Medical Sciences, Child and Family Program (CFP), since 2012. She is at the beginning. from Panama City, Panama and studied Clinical Social Work, at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington. She completed both her Bachelor’s of Arts in Social Work, BASW (Cum Laude) and Master’s Degree in Social Work, MSW, at Eastern Washington University (2002).
Amaury Munoz is the Cultural Affairs Officer in Casablanca, Morocco. Amaury was born in the Dominican Republic, immigrated to the United States in 2005 and joined the Department ten years later as the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellow. His past assignments include Islamabad and Guangzhou, and he holds a Master of Arts in International Relations and International Economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Policy from the University at Albany, SUNY.
Regina Navarro-Gomez is currently working as the Program Coordinator for the Office of International Visitors and the Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs. His journey at the Department began through a Virtual Student Federal Services (VSFS) internship, where he studied for two consecutive years with ECA and the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) Office of the Coordinator of Cuban Affairs. Regina holds a B.A. in International Studies and a B.A. in Political Science from Portland State University.
Raymond Raul Nelson is a second-tour Consular Officer in Brasilia, where he is the Deputy Manager for Fraud Prevention. He also worked in Jeddah as a Political-Economic Officer. Mr. Raymond was detained at the United States Mission to the United Nations in New York and the U.S. ambassador. in Maputo, Mozambique. He earned a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and his Bachelor’s degree from Carleton College. Born to a Puerto Rican mother and an African father in Cleveland, Ohio, he is an alumnus of the Thomas R. Pickering Fellowship.
Andrea Sinai Pacheco works as a Junior Program Officer within the Office of Alumni Affairs and the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs. He began his Government career as a Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) intern for the Hispanic Employee Council of Foreign Affairs Agencies (HECFAA) from 2020-2021, where he received the 2021 VSFS Intern of the Year award. He serves on the HECFAA Board as Community Service Chair (2021- 2022). He received his MBA (2021) and B.S in Marketing at the University of South Florida in 2019 and speaks Spanish fluently.
A proud San Antonian, Greg Pardo is the spokesperson for the U.S. Consulate-Mumbai. He worked in the WHA’s Migration Working Group, Israel-Palestinian Affairs, in India, the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, and the Cuba Desk. A has received various Meritorious Awards, named Forbes 30 under 30, a Latino Next Generation National Security & amp; Minister of Foreign Affairs, and participated in the 2020 ICAP. He served as president of the Hispanic Employee Council of Foreign Affairs Agencies. He attended St. Mary’s University and the LBJ School at the University of Texas-Austin. He speaks Spanish, Bengali, and Hindi.
Mauricio Parra is a first-time visiting Foreign Service Officer currently serving as deputy consul in Calgary, Canada. He joined the State Department in 2012 and worked in the public affairs department in Matamoros and political/economic affairs in Ciudad Juarez. He also served as Spanish ambassador in Guayaquil and Bogota. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and a minor in Italian language.
Luis “Lu” Reinoso is an administration-bound Foreign Service Officer currently serving as a General Services Officer for the U.S. Consulate General Erbil, Iraq. Early tours include as Senior Supervisor in Recife, Brazil; Visa Unit Chief at the U.S. Embassy Vienna, Austria; and Senior Vice President of Human Resources for the U.S. Embassy Abuja, Nigeria. Prior to the Foreign Service, Lu served a 20-year career as an active duty Navy officer.
Isabel Romero is the President of the Hispanic Employees Council of Foreign Affairs Agencies (HECFAA). He works as a Security Program Officer in the Bureau of Diplomatic Security’s Office of Overseas Protective Operations. His team includes Bolivia, Costa Rica, Argentina, Peru, Canada, Dominican Republic, Guyana, and Honduras. He served in three executive offices: Diplomatic Security, Consular Affairs, and the Foreign Service Institute. He has a Masters in International Security and a Bachelors in Global Affairs from George Mason University. Isabel is currently the Chair of Women’s Leadership Programs and serves on the leadership team of the DS Council for Diversity, Equity & Integration.
Jaime Salcedo oversees the planning, design, construction, and delivery of major construction projects, valued at $200 million. He joined the State Department in 1989 and reached the rank of Senior Executive Service in 2008. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from John Hopkins University and a master’s degree in engineering management from George Washington University. He has received many awards of honor and achievement from the Department. He speaks Spanish well.
J.M. Saxton-Ruiz is the Environment, Science, Technology, and Health Director in Buenos Aires. Previous assignments include La Paz, Office of Central American Affairs, Adana, Buenos Aires, USUN during the 64th UNGA; and Islamabad. JM previously analyzed political risk at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). He earned a B.A. from the College of William and Mary and an M.A. from George Mason University. In addition to HECFAA and Post’s DEIA Board, JM is also a part-time member of the Council on External Relations.
As the Deputy Chief of Mission in Tirana, Albania, Demian Smith helped lead US support for legal reform in Albania, the new US military presence, and operations to help thousands of Afghans leave Albania. He also served in India, Serbia, Thailand, and New Zealand. In Washington, he was Chief of Staff to the Counselor, EAP Special Assistant, and on the Policy Planning Staff. Demian has degrees from William & amp; Mary and the National Defense University and the son of Berta Llera, from Mexico. Demian previously worked at The Atlantic Council, taught middle school, drove a school bus, and was a chef at a mid-sized diner.
Adam Sotomayor joined the State Department in 2013 as a Presidential Management Fellow to work on international cooperation for the Office of the Secretary. Adam is the Executive Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Education and Culture. Adam worked on the NSC’s program to enhance the diversity of the national security workforce, and advance sanctions against terrorism. Adam served as Political Director and Deputy Press Attaché at the US Embassies in Asuncion and Paris. Adam is an alumnus of the French American Foundation and the US Spain Council Young Leaders Programs, ICAP, and the Aspen Institute Socrates Program.
David Tagle works as a Political Officer at the U.S. Consulate General São Paulo. His past assignments include Desk Officer for Honduras, WHA Staff Assistant, DRL Office of Global Programs, INL for Mexico desk, and in the INL section at the Embassy Tegucigalpa. Before joining the Department, he worked for a D.C.-based democracy and governance NGO on human rights projects in Latin America. David was a 2016 Presidential Management Fellow.
Rafael Treviño, from Wauchula, Florida, where his family owned a Mexican bakery, is now a sign language interpreter with GTM/OAA. He is one of only six interpreters in the U.S. holds a Trilingual Master certification in interpreting between American Sign Language (ASL), English, and Spanish. He is passionate about the inclusion of deaf and hard of hearing people whose first language is ASL. One of his most recent projects is the formation of a new association of sign language interpreters.
Pablo Jairo Tutillo Maldonado became a Foreign Service Officer in 2019. He currently works as a Public Diplomacy Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. On his first tour, he served as a Consular Officer at the U.S. Embassy. in Monrovia, Liberia. Before the Foreign Service, Pablo held many jobs as a teacher, researcher, construction supervisor and legal assistant, and lived in Israel and Turkey. Pablo was born in Ecuador and raised in a Puerto Rican family in Connecticut. He is speaking in Hebrew, Spanish and Tajik Persian.
Eduardo Vargas Toro is DRL/WHA’s Policy Advisor for human rights in the Andean region. Previously, he served as the USAID Deputy Director of the Center for Faith-Based & Community Initiatives and Senior Communications Officer in USAID/Guatemala. A Penn Kemble Fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy, recognized by the Huffington Post’s Foreign Policy 40 Under 40 and the New America Foundation’s Next Generation National Security & Foreign Policy Leaders. Eduardo, Colombian-American, alumnus of Seton Hall University.
Xiomara Vargas joined the State Department in 2015. She is a Public Affairs Specialist in the Business of Global Public Affairs. He is also an expert in international relations. He earned a Master of Science in Global Politics and Political Economy from the London School of Economics, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, International Studies, and French from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is learning Arabic, fluent in French, and a Spanish speaker, born and raised in Colombia.
Johanna Villalobos is the Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Asuncion, Paraguay where he manages the integration of the public representation system in the planning of cooperation and elections. He has served in several regional and operational positions for nearly two decades in the Department. Johanna is an alumna of the Harvard Business School Secretary’s Leadership Seminar, the International Career Advancement Program, and the Pickering Fellowship Program.
Check out Heritage and History Month at the Department of State →
What are the colors for Hispanic Heritage Month?
It appears that there are no limits to the colors associated with hispanic heritage month. To see also : FSU College of Business receives $ 10M to establish Dr. Persis E. Rockwood School of Marketing. There are very bright colors of yellow, orange and red and also quiet colors of brown, gray, blue with some greens, blues and blacks also represented.
What is the theme of Spanish Heritage Month this year? The theme for 2021 Hispanic Heritage Month is: âEsperanza: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope.â The theme invites us to celebrate Hispanic Heritage and consider how great our future can be if we hold on to our strength and hope. .
What do people wear for Hispanic Heritage Month?
Women may wear colorful embroidered skirts, and men may wear traditional trousers and embroidered shirts.
What is the 2022 theme for Hispanic Heritage Month?
The 2022 theme is âUnidos: Unity of a Strong World,â honoring the traditions and gifts of Hispanic and Latina/o/x Americans as we celebrate the heritage rooted in all Latin American countries. See the article : US Attorney Kavanaugh Reflects on Five Year Anniversary of August 12th Terror Attack in Charlottesville.
Who is the best Hispanic actor?
Aahaa Kathal Vandhu Valiyavan Hollywood Movies Read also : More wolves and beavers needed as part of western United States habitat improvement.
- #8: Maribel Verdú…
- #7: Antonio Banderas. …
- #6: Gael García Bernal. …
- #5: Penelope Cruz. …
- #4: Benicio del Toro. …
- #3: Rita Moreno. …
- #2: Salma Hayek. …
- #1: Javier Bardem.
Who is the highest paid Latino actor?
Did Mexicans fight in ww2?
Over 500,000 Latinos (including 350,000 Mexican Americans and 53,000 Puerto Ricans) served in WWII.
Did Mexico fight Germany in WW2? On May 22, 1942, Mexico declared war on Germany during World War II.
What side was Mexico on in ww2?
Mexico stood among the Allies of World War II and was one of two Latin American countries to send troops to serve in World War II.
Where did Mexicans fight in ww2?
In May 1942, the United States of Mexico declared war on the Axis powers. They have already seen some combat: a group of Mexican soldiers fought bravely in the South Pacific in 1945. But their importance to the Allied effort was much greater than a few pilots and airplanes.
Were there Mexicans fighting in ww2?
The result was a massive Mexican American involvement in World War II, the latest estimate being that nearly 500,000 Mexican Americans served in the war. For many, a new sense of belonging accompanied this event.
