William A. Navas Jr.

William A. Navas Jr. (born December 15, 1942) is a retired United States Army Major General who served as the Director of the Army National Guard. He is also the first Puerto Rican to be named an Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

William A. Navas Jr.
Navas in September 2004
Born (1942-12-15) December 15, 1942
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branch United States Army Reserve

United States Army

Army National Guard
Years of service1965-1998
Rank Major General
UnitPuerto Rico Army National Guard
Army National Guard
National Guard Bureau
Commands heldCompany A, 168th Engineer Battalion
Company C, 130th Engineer Battalion
125th Military Police Battalion
1st Battalion, 296th Infantry Regiment
Combined Task Force, 193rd Infantry Brigade
Director, Army National Guard
Battles/warsVietnam War
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star
Other workAssistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)
Executive Director, National Security Professional Development Integration Office

Early life and education

Navas was born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico on December 15, 1942.[1][2] His family has a long tradition of military service, including his grandfather, Colonel Antonio M. Navas, who served in both World Wars. His father, Captain William A. Navas Sr. served in World War II and had a successful career in civil engineering upon his retirement from the military.[3]

Navas received his primary and secondary education in his hometown of Mayagüez. After graduating from high school, he enrolled in the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, and received his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering.[4] He joined the Beta-Activo chapter of Phi Sigma Alpha fraternity, and served as chapter president from 1963 to 1964.[5]

In addition to his degree from the University of Puerto Rico, Navas completed a Master of Science degree in Management Engineering at the University of Bridgeport.[6]

Navas completed Army qualification courses for the Engineer, Military Police, and Infantry branches. He also completed specialty courses including Jungle Warfare. He was the Distinguished Graduate of his class at the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and graduated from the Inter-American Defense College. Navas also completed the Program for Senior Managers in Government at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.[7]

Career
Major General William A. Navas Jr. as Director, Army National Guard, circa 1995.

Navas completed the ROTC program while in college, and joined the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant of Engineers. He served more than five years on active duty, primarily in West Germany. From 1968 to 1969 he served in Vietnam as Commander of Company A, 168th Engineer Battalion.[8]

In 1970 Navas joined his family's construction business, (Navas y Moreda),[9] and became a member of the Puerto Rico Army National Guard. He advanced through a series of command and staff assignments, including command of the 125th Military Police Battalion, 1st Battalion, 296th Infantry Regiment and Combined Task Force, 193rd Infantry Brigade, attaining the rank of Colonel in 1981.[10]

Navas in June 2007, being greeted by U.S. Navy sailors as he boards the USS Howard (DDG-83).

In 1981 he became a full-time member of the National Guard. After serving in several assignments at the Headquarters of the Puerto Rico National Guard, in 1987 he was selected to succeed Richard D. Dean as Deputy Director of the Army National Guard and promoted to Brigadier General.[11]

In 1990 he was chosen for the position of Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau and promoted to Major General.[12]

Navas served as Vice Chief until 1992, when he became Executive Officer of the Reserve Forces Policy Board.[13]

From September 1994 through October 1995 Navas was Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs.[14]

In October, 1995 Navas was assigned as Director of the Army National Guard, and he served until May, 1998.[15] He was succeeded by Roger C. Schultz.[16]

From June, 1998 until retiring from the military in October, 1998 Navas was a Special Assistant in the Office of the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army.[17]

Assistant Secretary of the Navy

After retiring from the military Navas became the Chairman of the American Veteran's Committee for Puerto Rico Self-Determination, an organization which he co-founded.[18]

On June 6, 2001 Navas was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs). He was sworn in on July 17, 2001, and served through January, 2008.[19][20]

From 2008 to 2011 Navas served as Executive Director of the National Security Professional Development Integration Office at the United States Department of Defense, the first individual to hold this position.[21]

Later work

Since 2011, Navas has been a senior advisor at Dawson & Associates, a Washington, D.C. consulting firm.[22]

Military decorations and awards
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)
Defense Superior Service Medal
 Legion of Merit (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
Bronze Star
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
 Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
Air Medal
 Army Commendation Medal (with 3 bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
 Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 2 bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
 National Defense Service Medal (with one bronze Service Star)
Humanitarian Service Medal (Puerto Rico Flood Relief Operations 1985)
 Vietnam Service Medal (with 4 bronze Service Stars)

 Armed Forces Reserve Medal with bronze award numeral 10
Army Service Medal
Army Overseas Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Army Superior Unit Award
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm
Vietnam Civil Actions Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal

Badges:

Other recognition
  • In 2001, Navas, was honored with the Achievement Award by Hispanic magazine.
  • In 2008 he was awarded the "Caballero Sigma" medal by Phi Sigma Alpha fraternity.[23]

See also

References
  1. U.S. House Appropriations Committee, Hearing Record, Defense Appropriations for 1997, Biographical sketch, William A. Navas Jr., 1996
  2. U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Hearing Record, Nominations before the Senate Armed Services Committee, first session, 107th Congress, 2002, page 1009
  3. Puerto Rico Herald, Puerto Rico Profile: William A. Navas Jr., July 10, 2001
  4. National Guard Bureau, Biography, William A. Navas Jr. Archived 2006-10-04 at the Wayback Machine, accessed May 17, 2013
  5. Beta-Activo Chapter, List of Presidents, accessed May 17, 2013
  6. Gale Group, Inc., Who's Who Among Hispanic Americans 1994-95, 1994, page 566
  7. National Guard Bureau, Biography, William A. Navas Jr. Archived 2006-10-04 at the Wayback Machine, accessed May 17, 2013
  8. U.S. House Appropriations Committee, Hearing Record, Military Construction Appropriations for 1990, Biographical sketch, William A. Navas Jr., 1989, page 351
  9. Associated General Contractors of America, Constructor magazine, Volume 61, 1979
  10. U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Hearing Record, Military Construction Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1992, Biographical sketch, William A. Navas Jr., 1991, page 117
  11. U.S. House Armed Services Committee, Hearing Record, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1990, Biographical sketch, William A. Navas Jr., 1989, page 151
  12. Executive Publications, Inc., Government Executive magazine, Volume 22, 1990, page 54
  13. Brassey's Inc., The All-Volunteer Force: Thirty Years of Service, 2004, page 364
  14. U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Hearing Record, Nominations before the Senate Armed Services Committee, first session, 107th Congress, 2002, page 1009
  15. Puerto Rico Herald, Navy Official Encourages Military Diversity In Globalized World, September 24, 2004
  16. Bob Haskell, National Guard Bureau, On Guard, Schultz Assumes Director's Post, June, 1998, page 3
  17. National Guard Bureau, Biography, William A. Navas Jr. Archived 2006-10-04 at the Wayback Machine, accessed May 17, 2013
  18. Hispanic Magazine honors March Gen. William A. Navas, August 28, 2004
  19. Washington Post, Bush Announces Customs, Other Nominations, May 31, 2001
  20. U.S. Navy, Biography, William A. Navas Jr., 2009
  21. dawson & Associates, Major General Navas Joins Dawson & Associates, 2011
  22. dawson & Associates, Our Team, profile, William A. Navas Jr., 2011
  23. Celebrando 81 años de Hermandad. Puerto Rico: Fi Sigma Alfa. October 2009. p. 35.

Further reading
  • Puertorriquenos Who Served With Guts, Glory, and Honor. Fighting to Defend a Nation Not Completely Their Own; by : Greg Boudonck; ISBN 978-1497421837
Government offices
Preceded by
Carolyn H. Becraft
Bonnie Morehouse (acting)		 Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)
2001 – 2008		 Succeeded by
Anita K. Blair (acting)
Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (acting)
Juan M. Garcia III
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