Antonio J. Ramos
Encyclopedia
Brigadier General
Antonio J. Ramos (born 1946) was an officer of the United States Air Force
. He was the first Hispanic
to serve as commander, Air Force Security Assistance Center, Air Force Materiel Command
, and dual-hatted as Assistant to the Commander for International Affairs, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command
.
where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1968.
in Oklahoma where he completed his undergraduate pilot training in June 1970. He was then assigned as a C-133 pilot with the 84th Military Airlift Squadron, Travis Air Force Base
, California
. In August 1971 Ramos was reassigned to England Air Force Base
, to attend C-123K pilot training. He graduated in November 1971 and was transferred to 310th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Phan Rang Air Base and Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam
. In August 1972 was transferred to U-Tapao Royal Thai Naval Airfield in Thailand
where he was the Base Operations Officer until November 1972.
In December 1972, Ramos returned to the United States upon completing his tour of duty in Vietnam and Thailand. He was assigned to Altus Air Force Base
in Oklahoma
to be attend C-5 Galaxy
pilot training. In February 1973 he transferred to the 3rd Military Airlift Squadron, in Charleston Air Force Base
, South Carolina
until August 1973. He was then transferred to Dover Air Force Base
, Delaware
where he was a pilot and aircraft commander, instructor pilot, and flight examiner for the 3rd Military Airlift Squadron. During this time Ramos attained a Master's degree in Education from Southern Illinois University
and attended Squadron Officer School
in Maxwell Air Force Base
, Alabama
.
On July 1978 he became the Wing Flight Examiner for the 436th Military Airlift Wing, at Dover Air Force Base
. After serving for five and a half years at Dover AFB he was transferred to Headquarters Air Mobility Command
in Scott Air Force Base
on February 1979 to be the Standardization and Evaluation pilot, Chief, Strategic Airlift Manning Section, and Chief, Air Crew Manning Branch.
After his headquarters assignment Ramos attended the Air Command and Staff College
at Maxwell Air Force Base
in Alabama
from August 1982 until graduating in June 1983. He then continued on to Altus Air Force Base
, Oklahoma
to be the Operations Officer for the 56th Military Airlift Squadron. On June 1985 Ramos was transferred to Travis Air Force Base
, California to take command of the 75th Military Airlift Squadron, where he served as Squadron Commander until July 1987.
In August 1987, Ramos attended the Inter-American Defense College
in Fort Lesley J. McNair
, Washington, D.C.
. In July 1988 he would start a series of assignments with emphasis to the Western Hemisphere. He would become Chief, Caribbean Basin Branch, later, Chief, Western Hemisphere Division (J-5), for the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
. In August 1991 Ramos was transferred to U.S. Southern Command in Panama as the Director, Strategy, Policy and Plans (J-5). In August 1994, Ramos would return to Headquarters Air Mobility Command
, Scott Air Force Base
to be the Inspector General.
In December 1995, Ramos returned to U.S. Southern Command, Panama
as Special Assistant to the Commander in Chief. In August 1997, Ramos would transfer to Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command
at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
, Ohio
for his final Air Force assignment as the Commander, Air Force Security Assistance Center and Assistant to the Commander for International Affairs, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command
. Brigadier General Ramos retired from the Air Force on August 1, 1999.
Badges:
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
Antonio J. Ramos (born 1946) was an officer of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. He was the first Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
to serve as commander, Air Force Security Assistance Center, Air Force Materiel Command
Air Force Materiel Command
Air Force Materiel Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. AFMC was created July 1, 1992 through the reorganization of Air Force Logistics Command and Air Force Systems Command....
, and dual-hatted as Assistant to the Commander for International Affairs, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command
Air Force Materiel Command
Air Force Materiel Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. AFMC was created July 1, 1992 through the reorganization of Air Force Logistics Command and Air Force Systems Command....
.
Early years
In 1969, Ramos was commissioned as a distinguished graduate of the University of Puerto Rico's Reserve Officer Training Corps program. His academic education in the University of Puerto RicoUniversity of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1968.
Early Military career
Rivera was sent to Vance Air Force BaseVance Air Force Base
Vance Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located 6 km south of downtown Enid, Oklahoma, and within its city limits, about north northwest of Oklahoma City...
in Oklahoma where he completed his undergraduate pilot training in June 1970. He was then assigned as a C-133 pilot with the 84th Military Airlift Squadron, Travis Air Force Base
Travis Air Force Base
Travis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force air base under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command , located three miles east of the central business district of Fairfield, in Solano County, California, United States. The base is named for Brigadier General Robert F...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. In August 1971 Ramos was reassigned to England Air Force Base
England Air Force Base
England Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base in Louisiana, located Northwest of Alexandria and about Northwest of New Orleans....
, to attend C-123K pilot training. He graduated in November 1971 and was transferred to 310th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Phan Rang Air Base and Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. In August 1972 was transferred to U-Tapao Royal Thai Naval Airfield in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
where he was the Base Operations Officer until November 1972.
Return to the United States
Altus Air Force Base
Altus Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately east-northeast of Altus, Oklahoma.The host unit at Altus AFB is the 97th Air Mobility Wing , assigned to the Nineteenth Air Force of the Air Education and Training Command...
in Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
to be attend C-5 Galaxy
C-5 Galaxy
The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a large military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. It provides the United States Air Force with a heavy intercontinental-range strategic airlift capability, one that can carry outsize and oversize cargos, including all air-certifiable cargo. The Galaxy has many...
pilot training. In February 1973 he transferred to the 3rd Military Airlift Squadron, in Charleston Air Force Base
Charleston Air Force Base
Joint Base Charleston is a United States military facility located in North Charleston, South Carolina. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 628th Air Base Wing, Air Mobility Command...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
until August 1973. He was then transferred to Dover Air Force Base
Dover Air Force Base
Dover Air Force Base or Dover AFB is a United States Air Force base located two miles southeast of the city of Dover, Delaware.-Units:...
, Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
where he was a pilot and aircraft commander, instructor pilot, and flight examiner for the 3rd Military Airlift Squadron. During this time Ramos attained a Master's degree in Education from Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
and attended Squadron Officer School
Squadron Officer School
Squadron Officer School , is a five-week long Professional Military Education course for U.S. Air Force Captains. It fulfills the U.S. Air Force's requirement for primary developmental education . SOS is based at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, and the in-residence version of the course is taught there...
in Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
.
On July 1978 he became the Wing Flight Examiner for the 436th Military Airlift Wing, at Dover Air Force Base
Dover Air Force Base
Dover Air Force Base or Dover AFB is a United States Air Force base located two miles southeast of the city of Dover, Delaware.-Units:...
. After serving for five and a half years at Dover AFB he was transferred to Headquarters Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
in Scott Air Force Base
Scott Air Force Base
Scott Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force in St. Clair County, Illinois, near Belleville.-Overview:The base is named after Corporal Frank S. Scott, the first enlisted person to be killed in an aviation crash...
on February 1979 to be the Standardization and Evaluation pilot, Chief, Strategic Airlift Manning Section, and Chief, Air Crew Manning Branch.
After his headquarters assignment Ramos attended the Air Command and Staff College
Air Command and Staff College
The Air Command and Staff College is located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama and is the United States Air Force's intermediate professional military education school. It prepares field grade and equivalent officers of all U.S...
at Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
from August 1982 until graduating in June 1983. He then continued on to Altus Air Force Base
Altus Air Force Base
Altus Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately east-northeast of Altus, Oklahoma.The host unit at Altus AFB is the 97th Air Mobility Wing , assigned to the Nineteenth Air Force of the Air Education and Training Command...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
to be the Operations Officer for the 56th Military Airlift Squadron. On June 1985 Ramos was transferred to Travis Air Force Base
Travis Air Force Base
Travis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force air base under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command , located three miles east of the central business district of Fairfield, in Solano County, California, United States. The base is named for Brigadier General Robert F...
, California to take command of the 75th Military Airlift Squadron, where he served as Squadron Commander until July 1987.
In August 1987, Ramos attended the Inter-American Defense College
Inter-American Defense College
The Inter-American Defense College is an international educational institution located in Washington D.C., United States, operating under the Organization of American States and the Inter-American Defense Board ....
in Fort Lesley J. McNair
Fort Lesley J. McNair
Fort Lesley J. McNair is a United States Army post located on the tip of a peninsula that lies at the confluence of the Potomac River and the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. To its west is the Washington Channel, while the Anacostia River is on its south side...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. In July 1988 he would start a series of assignments with emphasis to the Western Hemisphere. He would become Chief, Caribbean Basin Branch, later, Chief, Western Hemisphere Division (J-5), for the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. In August 1991 Ramos was transferred to U.S. Southern Command in Panama as the Director, Strategy, Policy and Plans (J-5). In August 1994, Ramos would return to Headquarters Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
, Scott Air Force Base
Scott Air Force Base
Scott Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force in St. Clair County, Illinois, near Belleville.-Overview:The base is named after Corporal Frank S. Scott, the first enlisted person to be killed in an aviation crash...
to be the Inspector General.
In December 1995, Ramos returned to U.S. Southern Command, Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
as Special Assistant to the Commander in Chief. In August 1997, Ramos would transfer to Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command
Air Force Materiel Command
Air Force Materiel Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. AFMC was created July 1, 1992 through the reorganization of Air Force Logistics Command and Air Force Systems Command....
at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base in Greene and Montgomery counties in the state of Ohio. It includes both Wright and Patterson Fields, which were originally Wilbur Wright Field and Fairfield Aviation General Supply Depot. Patterson Field is located approximately...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
for his final Air Force assignment as the Commander, Air Force Security Assistance Center and Assistant to the Commander for International Affairs, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command
Air Force Materiel Command
Air Force Materiel Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. AFMC was created July 1, 1992 through the reorganization of Air Force Logistics Command and Air Force Systems Command....
. Brigadier General Ramos retired from the Air Force on August 1, 1999.
Awards and recognitions
Among Brigadier General Antonio Maldonado's decorations and medals were the following:
Defense Superior Service MedalDefense Superior Service MedalThe Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."...
with oak leaf cluster
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
Bronze StarBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal (United States)The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
with three oak leaf clusters,
Air MedalAir MedalThe Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
,
Joint Service Commendation Medal
National Defense Service MedalNational Defense Service MedalThe National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
with bronze service star,
Armed Forces Expeditionary MedalArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalThe Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is a military award of the United States military, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John Kennedy...
with bronze service star,
Vietnam Service MedalVietnam Service MedalThe Vietnam Service Medal is a military award which was created in 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The distinctive design was the creation of sculptor Thomas Hudson Jones, a former employee of the Army Institute of Heraldry. The medal is issued to recognize military service during...
with bronze service star
Vietnam Campaign MedalVietnam Campaign MedalThe Vietnam Campaign Medal is a military recognition awarded by the Republic of Vietnam, , to any member of the United States, Australian, New Zealand and allied military forces serving six months or more in support of Republic of Vietnam military operations.Established in 1966, the decoration is...
Badges:
Command pilot
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification BadgeOffice of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification BadgeThe Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge is a U.S. Military badge presented to the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff upon appointment to position as either a Service Head, Vice Chairman, or Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The decoration is also authorized to staff and...
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- List of Puerto Rican military personnel
- Hispanics in the United States Air ForceHispanics in the United States Air ForceHispanics in the United States Air Force can trace their tradition of service back to the United States Army Air Forces , the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, which was the predecessor of the United States Air Force which was formed as...