Hector E. Pagan
Encyclopedia
Brigadier General Hector E. Pagan (born 1957) is a United States Army
officer who is the first Hispanic
of Puerto Rican
descent to become Deputy Commanding General of the U.S.Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg
, North Carolina
.
, N.Y. and raised in Puerto Rico. He was commissioned as an infantry officer from the "ROTC
" (Reserve Officer Training Course) program at the University of Puerto Rico
at the Mayagüez campus upon his graduation in 1979, where he was a distinguished student and graduate.
In 1983, he attended the Infantry Officers Advanced Course and remained at Fort Benning
, Georgia
, with the Infantry Training Group and the 29th Infantry Regiment, where he served as chief, Special Weapons Committee, operations officer, and commanded the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Bn., 29th Infantry Regiment from 1984 to1986. He volunteered to attend Special Forces training and was assigned to 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
.
Pagan served in Panama with the 3rd Bn., 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1988–1990, as an A-Detachment commander and Battalion S1. He served in Operation Just Cause which was the invasion
of Panama
by the United States that deposed general, dictator and de facto
Panamanian military leader Manuel Noriega
in December 1989, during the administration of U.S. President George H. W. Bush
, and later that same year was deployed to El Salvador
. From 1990 to 1992, he served in Special Forces Branch, Total Army Personnel Command as a future readiness officer and captains assignments officer.
He attended the Army Command and General Staff Course and then served as the executive officer, 1st Bn., 7th SF Group
(Airborne). From 1994-1995, he served in the U.S. Army Special Operations Command as the chief, officer management, office of the deputy chief of staff for personnel. He returned to the 7th SF Group (Airborne) in 1995, where he served as group operations officer, executive officer and deputy commander. From 1998-2000, Pagan commanded the 2nd Battalion, 1st SF Group (Airborne) at Fort Lewis
, Washington. After his tour with the 1st SF Group, he was assigned to the Special Operations Command South, Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, where he served as the director of operations, J3, from 2000 to 2002. Here he earned the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation.
Upon completion of the U.S. Army War College in 2003, Pagan took command of the 5th SF Group (Airborne) in Baghdad, Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom. He led the 5th SF Group (Airborne) in combat as the commander of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force in the Arabian Peninsula for two combat tours in 2003 and 2004.
In 2005, Pagan served as the special assistant to the commander of the United States Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base
, Florida
. In 2006, he assumed duties as the deputy director of the Operations Support Group in the Center for Special Operations in the U.S. Special
Operations Command. Pagan became the deputy commander, U.S. Army Special Operations Command in November 2006 and in May 2007 assumed duties as deputy commander, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
On September 27, 2007, Pagan was promoted to Brigadier General at a ceremony held at the Fort Bragg Officers Club. Major General James Parker, the commander of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School and Pagan's wife, Elizabeth, pinned the stars on his shoulders. Also present were ROTC classmates, a friend from Chile
, family members from Puerto Rico and a South Korea
n brigadier general and Admiral Eric T. Olson
, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa
, Florida. Pagan was quoted as saying:
In 2008, Pagan was selected to head U.S. Special Operations Forces throughout Latin America and the Caribbean as commander of Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH) at Homestead Air Reserve Base
, Florida. Pagan made history yet again as the first commanding officer of Puerto Rican descent to command SOCSOUTH. The command is a subordinate, unified command of U.S. Southern Command, which is based in Doral and oversees U.S. military Special Operations in the region.
Special Operations Command South oversees Special Forces, Civil Affairs, Public Affairs and Psychological Operations missions throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The command manages more than 200 special operations deployments per year with an average of 42 missions in 26 countries at any given time.
Pagan retired after a Change Of Command ceremony held 17 September 2010 between himself and RDML Thomas Brown. His career spanned over 30 years.
.
Badges
Tabs
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
officer who is 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 ...
of Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
descent to become Deputy Commanding General of the U.S.Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg (North Carolina)
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
Early years
Pagan's parents moved to New York City in search of a better way of life. He was born in ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, N.Y. and raised in Puerto Rico. He was commissioned as an infantry officer from the "ROTC
Reserve Officers' Training Corps
The Reserve Officers' Training Corps is a college-based, officer commissioning program, predominantly in the United States. It is designed as a college elective that focuses on leadership development, problem solving, strategic planning, and professional ethics.The U.S...
" (Reserve Officer Training Course) program at the University of Puerto Rico
University 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...
at the Mayagüez campus upon his graduation in 1979, where he was a distinguished student and graduate.
Military career
He attended the Infantry Officers Basic Course and Ranger School in 1980, and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 51st Infantry, in Germany, as a Rifle Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer and Scout Platoon Leader.In 1983, he attended the Infantry Officers Advanced Course and remained at Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, with the Infantry Training Group and the 29th Infantry Regiment, where he served as chief, Special Weapons Committee, operations officer, and commanded the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Bn., 29th Infantry Regiment from 1984 to1986. He volunteered to attend Special Forces training and was assigned to 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
7th Special Forces Group (United States)
The 7th Special Forces Group, an operational unit of the United States Army Special Forces, was activated on 20 May 1960. It was reorganized from the 77th Special Forces Group, which was also stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Its purpose is to conduct guerrilla operations and train friendly...
.
Pagan served in Panama with the 3rd Bn., 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1988–1990, as an A-Detachment commander and Battalion S1. He served in Operation Just Cause which was the invasion
Invasion
An invasion is a military offensive consisting of all, or large parts of the armed forces of one geopolitical entity aggressively entering territory controlled by another such entity, generally with the objective of either conquering, liberating or re-establishing control or authority over a...
of 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...
by the United States that deposed general, dictator and de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
Panamanian military leader Manuel Noriega
Manuel Noriega
Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno is a Panamanian politician and soldier. He was military dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989.The 1989 invasion of Panama by the United States removed him from power; he was captured, detained as a prisoner of war, and flown to the United States. Noriega was tried on...
in December 1989, during the administration of U.S. President George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
, and later that same year was deployed to El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
. From 1990 to 1992, he served in Special Forces Branch, Total Army Personnel Command as a future readiness officer and captains assignments officer.
He attended the Army Command and General Staff Course and then served as the executive officer, 1st Bn., 7th SF Group
(Airborne). From 1994-1995, he served in the U.S. Army Special Operations Command as the chief, officer management, office of the deputy chief of staff for personnel. He returned to the 7th SF Group (Airborne) in 1995, where he served as group operations officer, executive officer and deputy commander. From 1998-2000, Pagan commanded the 2nd Battalion, 1st SF Group (Airborne) at Fort Lewis
Fort Lewis
Joint Base Lewis-McChord is a United States military facility located south-southwest of Tacoma, Washington. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Army Joint Base Garrison, Joint Base Lewis-McChord....
, Washington. After his tour with the 1st SF Group, he was assigned to the Special Operations Command South, Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, where he served as the director of operations, J3, from 2000 to 2002. Here he earned the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation.
Upon completion of the U.S. Army War College in 2003, Pagan took command of the 5th SF Group (Airborne) in Baghdad, Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom. He led the 5th SF Group (Airborne) in combat as the commander of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force in the Arabian Peninsula for two combat tours in 2003 and 2004.
In 2005, Pagan served as the special assistant to the commander of the United States Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base is an active United States Air Force base located approximately south-southwest of downtown Tampa, Florida...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. In 2006, he assumed duties as the deputy director of the Operations Support Group in the Center for Special Operations in the U.S. Special
Operations Command. Pagan became the deputy commander, U.S. Army Special Operations Command in November 2006 and in May 2007 assumed duties as deputy commander, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Promotion to Brigadier General
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, family members from Puerto Rico and a South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n brigadier general and Admiral Eric T. Olson
Eric T. Olson
Eric Thor Olson is a retired United States Navy admiral who last served as the eighth Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command from July 2, 2007 to August 8, 2011. He previously served as Deputy Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command from 2003 to July 2007...
, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
, Florida. Pagan was quoted as saying:
"I am grateful to a nation, an Army, that allows a guy like me to be a general officer one day", Pagan said. "I am grateful for the great soldiers I have served with during the years I have been in the Army, mostly in Special Forces, exceptional men, like the ones we’ve lost in Iraq where we served with 5th Special Forces Group. I carry their memories with me every day of my life."
Special Operations Command South
Homestead Air Reserve Base
Homestead Air Reserve Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately east-northeast of Homestead, Florida.The host unit at Homestead is the 482d Fighter Wing assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command Tenth Air Force...
, Florida. Pagan made history yet again as the first commanding officer of Puerto Rican descent to command SOCSOUTH. The command is a subordinate, unified command of U.S. Southern Command, which is based in Doral and oversees U.S. military Special Operations in the region.
Special Operations Command South oversees Special Forces, Civil Affairs, Public Affairs and Psychological Operations missions throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The command manages more than 200 special operations deployments per year with an average of 42 missions in 26 countries at any given time.
Pagan retired after a Change Of Command ceremony held 17 September 2010 between himself and RDML Thomas Brown. His career spanned over 30 years.
Military Training
Pagan is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the Special Forces Detachment Officer Qualification Course, the Army Command and General Staff Course, the Joint Forces Staff College and the Army War College.Personal
The Pagans have a daughter, Karla, a son, Hector, and a niece, Maria, who lives with them. Pagan and his wife became grandparents in 2007. He earned a master's degree in management from Troy State University and a master's degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War CollegeU.S. Army War College
The United States Army War College is a United States Army school located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on the 500 acre campus of the historic Carlisle Barracks...
.
Military awards and decorations
Among Pagan's military awards and decorations are 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."...
(second award)
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...
with bronze oak leaf
Defense Meritorious Service MedalDefense Meritorious Service MedalThe Defense Meritorious Service Medal is the third-highest award bestowed upon members of the United States military by the United States Department of Defense...
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 one silver oak leaf and one bronze oak leaf,
Army Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf,
Army Achievement Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
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 star device,
Joint Meritorious Unit AwardJoint Meritorious Unit AwardThe Joint Meritorious Unit Award is a military award that was established on June 4, 1981 by Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger and was implemented by Department of Defense Directive 1348.27 dated July 22, 1982...
(2nd oak leaf cluster),
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
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...
Army Service RibbonArmy Service RibbonThe Army Service Ribbon is a military decoration of the United States Army that was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981 as announced in Department of the Army General Order 15, dated 10 October 1990....
Army Overseas Service Ribbon
Badges
Combat Infantryman BadgeCombat Infantryman BadgeThe Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
(second award)
Expert Infantryman BadgeExpert Infantryman BadgeThe Expert Infantryman Badge, or EIB, is a military badge of the United States Army. Although similar in name and appearance to the Combat Infantryman Badge , it is a completely different award: while the CIB is awarded for participation in ground combat, the EIB is presented for completion of a...
Master Parachutists BadgeParachutist Badge (United States)The Parachutist Badge, also commonly referred to as "Jump Wings" or "Snow Cone", is a military badge of the United States Armed Forces awarded to members of the United States Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy...
Tabs
Special Forces TabSpecial Forces TabThe Special Forces Tab is a service school qualification tab of the United States Army, awarded to any soldier completing either the Special Forces Qualification Course, or the Special Forces Detachment Officer Qualification Course , at the U.S. Army John F...
Ranger TabRanger TabThe Ranger Tab is a service school military decoration of the United States Army signifying completion of the 61-day long Ranger School course in small-unit infantry combat tactics in woodland, mountain, and swamp operations. In December 2009 a British NCO earned the Ranger tab...
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- List of Puerto Rican military personnel