Orlando Llenza
Encyclopedia
Major General Orlando Llenza (born 1930) is the second Puerto Rican to reach the rank of Major General (two-star General) in the United States Air Force
. Llenza served as commander of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard (PRANG).
the capital of Puerto Rico, where he received his primary and secondary education. In 1947, he graduated from Central High School and applied for admission at Georgia Institute of Technology
. In 1951 he earned his degree in Architecture and an Air Force ROTC commission.
, and Air Command and Staff College
, among others.
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During the Korean War
, Llenza flew as a pilot in the 9th Air Refueling Squadron. During his career he flew the T-6 Texan
, B-25 Mitchell
, Boeing KB-29M tanker, KC-97 Stratotanker
F tanker, T-33 Shooting Star
Shooting Star, F-86 Sabre
D, E, F and H models, F-104 Starfighter
, and the C-47 Skytrain
, C-54 Skymaster
, C-131 Samaritan
transports.
, a position which he held from 1977 to 1983. Llenza became the mission director in Ecuador
for US AID from 1983-1986. As a civilian he was a successful architect with Llenza & Llenza (the other Llenza was Hector his brother).
Llenza is also the recipient of many awards, including the U.S. Distinguished Service Medal
and the National Order of Merit-Ecuador. The now-retired General Llenza is the Chairman of the American Veterans' Committee for Puerto Rico Self-Determination. Llenza is a member of the Board of Directors of the United States Council for Puerto Rico Statehood.
Badges:
Foreign award
National Order of Merit-Ecuador
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...
. Llenza served as commander of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard (PRANG).
Early years
Llenza was born to Maria Isabel Lopez and Harry B. Llenza in San JuanSan Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
the capital of Puerto Rico, where he received his primary and secondary education. In 1947, he graduated from Central High School and applied for admission at Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
. In 1951 he earned his degree in Architecture and an Air Force ROTC commission.
Military career
Llenza attended USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training, the Air War CollegeAir War College
The Air War College is a part of the United States Air Force's Air University, headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. Air University's higher headquarters is Air Education and Training Command headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The Air War...
, and 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...
, among others.
Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, Llenza flew as a pilot in the 9th Air Refueling Squadron. During his career he flew the T-6 Texan
T-6 Texan
The North American Aviation T-6 Texan was a single-engine advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, Royal Air Force and other air forces of the British Commonwealth during World War II and into the 1950s...
, B-25 Mitchell
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
, Boeing KB-29M tanker, KC-97 Stratotanker
KC-97 Stratotanker
The Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker was a United States strategic tanker aircraft based on the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter. It was succeeded by the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.-Design and development:...
F tanker, T-33 Shooting Star
T-33 Shooting Star
The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star is an American-built jet trainer aircraft. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948, piloted by Tony LeVier. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then designated T-33A. It was used by the...
Shooting Star, F-86 Sabre
F-86 Sabre
The North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...
D, E, F and H models, F-104 Starfighter
F-104 Starfighter
The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is a single-engine, high-performance, supersonic interceptor aircraft originally developed for the United States Air Force by Lockheed. One of the Century Series of aircraft, it served with the USAF from 1958 until 1969, and continued with Air National Guard units...
, and the C-47 Skytrain
C-47 Skytrain
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
, C-54 Skymaster
C-54 Skymaster
The Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
, C-131 Samaritan
C-131 Samaritan
The Convair C-131 Samaritan was an American military transport produced from 1954 to 1956. It is the military version of the Convair CV-240.-Design and development:...
transports.
Adjutant General of P.R. National Guard
After Llenza retired from active duty he was named Adjutant General of the Puerto Rico National Guard by Governor Carlos Romero BarcelóCarlos Romero Barceló
Carlos Antonio Romero Barceló is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fifth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the second governor to be elected from the New Progressive Party and also Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001, making him one of the more successful...
, a position which he held from 1977 to 1983. Llenza became the mission director in Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
for US AID from 1983-1986. As a civilian he was a successful architect with Llenza & Llenza (the other Llenza was Hector his brother).
Llenza is also the recipient of many awards, including the U.S. Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel.The Air Force...
and the National Order of Merit-Ecuador. The now-retired General Llenza is the Chairman of the American Veterans' Committee for Puerto Rico Self-Determination. Llenza is a member of the Board of Directors of the United States Council for Puerto Rico Statehood.
Awards and decorations
Among Llenza's decorations and medals were the following:
Air Force Distinguished Service MedalAir Force Distinguished Service MedalThe Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel.The Air Force...
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...
Puerto Rico National Guard Distinguished Service Medal-
Florida Distinguished Service Medal
Badges:
Command pilot
Foreign award
National Order of Merit-Ecuador
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...