Pedro N. Rivera
Encyclopedia
Brigadier General
Pedro N. Rivera, M.D. (born 1945) is a retired United States Air Force
officer who in 1994 became the first Hispanic
to be named medical commander in the Air Force. He was responsible for the provision of health care to more than 50,000 patients.
, a city located on the western coast of the island. There he received his primary and secondary education. After he graduated from high school, he was accepted as a student at the Mayaguez
campus of the University of Puerto Rico
. In 1967, Rivera earned his Bachelor's degree
in biology
. He continued his academic education at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine and, in 1971, he earned his Medical degree in pediatrics
. Rivera worked as the chief resident in pediatrics at the University Hospital in Puerto Rico's Medical Center.
in Louisiana
until May 1976, during which time he was promoted to major
. He was then re-assigned as staff pediatrician at Malcolm Grow Medical Center
, Andrews Air Force Base
in Maryland
.
On September 1977, he was named chief of pediatric services of Malcolm Grow Medical Center and on March 1980, was named chairman of the Department of Pediatrics. On June 15 of that same year, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
. He served at Malcolm Grow until July 1983 when he was transferred to the U.S. Air Force Regional Hospital, MacDill Air Force Base
, Florida
as Chief of Hospital Services. On September 20, 1984, Rivera was promoted to Colonel
and in November 1984 he was named commander of the 56th Medical Group.
On May 1986, Rivera was re-assigned to Headquarters Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia
as deputy command surgeon and director of professional services. He served at Langley until May 1990 when he was sent to Bolling Air Force Base
in Washington D.C. for one year, where he assumed the responsibilities of Deputy Director of Medical Plans and Resources for the Office of the Surgeon General
.
From September 1991 to June 1993, Rivera served as command surgeon at Headquarters Pacific Air Forces in Hickam Air Force Base
in Hawaii
; then from June 1993 to August 1994, as commander of the Malcolm Grow Medical Center at Andrews Air Force Base.
On August 1, 1994, Rivera was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General
and named commander of the 81st Medical Group at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. As commander, he was responsible for the provision of health care to more than 50,000 patients in the Keesler area and for providing referral and consultative services for an additional 605,000 beneficiaries in a five state region (Department of Defense Region IV). His responsibilities included ensuring the availability of major war-and peacetime medical readiness response forces and also the direction of all managed health care activities in DoD Region IV.
Rivera was the director of five graduate medical education programs and extensive clinical research program by one of three Air Force clinical research laboratories. He led more than 2,000 health care professionals and managed a local budget of $179 million and a regional managed care contract of $3.8 billion. Rivera retired from the Air Force on October 1, 1997.
. He currently resides and continues to practice his medical profession in Alexandria, Virginia
.
Badges:
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Pedro N. Rivera, M.D. (born 1945) is a retired 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...
officer who in 1994 became 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 be named medical commander in the Air Force. He was responsible for the provision of health care to more than 50,000 patients.
Early years
Rivera was born in San German, Puerto RicoSan Germán, Puerto Rico
San Germán is a municipality located in the southwestern region of Puerto Rico, south of Mayagüez and Maricao; north of Lajas; east of Hormigueros and Cabo Rojo; and west of Sabana Grande. San Germán is spread over 18 wards and San Germán Pueblo...
, a city located on the western coast of the island. There he received his primary and secondary education. After he graduated from high school, he was accepted as a student at the Mayaguez
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Mayagüez is the eighth-largest municipality of Puerto Rico. Originally founded as "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria" it is also known as "La Sultana del Oeste" , "Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" , or "Ciudad del Mangó"...
campus of 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...
. In 1967, Rivera earned his Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
. He continued his academic education at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine and, in 1971, he earned his Medical degree in pediatrics
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
. Rivera worked as the chief resident in pediatrics at the University Hospital in Puerto Rico's Medical Center.
Military career
On August 1974, Rivera joined the United States Air Force at the rank of Captain and was assigned as staff pediatrician at Barksdale Air Force BaseBarksdale Air Force Base
Barksdale Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately east-southeast of Bossier City, Louisiana.The host unit at Barksdale is the 2d Bomb Wing , the oldest Bomb Wing in the Air Force. It is assigned to the Air Force Global Strike Command's Eighth Air Force...
in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
until May 1976, during which time he was promoted to major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
. He was then re-assigned as staff pediatrician at Malcolm Grow Medical Center
Malcolm Grow Medical Center
Malcolm Grow Medical Center is a United States Air Force hospital located on Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.-External links:*...
, Andrews Air Force Base
Andrews Air Force Base
Joint Base Andrews is a United States military facility located in Prince George's County, Maryland. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 11th Wing, Air Force District of Washington ....
in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
On September 1977, he was named chief of pediatric services of Malcolm Grow Medical Center and on March 1980, was named chairman of the Department of Pediatrics. On June 15 of that same year, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
. He served at Malcolm Grow until July 1983 when he was transferred to the U.S. Air Force Regional Hospital, 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...
as Chief of Hospital Services. On September 20, 1984, Rivera was promoted to Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
and in November 1984 he was named commander of the 56th Medical Group.
On May 1986, Rivera was re-assigned to Headquarters Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
as deputy command surgeon and director of professional services. He served at Langley until May 1990 when he was sent to Bolling Air Force Base
Bolling Air Force Base
Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling is a military installation, located in Southeast Washington, D.C., established on 1 October 2010 in accordance with congressional legislation implementing the recommendations of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission...
in Washington D.C. for one year, where he assumed the responsibilities of Deputy Director of Medical Plans and Resources for the Office of the Surgeon General
Surgeon General of the United States Air Force
The Surgeon General of the United States Air Force is the senior-most Medical Service officer in the U.S. Air Force. In recent times, this has been a Lieutenant General who serves as head of the United States Air Force Medical Service...
.
From September 1991 to June 1993, Rivera served as command surgeon at Headquarters Pacific Air Forces in Hickam Air Force Base
Hickam Air Force Base
Hickam Field, re-named Hickam Air Force Base in 1948, was a United States Air Force facility now part of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, named in honor of aviation pioneer Lt Col Horace Meek Hickam.- History :...
in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
; then from June 1993 to August 1994, as commander of the Malcolm Grow Medical Center at Andrews Air Force Base.
On August 1, 1994, Rivera was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General
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...
and named commander of the 81st Medical Group at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. As commander, he was responsible for the provision of health care to more than 50,000 patients in the Keesler area and for providing referral and consultative services for an additional 605,000 beneficiaries in a five state region (Department of Defense Region IV). His responsibilities included ensuring the availability of major war-and peacetime medical readiness response forces and also the direction of all managed health care activities in DoD Region IV.
Rivera was the director of five graduate medical education programs and extensive clinical research program by one of three Air Force clinical research laboratories. He led more than 2,000 health care professionals and managed a local budget of $179 million and a regional managed care contract of $3.8 billion. Rivera retired from the Air Force on October 1, 1997.
Later years
Rivera is a licensed physician in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. He is also a member of the American Medical AssociationAmerican Medical Association
The American Medical Association , founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of medical doctors and medical students in the United States.-Scope and operations:...
. He currently resides and continues to practice his medical profession in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
.
Military decorations and awards
Among Brigadier General Rivera's military decorations are the following:
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...
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 four oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness MedalCombat Readiness MedalThe Combat Readiness Medal is an award of the United States Air Force which was first created in 1964. The original Combat Readiness Medal was an award senior to the Air Force Commendation Medal and was awarded for superior and meritorious duty to the United States Air Force...
National Defense Medal
Badges:
Flight Surgeon BadgeFlight Surgeon Badge (United States)The Flight Surgeon Badge is a military badge of the United States Armed Forces which has existed since the Second World War.The Flight Surgeon Badge is presented to those members of the military who are both qualified medical officers and certified flight surgeons. The original Flight Surgeon...
Air Force Medical Badge
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- List of Puerto Rican military personnel
- University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez people