Major General Alfred A. Valenzuela, US Retired, Board of Directors

Major General Alfred A. Valenzuela was commissioned from St. Mary’s University as a Distinguished Military Graduate and awarded a Bachelor o Arts Degree in Government. He holds a Master of Arts in Political Science, with emphasis on Latin American Studies, and National Security Affairs. His military education includes the Filed Artillery Basic and Advanced Courses, Defense Strategy Course, Army War College, National Security Management Course, and Airborne Course. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Inter-American Defense College, Command and General Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College, and the Air War College.

Major General Valenzuela has served as the Deputy Commanding General and Deputy Joint Task Force Panama Commander, U.S. Army South, Assistant Division Commander (Support), 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, from October 1996 until June 1988. He also served as Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Southern Command from June 1988 to July 2000. His last Assignment was as Commander, United States Army South from July 2000 until October 2003. MG Valenzuela retired from active duty on 1 May, 2004.

Major General Valenzuela has served in three Corps (3rd, 7th, and 18th) and four Infantry Divisions (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 10th, and 1st AD). While serving as Commander, 10th Mountain Division Artillery, Fort Drum, New York, he participated in operations, “Restore Hope” and “Uphold Democracy” with soldiers of his unit deployed to Somalia and Haiti. He also participated in “Distant Thunder” with 3ID in Kuwait. He also served as the Commander Military Assistance Advisory Group, Peru, and as Field Artillery Advisor, U.S. Military Group, Colombia.

Major General Valenzuela also served as the Latin American Politico-Military Analyst at the National Security Agency, working as the Planning Coordinator for Operations “Urgent Fury” in Grenada and “Just Cause” in Panama; he was also a Fire Support Officer and Brigade Artillery and Infantry Advisor, U.S. Military Group, El Salvador, during the country's civil war.

Among his decorations are the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), Soldier’s Medal (for heroism), Bronze Star for Valor, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award (3rd award).

MG Valenzuela has served on the Board of Directors for the Eagle Scout Association, the Texas Chapter of the Boys Scouts of American and the Tomas Rivera Institute for Policy. He has been selected to the Hall of Fame for the Boys Club, and is on the Board of trustees of Saint Mary’s University. He was recently named one of the “100 Most Influential Hispanics” by Hispanic Business magazine and selected to the Board of Directors for the Cuban American Council for Education.