William A. Navas Jr.

William A. Navas Jr. (born December 15, 1942) is a retired United States Army major general who served as the director of the Army National Guard. He is also the first Puerto Rican to be named an Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

Early life and education Navas was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, on December 15, 1942.U.S. House Appropriations Committee, Hearing Record, Defense Appropriations for 1997, Biographical sketch, William A. Navas Jr., 1996U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Hearing Record, Nominations before the Senate Armed Services Committee, first session, 107th Congress, 2002, page 1009 His family has a long tradition of military service, including his grandfather, Colonel Antonio M. Navas, who served in both World Wars. His father, Captain William A. Navas Sr. served in World War II and had a successful career in civil engineering upon his retirement from the military.Puerto Rico Herald, Puerto Rico Profile: William A. Navas Jr., July 10, 2001

Navas received his primary and secondary education in his hometown of Mayagüez. In high school he joined Zeta Mu Gamma fraternity. After graduating from high school, he enrolled in the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, and received his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering.National Guard Bureau, Biography, William A. Navas Jr. , accessed May 17, 2013 He joined the Beta-Activo chapter of Phi Sigma Alpha fraternity, and served as chapter president from 1963 to 1964.Beta-Activo Chapter, List of Presidents, accessed May 17, 2013

In addition to his degree from the University of Puerto Rico, Navas completed a Master of Science degree in Management Engineering at the University of Bridgeport.Gale Group, Inc., Who's Who Among Hispanic Americans 1994-95, 1994, page 566

Navas completed Army qualification courses for the Engineer, Military Police, and Infantry branches. He also completed specialty courses including Jungle Warfare. He was the Distinguished Graduate of his class at the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and graduated from the Inter-American Defense College. Navas also completed the Program for Senior Managers in Government at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Career

Navas completed the ROTC program while in college, and joined the United States Army as a second lieutenant of Engineers. He served more than five years on active duty, primarily in West Germany. From 1968 to 1969 he served in Vietnam as commander of Company A, 168th Engineer Battalion.U.S. House Appropriations Committee, Hearing Record, Military Construction Appropriations for 1990, Biographical sketch, William A. Navas Jr., 1989, page 351

In 1970 Navas joined his family's construction business (Navas y Moreda),Associated General Contractors of America, Constructor magazine, Volume 61, 1979 and became a member of the Puerto Rico Army National Guard. He advanced through a series of command and staff assignments, including command of the 125th Military Police Battalion, 1st Battalion, 296th Infantry Regiment and Combined Task Force, 193rd Infantry Brigade, attaining the rank of colonel in 1981.U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Hearing Record, Military Construction Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1992, Biographical sketch, William A. Navas Jr., 1991, page 117

In 1981 he became a full-time member of the National Guard. After serving in several assignments at the Headquarters of the Puerto Rico National Guard, in 1987 he was selected to succeed Richard D. Dean as deputy director of the Army National Guard and promoted to brigadier general.U.S. House Armed Services Committee, Hearing Record, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1990, Biographical sketch, William A. Navas Jr., 1989, page 151

In 1990 he was chosen for the position of Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau and promoted to major general.Executive Publications, Inc., Government Executive magazine, Volume 22, 1990, page 54

Navas served as Vice Chief until 1992, when he became executive officer of the Reserve Forces Policy Board.Brassey's Inc., The All-Volunteer Force: Thirty Years of Service, 2004, page 364

From September 1994 through October 1995 Navas was Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs.

In October 1995, Navas was assigned as director of the Army National Guard, and he served until May, 1998.Puerto Rico Herald, Navy Official Encourages Military Diversity In Globalized World, September 24, 2004 He was succeeded by Roger C. Schultz.Bob Haskell, National Guard Bureau, On Guard, Schultz Assumes Director's Post, June, 1998, page 3

From June, 1998 until retiring from the military in October, 1998 Navas was a special assistant in the Office of the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army.

Assistant Secretary of the Navy After retiring from the military Navas became the chairman of the American Veteran's Committee for Puerto Rico Self-Determination, an organization which he co-founded.Hispanic Magazine honors March Gen. William A. Navas, August 28, 2004

On June 6, 2001, Navas was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs). He was sworn in on July 17, 2001, and served through January, 2008.Washington Post, , May 31, 2001U.S. Navy, Biography, William A. Navas Jr., 2009

From 2008 to 2011 Navas served as executive director of the National Security Professional Development Integration Office at the United States Department of Defense, the first individual to hold this position.dawson & Associates, Major General Navas Joins Dawson & Associates, 2011

Later work Since 2011, Navas has been a senior advisor at Dawson & Associates, a Washington, D.C. consulting firm.dawson & Associates, Our Team, profile, William A. Navas Jr., 2011

Military decorations and awards Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge Army Staff Identification Badge Regimental Insignia Defense Distinguished Service MedalArmy Distinguished Service MedalDefense Superior Service MedalLegion of Merit (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)Bronze Star Defense Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)Air MedalArmy Commendation Medal (with 3 bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 2 bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)Meritorious Unit Commendation (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster) Army Superior Unit AwardNational Defense Service Medal (with one bronze Service Star)Humanitarian Service Medal (Puerto Rico Flood Relief Operations 1985)Vietnam Service Medal (with 4 bronze Service Stars)Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with bronze Hourglass)Army Service MedalArmy Overseas Service RibbonArmy Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (with award numeral 3)Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with PalmVietnam Civil Actions MedalVietnam Campaign Medal

Other recognition In 2001, Navas was honored with the Achievement Award by Hispanic magazine.Hispanic magazine honors March Gen. William A. Navas In 2008 he was awarded the "Caballero Sigma" medal by Phi Sigma Alpha fraternity. In 2017 William A. Navas Jr. was inducted to the Puerto Rico Veterans Hall of Fame.

Effective dates of promotions Insignia Rank DateMajor generalNovember 1, 1990Brigadier generalOctober 16, 1987ColonelJuly 23, 1981Lieutenant colonelOctober 13, 1976 MajorOctober 2, 1972CaptainJune 2, 1970First lieutenantApril 1, 1967Second lieutenantDecember 28, 1965

William A. Navas Jr.

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