Brigadier General Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

Antonio J. Ramos (born 1946) was an officer of the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...

. He was the first

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

to serve as commander, Air Force Security Assistance Center,

Air Force Materiel Command Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force (USAF). AFMC was created on July 1, 1992, through the amalgamation of the former Air Force Logistics Command (AFLC) and the former Air Force Systems Com ...

, and dual-hatted as Assistant to the Commander for International Affairs, Headquarters

.Antonio J. Ramos
Retrieved February 16, 2008.

Early years

In 1969, Ramos was commissioned as a distinguished graduate of the University of Puerto Rico's Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He received his academic education in the

University of Puerto Rico The University of Puerto Rico ( es, Universidad de Puerto Rico, UPR) is the main public university system in the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It is a government-owned corporation with 11 campuses and approximately 58,000 students and 5,3 ...

where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1968 and a master's degree in education, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville in 1975.

Early military career

Ramos was sent to

Vance Air Force Base Vance Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in southern Enid, Oklahoma, about north northwest of Oklahoma City. The base is named after local World War II hero and Medal of Honor recipient, Lieutenant Colonel Leon Robert Va ...

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...

where he completed his undergraduate pilot training in June 1970. He was then assigned as a

C-133 The Douglas C-133 Cargomaster is an American large turboprop cargo aircraft built between 1956 and 1961 by the Douglas Aircraft Company for use with the United States Air Force. The C-133 was the USAF's only production turboprop-powered strat ...

pilot with the 84th Military Airlift Squadron, Travis Air Force Base,

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

. In August 1971 Ramos was reassigned to

England Air Force Base England Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base in Louisiana, located northwest of Alexandria and about northwest of New Orleans. Originally known as Alexandria Army Air Base, on 23 June 1955 the facility was renamed England Ai ...

, to attend C-123K pilot training. He graduated in November 1971 and was transferred to 310th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Phan Rang Air Base and Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...

. In August 1972 was transferred to U-Tapao Royal Thai Naval Airfield in

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...

where he was the Base Operations Officer until November 1972.Military Bio.
/ref>

Return to the United States

In December 1972, Ramos returned to the United States upon completing his tour of duty in Vietnam and Thailand. He was assigned to Altus Air Force Base in

to be attend C-5 Galaxy pilot training. In February 1973 he transferred to the 3rd Military Airlift Squadron, in

Charleston Air Force Base Charleston Air Force Base is a United States military facility located in the City of North Charleston, South Carolina. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force's 628th Air Base Wing (628 ABW), a subordinate element ...

South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

until August 1973. He was then transferred to Dover Air Force Base,

Delaware Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...

where he was a pilot and aircraft commander, instructor pilot, and flight examiner for the 3rd Military Airlift Squadron. During this time Ramos attained a master's degree in education from Southern Illinois University and attended

Squadron Officer School Squadron Officer School (SOS), is a 5.5-week-long Professional Military Education (PME) course for U.S. Air Force and Space Force Captains, Department of the Air Force Civilian (DAFC) equivalents and International Officers. It fulfills the U.S ...

Maxwell Air Force Base Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force (USAF) installation under the Air Education and Training Command (AETC). The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, United States. O ...

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

. In July 1978 he became the Wing Flight Examiner for the 436th Military Airlift Wing, at Dover Air Force Base. After serving for five and a half years at Dover AFB he was transferred to Headquarters

Air Mobility Command Air Mobility Command (AMC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the U.S. Air Force. It is headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, east of St. Louis, Missouri. Air Mobility Command was established on 1 June 1992, and was formed from elements ...

in Scott Air Force Base in February 1979 to be the Standardization and Evaluation pilot, Chief, Strategic Airlift Manning Section, and Chief, Air Crew Manning Branch. After his headquarters assignment Ramos attended the

Air Command and Staff College The Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) is located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama and is the United States Air Force's intermediate-level Professional Military Education (PME) school. It is a subordinate command of the Air Uni ...

from August 1982 until graduating in June 1983. He then continued on to Altus Air Force Base,

to be the Operations Officer for the 56th Military Airlift Squadron. In June 1985 Ramos was transferred to Travis Air Force Base, California to take command of the 75th Military Airlift Squadron, where he served as Squadron Commander until July 1987. In August 1987, Ramos attended the

Inter-American Defense College The Inter-American Defense College (IADC) is the educational entity of the Inter-American Defense Board, an independent entity of the Organization of American States. The College states that faculty, staff and student body are international, and ...

Fort Lesley J. McNair Fort Lesley J. McNair is a United States Army post located on the tip of Greenleaf Point, the peninsula that lies at the confluence of the Potomac River and the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. To the peninsula's west is the Washington Cha ...

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

In July 1988 he would start a series of assignments with emphasis to the Western Hemisphere. He would become Chief, Caribbean Basin Branch, later, Chief, Western Hemisphere Division (J-5), for the Joint Staff,

In August 1991 Ramos was transferred to U.S. Southern Command in Panama as the Director, Strategy, Policy and Plans (J-5). In August 1994, Ramos would return to Headquarters

, Scott Air Force Base to be the Inspector General. In December 1995, Ramos returned to U.S. Southern Command,

Panama Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Cos ...

as Special Assistant to the Commander in Chief. In August 1997, Ramos would transfer to Headquarters

at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

for his final Air Force assignment as the Commander, Air Force Security Assistance Center and Assistant to the Commander for International Affairs, Headquarters

. Brigadier General Ramos retired from the Air Force on August 1, 1999.

Awards and recognitions

Among Brigadier General Antonio Ramos' decorations and medals were the following: * US_Defense_Superior_Service_Medal_ribbon

Defense Superior Service Medal The Defense Superior Service Medal (DSSM) is a military decoration of the United States Department of Defense, which is presented to United States Armed Forces service members who perform superior meritorious service in a position of significant ...

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...

Bronze Star The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. Wh ...

Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, * Air Medal ribbon

Air Medal The Air Medal (AM) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. It was created in 1942 and is awarded for single acts of heroism or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Criteria The Air Medal was establish ...

, *

Joint Service Commendation Medal * National_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon,_2nd_award

National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star, * Armed Forces Expedtionary Medal ribbon

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with bronze service star, *

Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon * AF_OS_Short_Tour_Ribbon

Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon An Overseas Service Ribbon is a service military award of the United States military which recognizes those service members who have performed military tours outside the borders of the United States of America. There are different versions of the ...

Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon * Air_Force_Training_Ribbon

Air Force Training Ribbon * Vietnam Service Medal ribbon

Vietnam Service Medal with bronze service star * Vietnam_gallantry_cross-w-palm-3d

Vietnam Gallantry Cross The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross also known as the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross or Vietnam Cross of Gallantry ( vi, Anh-Dũng Bội-Tinh) is a military decoration of the former Government of South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam). The medal wa ...

with Palm Streamer * Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp

Vietnam Campaign Medal Badges: * COMMAND PILOT WINGS

Command pilot * Joint Chiefs of Staff seal

Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is the body of the most senior uniformed leaders within the United States Department of Defense, that advises the president of the United States, the secretary of defense, the Homeland Security Council and the ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramos, Antonio J. 1946 births Living people Air Command and Staff College alumni United States Air Force generals Recipients of the Legion of Merit United States Air Force personnel of the Vietnam War Puerto Rican United States Air Force personnel Puerto Rican aviators Puerto Rican military officers Recipients of the Air Medal Recipients of the Gallantry Cross (Vietnam) Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States) Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumni University of Puerto Rico alumni

Early years

Early military career

Return to the United States

Awards and recognitions

See also

References