Emilio Díaz Colón
Encyclopedia
Major General
Emilio Díaz Colón (c. 1950), is a former United States National Guard
officer who served as the Adjutant General of the Puerto Rican National Guard. In 2011, he became the first member of the PRNG to be named Superintendent of the Puerto Rico Police Department.
. His father was the head foreman of the Central Roig sugar cane plantation. The Central Roig was one of the last mills that produced sugar in Puerto Rico. Díaz Colón was raised in his hometown where he received his primary and secondary education. Díaz Colón's brother Luis F. "Pickie" Díaz Colón, former Head of the National Parks Company, was once the Mayor of their hometown Yabucoa.
In 1968, Díaz Colón joined the Army National Guard (ARNG) as an enlisted soldier in an engineer company, while at the same time he was enrolled and attended classes at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
. In 1971, Díaz Colón earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Civil Engineering
.
, which is administered by the Warrant Officer Career College at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Upon his graduation in February 4, 1975, he was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer One (WO1). He was then assigned to the HHC 130th Engineer Battalion at Vega Baja, Puerto Rico
where he served as Utilities Maintenance Technician. On August 3, 1976, he was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant and assigned as Engineering Officer for the same Battalion. From January 1977 to August 1979, Díaz Colón served with Company D 130th Engineer Battalion at Carolina, Puerto Rico
in the positions of Engineer Platoon Leadera and Company Executive Officer. After his promotion to the rank of Captain he was named Company Commander.
On August 1979, he was reassigned to the 892d Engineer Company at Humacao, Puerto Rico
as Company Commander and in September 1979, he was the Assistant S-3 of the Command and Control at PRNG Headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico
. He served there until October 1979, when he returned to the 130th Engineer Battalion as Battalion Executive Officer.
appointed Díaz Colón to the position of Executive Director of the Authority of Solid Wastes in Puerto Rico. He served in this position until 1981. In that year, he was named Director of the Commissioners Office of Municipal Matters. He served in this position until 1985, all the while in 1982, he was promoted to the rank of Major and in 1983, he attended the Command and General Staff College
.
During the years that he served in the Commissioners Office, the Puerto Rico National Guard named Díaz Colón Battalion Commander of the 130th Engineer Battalion. From 1985 to 1990, Díaz-Colón was given a Federal position when he was placed in charge of the Housing Urban Development (HUD) in the Caribbean.
, the Governor of Puerto Rico, named Díaz Colón for the position of Superintendent of the Puerto Rico Police Department. He thus became the first person who was a former Adjutant General of the Puerto Rico National Guard to be named to that position. Díaz Colón entered the Police Department in the middle of a record-breaking year in murders in Puerto Rico, and has received harsh criticisms ever since from various sectors.
Puerto Rico National Guard decorations
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
Emilio Díaz Colón (c. 1950), is a former United States National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
officer who served as the Adjutant General of the Puerto Rican National Guard. In 2011, he became the first member of the PRNG to be named Superintendent of the Puerto Rico Police Department.
Early years
Díaz Colón is the oldest of three siblings born to Emilio Díaz Lebron and Margarita Colón in the town of Yabucoa, Puerto RicoYabucoa, Puerto Rico
Yabucoa is a small town in the south eastern tip of Puerto Rico located in the southeastern region, north of Maunabo; south of San Lorenzo, Las Piedras and Humacao; and east of Patillas and about one hour from San Juan. Yabucoa is spread over 9 wards and Yabucoa Pueblo...
. His father was the head foreman of the Central Roig sugar cane plantation. The Central Roig was one of the last mills that produced sugar in Puerto Rico. Díaz Colón was raised in his hometown where he received his primary and secondary education. Díaz Colón's brother Luis F. "Pickie" Díaz Colón, former Head of the National Parks Company, was once the Mayor of their hometown Yabucoa.
In 1968, Díaz Colón joined the Army National Guard (ARNG) as an enlisted soldier in an engineer company, while at the same time he was enrolled and attended classes at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
The University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez or Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez in Spanish , is a land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant state university located in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...
. In 1971, Díaz Colón earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Civil Engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
.
Military Career
Díaz Colón was selected to attend the Warrant Officer program at the Warrant Officer Candidate SchoolWarrant Officer Candidate School (U.S. Army)
The United States Army's Warrant Officer Candidate School , located at Fort Rucker, Alabama, provides training to become a commissioned warrant officer in the U.S. Army. Warrant officer candidates are typically drawn from enlisted members and inter-service transfers. In this case, Inter-Service...
, which is administered by the Warrant Officer Career College at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Upon his graduation in February 4, 1975, he was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer One (WO1). He was then assigned to the HHC 130th Engineer Battalion at Vega Baja, Puerto Rico
Vega Baja, Puerto Rico
Vega Baja is a municipality in north central Puerto Rico located in the northern coast, north of Morovis; east of Manatí; and west of Vega Alta. Vega Baja is spread over 13 wards and Vega Baja Pueblo...
where he served as Utilities Maintenance Technician. On August 3, 1976, he was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant and assigned as Engineering Officer for the same Battalion. From January 1977 to August 1979, Díaz Colón served with Company D 130th Engineer Battalion at Carolina, Puerto Rico
Carolina, Puerto Rico
Carolina is a city located in the northern part of Puerto Rico, bordering the Atlantic Ocean; it lies north of Gurabo and Juncos; east of Trujillo Alto and San Juan; and west of Canóvanas and Loíza. Carolina is spread over 12 wards plus Carolina Pueblo...
in the positions of Engineer Platoon Leadera and Company Executive Officer. After his promotion to the rank of Captain he was named Company Commander.
On August 1979, he was reassigned to the 892d Engineer Company at Humacao, Puerto Rico
Humacao, Puerto Rico
Humacao is a city in Puerto Rico located in the eastern coast of the island, north of Yabucoa; south of Naguabo; east of Las Piedras; and west of Vieques Passage. Humacao is spread over 10 wards and Humacao Pueblo...
as Company Commander and in September 1979, he was the Assistant S-3 of the Command and Control at PRNG Headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico
San 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...
. He served there until October 1979, when he returned to the 130th Engineer Battalion as Battalion Executive Officer.
Government positions
In 1978, the Governor of Puerto Rico, Carlos Romero BarceloCarlos 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...
appointed Díaz Colón to the position of Executive Director of the Authority of Solid Wastes in Puerto Rico. He served in this position until 1981. In that year, he was named Director of the Commissioners Office of Municipal Matters. He served in this position until 1985, all the while in 1982, he was promoted to the rank of Major and in 1983, he attended the Command and General Staff College
Command and General Staff College
The United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military officers. The college was established in 1881 by William Tecumseh Sherman as a...
.
During the years that he served in the Commissioners Office, the Puerto Rico National Guard named Díaz Colón Battalion Commander of the 130th Engineer Battalion. From 1985 to 1990, Díaz-Colón was given a Federal position when he was placed in charge of the Housing Urban Development (HUD) in the Caribbean.
Adjutant General, Puerto Rico National Guard
From August 1985 to June 1992, Díaz Colón served with the 101st Troop Command at Headquarters, State Area Command, San Juan, Puerto Rico. On July 24, 1987, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and during the years in which he served at Headquarters, he served in various positions including that of Executive Officer. On July 23, 1992, Díaz Colón was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the Regular Army and on December 22, of the same year he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. On January 1993, he was named the Adjutant General of the Puerto Rico National Guard. As Adjutant General, he was the Governor’s senior military adviser and oversaw both state and federal missions of the Puerto Rico National Guard. He also provided effective leadership and management in the implementation of all programs and policies affecting more than 11,100 Puerto Rico National Guard citizens-soldiers. Díaz Colón was promoted to Major General (Line) on November 18, 1993 and continued as the head of the Puerto Rico National Guard until his retirement in 2001.Superintendent of the Police of Puerto Rico
On July 2011, Luis FortuñoLuis Fortuño
Luis Guillermo Fortuño Burset is the governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States of America. Fortuño is also the president of the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico , a member of the Republican National Committee, and will be president of the Council of State...
, the Governor of Puerto Rico, named Díaz Colón for the position of Superintendent of the Puerto Rico Police Department. He thus became the first person who was a former Adjutant General of the Puerto Rico National Guard to be named to that position. Díaz Colón entered the Police Department in the middle of a record-breaking year in murders in Puerto Rico, and has received harsh criticisms ever since from various sectors.
Military decorations and awards
Among Major General Díaz Colón's military decorations and awards are the following:
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...
Army Commendation Medal
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal
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...
Humanitarian Service MedalHumanitarian Service MedalThe Humanitarian Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States armed forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under...
Armed Forces Reserve MedalArmed Forces Reserve MedalThe Armed Forces Reserve Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that has existed since 1950. The medal recognizes service performed by the Reserve and National Guard forces of the United States of America....
Army Service RibbonArmy Service RibbonThe Army Service Ribbon is a military decoration of the United States Army that was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981 as announced in Department of the Army General Order 15, dated 10 October 1990....
Puerto Rico National Guard decorations
-
Puerto Rico Commendation Medal -
Puerto Rico Service Medal -
Puerto Rico Exemplary Conduct Ribbon -
Puerto Rico Civil Disturbance Ribbon -
Puerto Rico Disaster Relief Ribbon -
Puerto Rico Active Duty for Training Ribbon