Juan M. Garcia ’92 was nominated on April 29, 2009 to be the assistant secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, in the Department of Defense. He is currently an attorney with Hartline, Dacus, Barger, Dreyer & Kern in Corpus Christi, Texas.
As one of four assistant secretaries, Garcia will provide leadership in recruiting, developing, and retaining personnel in the military and civilian service. He will report to the under secretary of the Navy.
Garcia was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 2006 to 2009, where he represented the 32nd District. From 1999 to 2000, he was a White House Fellow, serving as special assistant to the Secretary of Education.
Since 1992, he has been a naval aviator and is currently the commanding officer of Naval Reserve Training Squadron 28. He was a flag lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and the aide-de-camp in London to the deputy commander in chief of U.S. Naval Forces Europe, who directed the joint task force designing contingency operations in Kosovo.
Garcia also flew 30 armed missions in support of Operation Desert Thunder in the Persian Gulf. His military awards include the Joint Commendation Medal, the Naval Commendation Medal, and the Naval Achievement Award.
In addition to his J.D., Garcia holds an M.P.P. from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Raymond Mabus ’75 was recently nominated as the U.S. Secretary of the Navy, reporting to the Secretary of Defense.