| |
UPRAA elects a new President and six new Directors
On November 13, 2007, members of the Board of Directors tallied the votes from the general membership to elect a new President and six Directors. This group will join five existing Board members for a total of twelve who will lead the UPRAA. The election of a new President and six Directors was held in accordance with the Association By-Laws. The new President and six new members of the Board of Directors are:
Mr. Jacob Lozada, Ph.D., President
Mr. Edgardo Rosa
Ms Vanny Marrero
Ms María del Carmen Pérez
Ms Amalia Rodríguez
Mr. Carl Shirley, Ph.D.
Ms. Olga I. Velázquez
UPRAA congratulates its new President and Board members. |
|
| Joey Vega, UPRAA Board member, participates in music competition organized by Computer Week Magazine. |
Mr. Joey Vega, founding member and Board member of the Association of University of Puerto Rico Alumni and Friends (UPRAA) will participate, as a member of Pasaporte Latino, in a music competition being organized by Federal Computer Week magazine. Out of 28 bands that submitted samples of their music, only five were selected for the competition, which will be held on October 19, 2006 at the State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia. Pasaporte Latino is one of the five bands selected for this competition. Most significantly, Pasaporte Latino is the only Latino band selected to participate. The proceeds from this event will benefit the United Services Organization (USO).
|
|
| UPRAA awards its first one-year scholarship at the University of Puerto Rico Medical School |
NotiRed
Por Femi Irizarri
San Juan - El estudiante Rogelio Mercado Seda recibirá mañana jueves una beca para cursar su primer año de estudios en la Escuela de Medicina de la Universidad de Puerto Rico (UPR), de parte de la Asociación de Ex alumnos y Amigos del Extranjero de la Universidad de Puerto Rico (UPRAA).
Sara Clemente, directora del comité evaluador, informó a NotiRed que UPRAA, una organización sin fines de lucro, se fundó hace dos años "porque los puertorriqueños que estamos en el extranjero tenemos una responsabilidad con la Isla. Queremos que los jóvenes que forjarán el futuro y que serán nuestros líderes, estén preparados".
Sobre la fundación de UPRAA, Clemente, quien se crió en el municipio de Juncos, pero hace años vive en Washington DC, dijo que "quisimos tener una red de comunicación dentro de la comunidad puertorriqueña en Washington, entre los estudiantes de la UPR y de otras universidades, así como con la población profesional".
"La mayoría de la población puertorriqueña en el área metropolitana en Washington es profesional y la gran mayoría son graduados de la UPR", dijo la boricua que ahora trabaja reclutando civiles para el Departamento de la Defensa.
La UPRAA ha realizado diversas actividades para recaudar fondos para otorgar por primera vez la beca a un estudiante de escasos recursos que esté matriculado en la Escuela de Medicina del Recinto de Ciencias Médicas (RCM) y que inicie su primer año de estudios en el semestre académico 2006-2007.
Además de Clemente, la Junta de Directores de UPRAA está compuesta el presidente Tomas Esterrich, la secretaria María Mercedez Olivieri y por David Holmes del comité de actividades para recaudar fondos.
La beca, que cubrirá el primer año de estudios de Mercado Seda hasta un máximo de 10,000 dólares, se estableció en honor al siquiatra puertorriqueño, Manuel Febo, quien falleció hace varios años.
"Era una persona que a pesar de su posición y puestos siempre fue humilde y siempre estuvo orgulloso de ser puertorriqueño; siempre estaba relacionado con iniciativas de los hispanos y siempre daba la mano a un amigo", comentó Clemente.
En cuanto a los criterios para escoger a uno, de las decenas de estudiantes que aspiraron a la beca, Clemente dijo que "se seleccionó a base de méritos escolares, por la necesidad económica del estudiante y por un ensayo que tenían que presentar sobre cómo, en la práctica de la medicina, el servicio a la comunidad es importante".
La actividad de entrega de la beca sera mañana jueves, a las 11:00 de la mañana, en el auditorio del sexto piso del edificio principal del Recinto de Ciencias Médicas.
Mientras, Clemente adelantó que la beca el próximo año la se otorgaría en otras escuelas. |
|
| Former UPRAA Board Member, Carmen Cantor, is selected for the Senior
Executive Service Candidate Development Program. |
The Senior Executive Service Federal Candidate Development Program (SESCDP) helps Federal agencies meet their succession planning goals and contribute to the government's effort to create a high-quality SES leadership corps. People who complete the program and obtain certification by an SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) may be selected for an SES position anywhere in the Federal Government without further competition.
The SES CDP is based on the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) for SES entry and takes approximately 18 months to complete. This program trains and prepares graduates for entry into the SES once a graduate receives QRB certification. The curriculum is comprehensive and includes classroom
|
|
work, rotational assignments, on-the-job learning and mentoring experiences. Participants gain, and therefore offer, a broader perspective as they learn with and from other agency candidates.
Carmen Cantor is the Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity at the Federal Maritime Commission in Washington, DC. She previously worked at the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Postal Service. She has a B.A from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus, and an M.A. from the Inter American University of PR. She should be SES certified by 2008. |
|
|
Elmer Roman receives a prestigious Navy Award for
Scientific and Technical Progress. |
|
The Rear Admiral William S. Parsons Award
for Scientific and Technical Progress
Rear Admiral William S. Parsons, through searching awareness and dedication to all aspects of scientific and technical advances, was responsible to a marked degree for ensuring that our Navy remained in operational consonance with the ever-shifting and increasing demands of the changing world.
|
 |
| In memory of the lasting inspiration his work represents, the Navy League of the United States is honored to present this Award in 2004 to: |
The Honorable Elmer L. Roman
A graduate of the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School and former Marine Officer, Mr. Elmer L. Roman continues to serve his country in the United States Naval Reserve, as well as in his current position as director of the Office of Naval Research Global’s Latin American Branch in Santiago, Chile. In his former capacity as the Science Advisor to the Chief of Naval Operations for Information, Plans, and Strategy and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Mr. Roman developed the Navy’s Science and Technology priorities for Antiterrorism/ Force Protection (ATFP), Counter-terrorism, and Maritime Domain Awareness. He worked closely with Fleet Commanders to identify technical solutions to emerging issues such as Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO), CBRN Defense, and IED defeat (among others). His expertise, analytical abilities, and keen operational insights directly contributed to the research of current technologies as well as the development of future technologies in support of worldwide naval operations. As a Deputy Branch Head for Antiterrorism/ Force Protection, he continually provided mentorship to his subordinates, as well as fellow civilians in the government service, giving personal and professional counseling and even resumé assistance. He constantly encouraged character development in his subordinates, and absolutely personifies the, “Mission first, people always” philosophy. His exceptional professional ability, technical acumen, and leadership qualities reflect great credit upon himself, and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Navy and the Navy League of the United States. |
|
2006 ROBERT M. THOMPSON AWARD NOMINATION ICO MR. ELMER L.ROMAN
Elmer Roman is the best candidate that I have ever seen for this award. In my experience working with civilian scientists through numerous staffs and headquarters, there is no individual who has done more at the nexus of science, technology, and the forward operating forces, while simultaneously fostering the personal and professional lives of his subordinates. This is what the Thompson Award is all about, and it is what Elmer Roman has achieved over the course of his tenure at OPNAV.
Mr. Elmer Roman is most strongly recommended for the Robert M. Thompson Award for Outstanding Civilian Leadership as Science Advisor to the Office of the Deputy Chief Naval Operations (Information, Plans, and Strategy) and Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Mr. Roman’s total commitment, exceptional versatility, and dedication to personal and professional growth for all have significantly contributed to the operational readiness and success of Naval forces and the OPNAV staff. His unsurpassed analytical expertise, superior technical acumen, and substantial knowledge of Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection (AT/FP) technologies have directly led to the improved effectiveness of Naval forces to plan for and execute operations. As a result, U.S. Naval force protection is an increasingly significant tool in the Global War on Terrorism -- his personal efforts have measurably improved the way we plan for and execute the Global War on Terrorism with Naval forces. Specific accomplishments include:
- Leader in the development and deployment of force protection concepts and capabilities. Throughout his tenure at OPNAV, Mr. Roman was a primary conduit for communications between Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV), and Commander Fleet Forces Command (CFFC) and was instrumental in helping to define the roles, responsibilities, and structure of the NAVSEA AT/FP Program Office. His leadership and technical guidance sharply focused the Navy’s AT/FP efforts and facilitated consistency across CFFC, NAVSEA, OPNAV, and various Systems Commands (SYSCOMs). Additionally, as a core member and co-initiator of the Naval Sea Systems Command AT/FP Technology Working Group, he provided a major foundational basis upon which the NAVSEA Homeland and Force Product Area was established.
2006 ROBERT M. THOMPSON AWARD NOMINATION ICO MR. ELMER L. ROMAN
- Visionary AT/FP technological planner. As a member of
the OPNAV N3AT Technology Working Group, he assisted in drafting the U.S. Navy Anti Terrorism/Force Protection Technology Master Plan, and positively influenced the Naval Criminal Investigative Service AT/FP Science and Technology strategy. Additionally, as a supporting member of the SYSCOM AT/FP Leadership Team during 2004, he chaired two of the five working groups and was the technology focal point routinely representing Naval Surface Weapons Center (NSWC), NAVSEA, and OPNAV at various meetings and forums. Further, he has planned, researched, and briefed the Navy PR 07 AT/FP goals and strategies. He provided systems engineering support to OPNAV in defining shipboard AT/FP system concepts and technologies. He was instrumental in defining OPNAV’s AT/FP MCP process and directly supported both OPNAV and NAVSEA in defining FY06 POM inputs.
- Superlative leader and brilliant manager. If his professional credentials weren’t enough, he also served on a daily basis as a role model for his subordinates, both military and government service. Trained in the US Marine Corps Officer Candidate School and a current Naval Reserve Officer (recently selected for promotion to Lieutenant Commander), he often provided mentorship, giving personal and professional advice, and even resumé assistance. He constantly encouraged character development in his subordinates through professional reading, discussions, and critical thinking challenges, and personifies the, “Mission first, people always” philosophy. Additionally, he serves on the Department of the Navy Advisory Council on Hispanic Employment. He has always been willing to go the extra mile, despite the demands placed on him by his position.
Mr. Roman’s contributions to mission accomplishment have significantly influenced current and future operations. His superb conduct, selfless work ethic, and reputation with both seniors and subordinates are exemplary. His keen insight and significant knowledge on a wide variety of technical domains have served to fuse various FP and AT systems with the appropriate tactical environment. For his sustained superior performance, Mr. Roman is particularly deserving of the national recognition accorded by selection as this year’s Robert M. Thompson Award. |
|
|
 |
