Hector E. Pagan

Pagan's parents moved to New York City in search of a better way of life. He was born in Manhattan, N.Y. and raised in Puerto Rico. He was commissioned as an infantry officer from the ROTC program at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez upon his graduation in 1979, where he was a distinguished student and graduate. ==Military career==

He attended the Infantry Officers Basic Course and Ranger School in 1980, and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 51st Infantry, in Germany, as a Rifle Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer and Scout Platoon Leader. In 1983, he attended the Infantry Officers Advanced Course and remained at Fort Benning, Georgia, with the Infantry Training Group and the 29th Infantry Regiment, where he served as chief, Special Weapons Committee, operations officer, and commanded the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Bn., 29th Infantry Regiment from 1984 to 1986. He volunteered to attend Special Forces training and was assigned to 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). and later that same year was deployed to El Salvador. From 1990 to 1992, he served in Special Forces Branch, Total Army Personnel Command as a future readiness officer and captains assignments officer. Pagan was quoted as saying: Special Operations Command South oversees Special Forces, Civil Affairs, Public Affairs and Psychological Operations missions throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The command manages more than 200 special operations deployments per year with an average of 42 missions in 26 countries at any given time. Pagan retired from the Army after a Change Of Command ceremony held 17 September 2010 between himself and RDML Thomas Brown. His career spanned over 30 years. ==Military Training==

Pagan is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the Special Forces Detachment Officer Qualification Course, the Army Command and General Staff Course, the Joint Forces Staff College and the Army War College. ==Personal==

The Pagans have a daughter, Karla, a son, Hector, and a niece, Maria, who lives with them. Pagan and his wife became grandparents in 2007. He earned a master's degree in management from Troy State University and a master's degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. ==Military awards and decorations==

Among Pagan's military awards and decorations are the following: ==See also==