81R25781 JNC-D
By: Marquez H.R. No. 1782
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Jose Riojas of El Paso has been nominated by
President Barack Obama to serve as assistant secretary for
operations, security and preparedness of the Department of Veterans
Affairs; and
WHEREAS, Supremely qualified to undertake this challenging
role, retired Brigadier General Riojas began his distinguished
30-year career in the armed services after graduating from the U.S.
Military Academy at West Point in 1976; commissioned as a second
lieutenant in the Field Artillery, he went on to serve in a number
of significant operational and command assignments throughout the
world; and
WHEREAS, General Riojas also served notable tenures as
political and military affairs officer with the U.S. Department of
State, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, senior assistant
professor of military science at Bowling Green State University,
and project manager of the Extending the Littoral Battlespace,
Advanced Concepts Technology Demonstration at Pacific Command; in
addition, he served at the Pentagon as the chief of Army
Requirements, the Army's representative at the Joint Requirements
Oversight Panel as part of the Joint Requirements Oversight
Council, and executive officer to the chief of staff of the Army;
and
WHEREAS, General Riojas later became assistant division
commander for the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort
Stewart in Georgia; from 2004 to 2006, he commanded Joint Task Force
North, headquartered at Fort Bliss, with a geographical area of
responsibility that included Canada, Mexico, and the 48 contiguous
states; the command covered all branches of the military and its
mission was to provide Department of Defense resources in support
of law enforcement agencies in an effort to more effectively
interdict transnational threats such as terrorists, weapons of mass
destruction, aliens from special interest countries, and
narco-terrorists; and
WHEREAS, Since 2006, General Riojas has been a valued member
of The University of Texas at El Paso community, serving as vice
president for strategic initiatives, executive director of the
National Center for Border Security and Immigration, and executive
director of the Center for Defense Systems Research; and
WHEREAS, Throughout a career distinguished by sound judgment
and exemplary leadership, General Riojas has set the highest
standards of excellence in the performance of his duties, and it is
a pleasure to honor him on his latest achievement; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate retired Brigadier General Jose
Riojas on his nomination as assistant secretary for operations,
security and preparedness of the Department of Veterans Affairs and
extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success with his
important work; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for General Riojas as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.