HESTEC - Hispanic Engineering, Science & Technology

Hispanic Engineering, Science and Technology Program

View Past Speakers and Presenters

	Ms. Hilda Solis (confirmed) Secretary of Labor United States Department of Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis was confirmed as Secretary of Labor on February 24, 2009. Prior to confirmation as Secretary of Labor, Secretary Solis represented the 32nd Congressional District in California, a position she held from 2001 - 2009. In the Congress, Solis priorities included expanding access to affordable health care, protecting the environment, and improving the lives of working families. A recognized leader on clean energy jobs, she authored the Green Jobs Act which provided funding... Read More!
	Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (confirmed) U.S. Congressman (TX-15) Congressman Rubén Hinojosa, a longtime businessman and native of the Rio Grande Valley/ South Texas, was elected to represent Texas' 15th Congressional District in November 1996. The Congressman serves on two House Committees: Education and the Workforce; and Financial Services. He is also a Co-Chair of the Democratic Caucus Education Task Force, and in this capacity will develop a strong education policy in the 107th Congress. Congressman Hinojosa has distinguished himself as an advocate ... Read More!
	Congressman Henry Cuellar (confirmed) U.S. Congressman (TX-28) The Wall Street Journal calls him, "A pro-growth member in the John F. Kennedy mold," one of the "Seven Best Legislators," writes The Dallas Morning News. A favorite son of Laredo, the city has honored him as "Laredoan of the Year," "Distinguished Citizen of the Year," and "Humanitarian of the Year." The San Antonio Express-News says, "Cuellar has worked hard and demonstrated an independent nonpartisan mind-set..." and also notes that "Cuellar's willingness to place his district ... Read More!
	RADM Albert Garcia III (confirmed) Deputy Commander Civil Engineer Corps Rear Admiral Albert Garcia was commissioned as an ensign, Civil Engineer Corps, U.S. Navy, from the Naval ROTC program at the University of Missouri-Columbia on May 14, 1977. After completing the Civil Engineer Corps Officer School, Basic, he reported to Naval Station Rota, Spain, as the activity civil engineer in the Public Works Department. While at Rota he was later reassigned as the shops engineer and military division officer. In February 1980 Garcia was transferred to western divisions... Read More!
	RDML Mark Guadagnini (confirmed) Chief Naval Air Training Rear Admiral Guadagnini graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1980, earning a Bachelor of Science in Economics. After a brief tour with the Navy Fighter Weapons School, he entered flight training and earning his wings in 1982. Operationally, he has served as a division officer in VA-65, on the staff of Carrier Air Wing 8 as head landing signal officer and strike operations officer, as head of the Safety and Maintenance Departments in VA-65 and as operations officer for Ca... Read More!
	RDML Samuel Perez (confirmed) Deputy Director Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF) South A native of El Paso, Texas, Rear Admiral Perez graduated from the United States Naval Academy on May 28, 1980. At sea, Perez served as electrical officer and main propulsion assistant aboard the USS Paul F. Foster (DD 964), operations officer aboard USS Knox (FF 1052) and USS Bunker Hill (CG 52). His three at sea commands include command of USS Reclaimer (ARS 42), command of USS Vincennes (CG 49) and command of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15. While in command of DESRON 15, Perez deployed DES... Read More!
	Mrs. Lupe Alcala (confirmed) Director State Farm Insurance Lupe Alcala is a Director for State Farm Insurance Companies® in El Paso, TX. She is a proud Latina who is actively involved in her community and passionate about improving the lives of Hispanics through education and leadership. Lupe was born in Texas and raised in the small city of Moline, IL. She has two wonderful sons, Ricardo and David, with her husband of 17 years, Rogelio. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and being active in her community. Sh... Read More!
	Mr. Robert Del Boca (confirmed) Sector Vice President and Division General Manager Northrop Grumman Corporation As Electronic Systems Sector Vice President and General Manager of the Defensive Systems Division, Dr. Robert L. Del Boca is responsible for all program activities and business growth strategies related to the sector's defensive systems programs. He also has executive responsibility for the one million square foot Rolling Meadows, Illinois campus. The Defensive Systems Division (DSD) executes approximately $1 billion per year in sales. DSD is a global leader in defense electronics, special... Read More!
	Mr. José Díaz-Balart (confirmed) News Anchor Telemundo Network Telemundo News Anchor Jose Diaz-Balart is also the network's managing director of Public Affairs, as well as managing editor and host of "Enfoque," the network's public affairs news program. A recipient of the George Foster Peabody Award, the Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University Award, and two Emmy awards, Diaz-Balart was the first journalist in the United States to anchor both a daily Spanish and English-language newscast. Before joining Telemundo, he was co-anchor for "CBS This Morning" on... Read More!
	Mrs. Laura Gump (confirmed) Vice President of Operations H-E-B Border Region Laura Gump is Vice President of Operations for the Border Region at H-E-B. In her role, she leads 9,000 partners in 46 stores between Del Rio and Brownsville. Laura is the first female in the history of HEB to hold a Vice President of Operations position. Laura has been employed with HEB for over 20 years; she began her career in the HEB Manager Training Program after graduating from college. On a personal level, Laura is married to Tim Gump, a financial planner with USAA and has two child... Read More!
	Mr. Eric Jimenez (confirmed) Senior Staff Consultant Verizon - Green and Sustainability Eric J. Jimenez is a Senior Staff Consultant at Verizon's Green and Sustainability initiatives, reports to Verizon's Chief Sustainability officer, Joan Simpson. His professional experience includes a variety of general and project management, organization development, training, and corporate wide initiatives. His current job duties include leading organizational change initiatives to improve different business processes, responsible for the oversight and program management of Verizon's G... Read More!
	Ms. Thelma Melendez De Santa Ana (invited) Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education United States Department of Education I am a public education professional who believes in the ability of every child to learn. As a superintendent in an urban school district, my mission is to ensure success for all. I strive to help students who frequently are like I was dissuaded from achieving to their potential on the basis of gender, class, the accent with which they speak, or the color of their skin. Every day I serve in a school district, I work for each child of the district as if she were my own. In July 2009, Thelma Me... Read More!
	Mr. Hector Pineda (confirmed) Associate General Counsel Shell Oil Company Hector Pineda is a member of Shell Oil Company's legal department and has recently been named Associate General Counsel -- Onshore Gas for Shell's Upstream Americas organization. As Associate General Counsel for Onshore Gas, Hector has supervisory responsibility for the attorneys and support staff who provide legal services to Shell's onshore gas business in the Western Hemisphere (primarily in the United States and Canada). In 15 years as an attorney for Shell, Hector has supported major busi... Read More!
	Mrs. Natalie Saiz (confirmed) Director of Human Resources Office Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, NASA After graduating with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from the University of New Mexico, Natalie V. Saiz, began her work for NASA. Her job with NASA at the Johnson Space Center relocated her to Houston Texas. Natalie continued her education at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, and earned a Master of Arts in Human Resources. Her career at the Johnson Space Center began as a Cooperative Education Student in the Human Resources Office. That same year she was hired as a Hu... Read More!
	Mr. Timothy Tipton (confirmed) Vice President Upstream Technology Mr. Tipton was appointed Vice President, Upstream Technology for Marathon Oil Company in September, 2000. Prior to this assignment Mr. Tipton served as Manager, Engineering & Technology, Reservoir Technology, since September 1999. Tipton joined Marathon in 1978 as an Associate Petroleum/Production Engineer in Illinois, and moved through a series of staff, supervisory and managerial assignments in Louisiana, Colorado, Wyoming and Texas, before becoming Production Manager in the Rocky Mountain Re... Read More!