Brigadier General Miguel A. Mendez is the Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army South (Sixth Army), headquartered at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. U.S. Army South is the Theater Army and Army Service Component Command for U.S. Southern Command.
Brig. Gen. Mendez is a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico and graduated from the University of Puerto Rico where he was commissioned through the ROTC as a Field Artillery officer.
In 1987 he began his career in the Puerto Rico National Guard (PRNG) in the ROTC Simultaneous Membership Program and later assigned as a Second Lieutenant to the 2nd Battalion 162d Field Artillery Regiment. He occupied several leadership positions in this unit during 1988-2001. He completed the Field Artillery Basic and Advanced Courses, and the Combined Arms Service Staff School. In 2001, he was commissioned as a Judge Advocate officer and in 2003-2004 was mobilized to Fort Bragg with the 92d Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During this time he served as the Brigade Deputy and Staff Judge Advocate. Following served as the PRNG Deputy Staff Judge Advocate. He completed the Judge Advocate Basic and Advance Courses.
From 2008 to 2014, he was assigned to the United States Property and Fiscal Office for Puerto Rico where he occupied the positions of Contracting Branch Chief, Comptroller and Deputy U.S. Property and Fiscal Officer. In 2015, he was assigned as the Executive Officer for the 101st Troop Command, Puerto Rico National Guard and as Commander in 2016. During this time he recommissioned to Field Artillery and graduated from the U.S. Army War College.
In 2018, he was promoted to Brigadier General and assigned as the Land Component Commander for the Puerto Rico National Guard. In 2020, he was the Dual Status Commander for the Joint Task Force Puerto Rico in support of the Government of Puerto Rico’s response to the earthquakes and as Joint Task Force Commander in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2022, he was assigned as the Assistant Adjutant General for Puerto Rico.
Brig. Gen. Mendez military education includes the Defense Strategy Course, the Joint Task Force Commander Course, the Dual Status Commander Course, and the Harvard Security Executive Seminar. He also holds a Masters in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, a Juris Doctor from the Inter American University, and a Bachelor in Business Administration from the University of Puerto Rico.
He is married to Melissa and they have two children.