Biography

LCol. Jaime Torres-Rivera

St. Louis Community College

Director, Office of International Education

Col. Jaime Torres-Rivera was born in Playa-Ponce, Puerto Rico. He obtained his high school diploma with honors in 1962 from Colegio Ponceño de Varones in Ponce, Puerto Rico and graduated from the College of Agriculture and Mechanics Arts, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico in 1966 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science, majoring in Chemistry. In 1975 he earned a Master of Arts in Education from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. He is also a graduate of Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, and the Air War College, United States Air Force educational academies.

Col. Torres was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1967 through Officer Training School, Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), Medina Annex, San Antonio, Texas. His first assignment, after completing Air Munitions Staff Officer Course at Lowry Air Force Base (AFB), was to Minot AFB, North Dakota. While assigned to the 5th Munitions Maintenance Squadron, he was responsible for Munitions Services and Re-Entry Vehicles Maintenance: responsibilities that involved the management of special weapons for B-52 bombers and Minuteman II and III missile fleets. In 1969, he was assigned to H.Q. 13th Air Force, Clark AFB, Philippines, as Chief of the Munitions Services Branch, servicing all air munitions and support equipment needs for the Vietnam theater. While assigned there, he was tasked to establish a munitions turnaround operation at Bien Hoa Air Base, Vietnam, a first during that conflict, where all fighters originating from Thailand were reloaded with munitions for new missions.

From April 1971 through December 1975, Col. Torres served in HQ PACAF Inspector General’s Office. The first two years he served as a traveling Munitions Services Operation Inspector and the last part as Chief, Weapons Safety Division. In 1975, he was selected by H.Q. AFROTC to be Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies and Recruiting Officer for Detachment 755, University of Puerto Rico. During that tour, he was recognized by H.Q. AFROTC as the Recruiter of the Year for an unprecedented 500% increase in enrollment. Detachment 755 became the largest AFROTC in the nation in a non-military institution. In 1979, he was selected to be a member of Air Training Command Inspector General’s Office where he inspected AFROTC detachments, Technical Training Centers, and Field Training Detachments. He was recognized by the Commanding General of H.Q. AFROTC for revamping program management and processing requirements and reducing required documentation by 60%.

In 1981, he was selected to be an integral part of the Air Force Basic Military Training Center (BMTC), Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas. There, he commanded two squadrons, the 3704th and the 3703rd. In both, he upgraded their performance standing from marginal to outstanding. He was recognized by the Center Commander, as well as his peers, as the top commander for his many innovative, creative, and most impressive achievements. The 3703rd Squadron became the “show” unit for all visitors. In between commands, he was hand-picked by the Center Commander to re-establish the credibility of the Center Standardization and Evaluation Division. He revamped regulations, standardization and inspection criteria, and re-focus staff training requirements. His efforts resulted in a total professionalization of the training instructor corps.

From 1985 through 1988, Col Torres was assigned to the US Southern Command, Republic of Panama, as a Politico-Military Affairs Officer. Upon his arrival, he was selected by Gen John Galvin, Commander-in-Chief, to be his senior regional advisor for politico-military strategy during its most critical times in history. His innovative ideas were catalysts in re-establishing bilateral relations between the US, Argentina, and Chile contributing in the democratization of the political processes.

After his assignment in Panama, he reported to Scott AFB as Chief, War and Mobility Division in H.Q. AF Communications Command. There, he redefined command wartime role, package its responsibilities, and streamlined its taskings. During many command reorganizations, he remained committed to its wartime mission and led the command’s logistics support to Operation Dessert Shield/Storm. He was later appointed as Assistant Director, Communication-Computers (C-Cs) Requirements Support Directorate and Chief, Technical Services Branch in the Programs Directorate. In June 1991, the Departments of State and Defense, selected Col. Torres to lead a 6-man military team to represent the United States in Angola, West Africa, in the Politico Military International Commission formed as part of the Peace Accords negotiated between the government and rebel forces of that country. There, together with senior officers from the Soviet Union, Portugal, and Angola, he led the commission’s efforts in the implementation of the Peace Accords. He was credited for setting up logistics plans, re-identifying peace planned troop assembly points, establishing joint operations centers, and initiating a major humanitarian mission.

His military decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Achievement Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal. Unit citations include the AF Medal of Excellence with one Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC) and the AF Outstanding Unit Award. His foreign campaigns include Republic of Vietnam Cross, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Award with one Silver OLC, AF Overseas Long Tour Ribbon with one OLC, AF Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, AF Training Ribbon, and Vietnam Service Medal.

A year after retirement, Col. Torres was employed by Harris-Stowe State College to manage and implement a new US Department of Education program called Educational Talent Search. In addition, he was asked to be coordinator with Missouri’s Division of Youth Services, of the REACH Program. A program concerned with at-risk youths. Soon thereafter, Harris-Stowe appointed him as the College’s first Director of International Programs where he was recognized as the Association of International Educators (NAFSA) Outstanding New International Educator for 1997 Region IV (Mid-America). During his eight years with Harris-Stowe State College, he developed and managed over sixteen international educational programs. His Teacher’s Training Programs were unique and its model recognized as the most innovative and impacting on participants and countries involved. After his tenure at Harris-Stowe, he was recruited and appointed by St. Louis Community College as Director of International Education – the first Hispanic in that position.

Col. Torres is active in the community and currently is the Chairman of the Hispanic Leaders Group of Greater St. Louis, President of the Board of Directors of Arts & Treasures from Latin America, Board Member of the Multicultural Task Force of St. Louis, Board member of the Puerto Rican Society, Board member of Literacy Alliance, and very active in his church choir. He is married to Raquel, retired USAF Major, of Caguas, P.R. They have two daughters: Erica Juanita, a registered nurse at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Rebecca Luciana, a linguist graduate of Eastern Illinois University now residing in New York City.

Col. Torres is also Director of St. Louis La Solucion Latina Orchestra. This Latin group has been providing Latin entertainment to Missouri and Illinois for the last 12 years. The band has been recognized as best in Missouri and southern Illinois by The Grammy Corporation. Their CD “Buscando la Solucion” (Searching for the Solution ) was recently selected as one of ten best in Missouri by the Central Region of the Recording Academy.