Antonio Maldonado

Brigadier General Antonio Maldonado (born 1941) was an officer of the United States Air Force, who in 1967 became the youngest pilot and Aircraft Commander of a B-52 Stratofortress nuclear bomber. He served as Chief, U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation, Madrid, Spain. He was the senior Department of Defense representative to Spain and senior advisor to the US Ambassador to Spain. During the Persian Gulf War in 1991 he coordinated the overall US offensive operations from Spain.

Early years Maldonado was born in Comerío, a town located in the center-eastern region of Puerto Rico. He is the youngest of twelve brothers and sisters born to Flor Maldonado Colón from Barranquitas and Carmen López Rodriguez from Naranjito. His family moved to the capital of the island, San Juan and there he attended Central High School. Maldonado graduated from high school in May 1959 and continued his academic education in the University of Puerto Rico where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration in May 1964. Started his military career as an enlisted Operation Specialist with the 198th TFS in the Puerto Rico Air National Guard at Muñiz Air National Guard Base while he was still a student at the University of Puerto Rico during the early 60s. Upon his graduation, Maldonado received the commission of Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force as a Distinguished Graduate from the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He married Carmen Gonzalez from San Juan, Puerto Rico. During his tour at Ramey he earned his Master of Business Administration degree at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico in May 1969. In 1970, he was assigned to the 67th Tactical Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, where he trained as an RF-4C Phantom pilot.

In July 1989, Maldonado was named Chief, U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation, Madrid, Spain, becoming the senior Department of Defense representative to that country. His responsibilities included providing overall direction to U.S. elements in Spain on status of forces, security assistance programs and other defense and base agreement matters. He also provided overall coordination for US offensive operations out of Spain during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Maldonado is married to Ilia Lopez from Humacao, Puerto Rico, and has four daughters Carmen Zaydee, Joyce, Suzy and Elsie Oshiry and grandchildren Calvin, Isabella, Gabriella, Allegra, Spencer and Antonio.

in 2024 Maldonado authored and published his autobiography, The Sky Is Not the Limit, chronicling his journey from Puerto Rico to becoming a pioneering Air Force general.

Awards and recognitions Among Brigadier General Antonio Maldonado's decorations and medals were the following:

Defense Superior Service MedalLegion of MeritDistinguished Flying CrossMeritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters Air Medal with one silver and three oak leaf clusters (Tenth award)Air Force Commendation MedalAir Force Longevity Service Award National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service starAir Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with bronze service starVietnam Service Medal with one bronze service star Small Arms Expert Marksmanship RibbonAir Force Training RibbonVietnam Gallantry Cross with Emblem with Palm and FrameVietnam Civil Actions MedalVietnam Campaign MedalInter-American Defense Board Medal