Enrique Méndez Jr.

Major General Enrique Méndez Jr. Grau (15 July 1931 – May 16, 2024) was a United States Army officer who was also the first Puerto Rican to hold the positions of Army Deputy Surgeon General, Commander of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. He was also the Dean and President of the Ponce School of Medicine in Puerto Rico. Also served as Secretary of Health of Puerto Rico.

Early years Méndez was born and raised in Santurce, Puerto Rico. His father was a civil engineer and his mother a housewife, he was one of two children born to the couple. He received his primary and secondary education in his native Puerto Rico. During his high school years, Méndez befriended a few physicians who would occasionally invite him to go visit hospitals. He became interested in medicine after witnessing a couple of surgical procedures.

In high school he was one of the founders of Zeta Mu Gamma fraternity in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. He enrolled at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, which had a science faculty. He earned his BS in biology in 1951. He enrolled in the medical school of Loyola University in Chicago and earned his MD degree in 1954.

Méndez joined the firm of Martin, Blanck & Associates, a federal health services consulting firm based in Falls Church, Virginia as a Partner. Dr. Méndez and his wife, the former Olga M. Munoz, have four children and six grandchildren.

Death Méndez died on May 16, 2024, at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia at age 92. He was buried at Quantico National Cemetery.

Recognitions Among his numerous awards and honors are the following:

The Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service The Alumni Award for Loyola University The Laureate Award from the American College of Physicians The Distinguished Service Award from the Federal Health Care Executives Institute Alumni Association The Knight rank from the Order of the Holy Sepulchre The Lifetime Achievement Award of the National Puerto Rican Coalition The Puerto Rico Veterans Hall of Fame (2022)

Honorary degrees Doctor of Science from the Universidad Central del Caribe in Puerto Rico Doctor, Honoris Causa, from the Military Medical Academy of Poland Doctor of Public Service, Honoris Causa, from the University of North Texas-Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine Doctor of Education, Honoris Causa, from Caribbean University in Puerto Rico

Military awards and recognitions Among MG Méndez's military awards are the following: