Governor appoints public safety chief Garffer as secretary of state
- The San Juan Daily Star
- May 9
- 3 min read
PDP says he does not meet post’s residency requirement
By The Star Staff
Gov. Jenniffer González Colón has appointed Brig. Gen. Arthur J. Garffer, the island’s public safety secretary, as Puerto Rico’s new secretary of state.
Soon after the governor’s announcement, lawmakers from the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) claimed that Garffer is not qualified for the position.
The appointment came after the Legislature rejected Verónica Ferraiuoli Hornedo for the role. Ferraiuoli will now be the person in charge of heading efforts to achieve government efficiency.
Sen. Luis Javier Hernández Ortiz, the spokesperson for the PDP minority delegation in the upper chamber, stated that Garffer does not meet the qualifications required by the island Constitution, which specifies that a candidate must have lived in Puerto Rico for the five years preceding the appointment.
“The reality is that the appointed Secretary of State has only been living in Puerto Rico for a few months,” Hernández said. “Public records indicate that he served as the Director of Operations for the West Virginia National Guard from March 2023 to May 2024 (one year and three months). Following that, from May 2024 to April 2025, he was Chief of Staff at a base in Kosovo.”
Hernández also noted that during the confirmation process for the public safety post, Garffer acknowledged that he was slow to submit required documents because his income tax returns were filed outside of Puerto Rico.
“At this point, it’s unclear whether Garffer will continue as the Secretary of the Department of Public Safety (DSP), as he does meet the requirements for that position,” the PDP minority leader said. “However, whoever holds the position of Secretary of State must fully comply with the Constitution.”
Regarding the fact that Garffer has only been residing in Puerto Rico for five months, Hernández remarked that “[s]omeone in La Fortaleza should have verified the clear constitutional requirement that the candidate must meet.”
“We recall the case of Pedro Pierluisi, who was not approved by the Senate, and the Supreme Court was firm in its determination that the Constitution must always be followed,” he said. “This appointment raises questions about the Governor’s commitment to adhering to these standards, especially since she has created a talent pool and claimed to have received over 7,000 resumes. Once again, we see evidence of the Governor’s double standards.”
Garffer has 30 years of military service, including both active duty and in the National Guard in various states. He has commanded special forces at multiple levels and has supported diverse operations including contingency missions in Europe, Latin America and Asia.
His most recent military assignment was as chief of staff for NATO forces in Kosovo. He also served as the director of joint operations (J3) for the West Virginia National Guard and commanded the Special Operations Detachment-Europe, where he collaborated with Ukrainian special forces in preparation for the Russian invasion.
Throughout his career, Garffer has worked with numerous national and international intelligence and security agencies. Government-wise, he served as the assistant secretary for operations and intelligence at the DSP from January 2021 to March 2024 and was recognized as a White House Hispanic Leader under President Trump. He has also acted as an adviser on political campaigns.
Garffer holds a bachelor of military arts degree from The Citadel Military College of South Carolina, a bachelor’s degree in political science from Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, and an MBA in finance from the same institution. Additionally, he earned a master’s degree in international relations and national security policy from Troy University, a master’s degree in law with a focus on international finance and banking law from the University of Liverpool, and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College.
That’s quite an impressive background! It’s inspiring to see how education and diverse experience—like Garffer’s mix of military, academic, and government service—can really prepare someone for significant leadership roles. I remember reading about similar career paths and how balancing stress is crucial. When I need a break from serious topics, I sometimes play Slope Game for a quick mental reset—it’s surprisingly effective!
This is significant news for Puerto Rico. The appointment of Brig. Gen. Arthur J. Garffer as Secretary of State by Gov. González Colón signals a shift in leadership. I wonder if this new role will be as challenging as surviving a night at Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria, a real Fnaf-like pressure cooker! I hope he's ready for anything. This appointment could have a big impact.
Brig. Gen. Arthur J. Garffer dedication to a military life is quite consistent and successful; he demonstrated in more than 30 years of progressive military service that he possesses the tools, skills, and knowledge to occupy any position in the security or paramilitary industry. However, the secretary of state position requires more than his well-known and documented military experience as stated in the available public information regarding his activities and accomplishment.
On the other hand, Sen. Luis Javier Hernández Ortiz and that of the PDP's position regarding his nomination for sec of state, points out clearly that Mr. Garffer's qualifications lack an important requirement: residency.
This might sound unimportant for some but think about: a) how well he knows PR,…