Governor submits nominations for National Guard, telecom regulator

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón

By The Star Staff

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón has submitted for the Senate’s consideration the nominations of Col. Carlos José Rivera Román as the adjutant general of the Puerto Rico National Guard, and Anthony Yrimia Herrera, an engineer by profession, as commissioner of the island Telecommunications Bureau.

Rivera Román currently serves in the Army as the property and fiscal affairs noncommissioned officer, where he manages all federal resources -- including funds, equipment, supplies and services -- provided to the National Guard. He oversees federal reimbursement processes and has led the reimbursement effort at both state and federal levels for various emergencies, including multiple tropical storms, earthquakes and COVID-19 response operations in 2020.

Additionally, he served as the deputy chief of staff for operations, where he developed, drafted and published the National Guard’s initial COVID-19 response operational plan as well as all earthquake response operations in 2020. He also held the position of chief of staff for operations, overseeing the training, readiness and mobilization activities of all National Guard units.

Rivera Román has also been the brigade commander of the 191st Regional Support Group, the deputy director of information management, and the director of military support, where he coordinated, supervised and provided guidance for domestic operations. He served as the commander of the 22nd Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team and has been deployed for various missions, including Operation Enduring Freedom.

The nominee possesses a Level 3 Defense Finance Manager certification and has completed the Defense Finance Manager Certification program, including continuing education requirements, through the U.S. Department of Defense, among other certifications and military education. He holds a master’s degree in administration from Central Michigan University and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College, as well as a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Puerto Rico.

Yrimia Herrera, meanwhile, currently serves as infrastructure manager for the Telecommunications Bureau (PRTB), where he has reviewed telecommunications infrastructure designs to ensure compliance with PRTB regulations for final approval. He has also served as permitting officer for the PRTB since 2011.

The nominee served as a representative of the Puerto Rico Construction Board on the committee for the revision of the Puerto Rico Construction Codes in 2021 and 2018, and as a representative of the same board in the joint study between the PRTB and the Energy Bureau to determine, implement and guarantee the safe load that poles can support for the distribution of telecommunications and electrical infrastructure.

Yrimia Herrera holds a bachelor of science degree with a concentration in electrical energy from Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico.