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I was born and raised in the Belmont area of the Bronx, raised by my single mother who emigrated from El Salvador. I attended DeWitt Clinton High School, where I engaged in wrestling, volunteered at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, worked as a bag boy in a local supermarket, and participated in other extracurricular activities. Initially drawn to animal sciences with aspirations of becoming a veterinarian, my path shifted during my senior year when I volunteered to join the United States Marine Corps.
During my eight years of military service, I reached the rank of Sergeant and completed one tour in Iraq. As a devoted father of two, I faced significant challenges upon leaving the military, experiencing homelessness and job struggles. Eventually, I graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science, aspiring to become a doctor.
Once stable again, I excelled at the Bronx Veterans Affairs and the Bronx Labor Department but grew disenchanted with their limitations. As a Marine Corps Veteran, I witnessed the struggles faced by fellow Veterans and chose to take action. As the Chief Executive Officer of Devil Dog USA Incorporated, I addressed the needs of Bronx Veterans and the community, advocating for mental health awareness, suicide prevention, unemployment, and ending homelessness through housing programs, employment workshops, and recreational activities.
Concerned about the economic challenges in my neighborhood, I am determined to change the trajectory. I envision a future where the next generation of Bronxites can afford not only to live, but to thrive, in the community they call home. Focused on breaking the cycle of entrenched political failures, I am stepping into the political arena to ensure that the Bronx has a voice powerful enough to fight for opportunity, dignity, and hope.