Profiles - Hispanic Americans in the U.S. Army

Honorable Dr. Joseph W. Westphal - First Hispanic Under Secretary of the United States Army

Dr. Joseph W. Westphal served as the 30th Under Secretary of the Army. He has had a distinguished career of service in both academia and government.
Dr. Westphal served as Chancellor of the University of Maine System and Professor of Political Science at the University of Maine. He also served as the Provost, Senior Vice President for Research and Professor of Environmental Studies at The New School in New York City. He stepped down from this position to serve as a member of President Obama’s Transition Team for Defense matters in December 2008.
Dr. Westphal spent his first 12 years in academia as a faculty member of Oklahoma State University, where he worked as a Professor of Political Science, later becoming head of the Department. During his many years of public service, Dr. Westphal has lectured at numerous universities around the world and taught public policy as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University while working in Washington DC. In addition to a distinguished academic career, Dr. Westphal has led a prestigious and varied career in public service as well. In 2001, he served as the Acting Secretary of the Army and earlier, he served as the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works from 1998 to 2001.
Dr. Westphal has had extensive experience working in the United States Congress and other departments within the executive branch. He served as the Senior Policy Advisor for Water Resources at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency during the Clinton Administration. He also worked in the United States Congress in various capacities, from directing a bi-partisan congressional caucus in the House and Senate, as a budget analyst and assistant to the Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on the Budget to working on Members’ staff. Earlier in his public service career, Dr. Westphal worked as a policy advisor to the Secretary in the Department of the Interior.
Dr. Westphal received his Bachelor’s degree from Adelphi University, his Master’s degree from the Oklahoma State University and his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Born in Santiago, Chile, he moved to the United States with his family at the age of six years old. His father was a business executive and his parents were committed to giving him the best educational opportunities. Two of his favorite Latin American dishes are baked Empanadas de Pino (filled with the traditional Chilean seasoned ground beef mixture), and grilled Chilean Albacora (swordfish). Dr. Westphal is fluent in Spanish, is married, and has four adult children and six grandchildren.
When asked what unique qualities Hispanics bring to the Army, he responded: “Diversity is a natural element of Army culture and we value the unique contributions Hispanics bring to our Army. The Army's focus on diversity is a critical element in our ability to sustain the Force by attracting Soldiers and Civilians from all backgrounds. The background of Hispanic Soldiers and Civilians is critical to the Army's ability to solve complex problems and connect with people around the world. Army senior leaders view diversity as a military necessity and contributor to sustaining a cohesive fighting force”.
Focusing on the most important benefit the Army has to offer Hispanics, he stated: “The Army is an institution that has explored and secured our frontiers, built the infrastructure on which our Nation’s prosperity depends, and taken on the biggest threats our Nation has faced in moments of crisis. As Hispanics, and American citizens, we must step forward and address the needs of our country to shepherd our Army into the future. The Army's mission is difficult and important, and no institution places greater trust in its people, and provides greater support for families, than the United States Army”.

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