to succeed Richard D. Dean as deputy director of the Army National Guard and promoted to brigadier general. In 1990 he was chosen for the position of Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau and promoted to major general. Navas served as Vice Chief until 1992, when he became executive officer of the Reserve Forces Policy Board. From September 1994 through October 1995 Navas was Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. In October 1995, Navas was assigned as director of the Army National Guard, and he served until May, 1998. He was succeeded by Roger C. Schultz. From June, 1998 until retiring from the military in October, 1998 Navas was a special assistant in the Office of the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army. Assistant Secretary of the Navy After retiring from the military Navas became the chairman of the American Veteran's Committee for Puerto Rico Self-Determination, an organization which he co-founded. On June 6, 2001, Navas was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs). He was sworn in on July 17, 2001, and served through January, 2008. From 2008 to 2011 Navas served as executive director of the National Security Professional Development Integration Office at the United States Department of Defense, the first individual to hold this position. Later work Since 2011, Navas has been a senior advisor at Dawson & Associates, a Washington, D.C. consulting firm. Military decorations and awards Badges: Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge Army Staff Identification Badge The Venezuelan Bar of Honor Insignia Other recognition In 2001, Navas was honored with the Achievement Award by Hispanic magazine. In 2008 he was awarded the "Caballero Sigma" medal by Phi Sigma Alpha fraternity. Effective dates of promotions See also List of Puerto Ricans List of Puerto Rican military personnel University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez people References Further reading Puertorriquenos Who Served With Guts, Glory, and Honor. Fighting to Defend a Nation Not Completely Their Own; by : Greg Boudonck; External links 1942 births Living people Puerto Rican military officers People from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico University of Puerto Rico alumni University of Bridgeport alumni United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni Harvard Kennedy School alumni Puerto Rican Army personnel National Guard (United States) generals United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War United States Army