Luis Ernesto González Vales (born May 11, 1930, in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico) is the latest of many historians who have held the post of Official Historian of Puerto Rico, having succeeded Pilar Barbosa in the post. Education Graduate of Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in history from the University of Puerto Rico, Dr. González Vales obtained his master's degree from the Columbia University of New York, where he also carried out doctoral courses. He was Professor of history of the University of Puerto Rico and Associate Dean of the Faculty of General Studies of the Rio Piedras campus from the University of Puerto Rico. He held the position of Executive Secretary of the Board of higher education, and he was appointed by the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico and the Governor as official historian of Puerto Rico. Military career González Vale, a military historian, started his military career on May 31, 1952, as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve thru the Army ROTC program, on March 10, 1952, went to active duty in the United States Army with the 296 regiment and later on to Germany assigned to the 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. Joined the Puerto Rico National Guard in 1955 and became a platoon leader in the 295th Infantry Regiment. Served as liaison officer and platoon leader with the 1st battalion 101st Cavalry Regiment in the New York National Guard in 1963. Returned to the Puerto Rico National Guard in September 1964 assigned to the 65th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion in Cayey, Puerto Rico. Served from 1971 to 1979 in the United States Army Reserve to command a unit of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico. Returned to the Puerto Rico National Guard in 1979 and became Assistant Adjutant General. Graduated at the United States Army Command and General Staff College. In 1983 appointed Adjutant General of the Puerto Rico National Guard by governor Carlos Romero Barceló. As Adjutant General, González Vale bade farewell to Pope John Paul II as he departed Muñiz Air National Guard Base, Puerto Rico on October 12, 1984. Along with Cardinal Luis Aponte Martínez, he was the keynote speaker at a Puerto Rico Department of State exhibition in March–April 2009 of memorabilia of the Pope's visit to Puerto Rico. As a professor at the University of Puerto Rico, where he also