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LTC (Ret) Axel Martinez
LTC Axel Martinez came to UTA after graduating from Killeen High School in 1976. He was a member of the Sam Houston Rifles for four years and commanded the team during his third year. He also completed the Army Ranger Course and Airborne School while a cadet at UTA. He graduated in 1980 with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Criminal Justice, was a Distinguished Military Graduate, and was commissioned in the Field Artillery.
After his first tour of duty in Europe, he branch-transferred to Army Aviation. In 1985 he became the Aviation Detachment Commander in support of the United States Military Group and Defense Attaché Office in El Salvador during the Civil War period. In 1986 he commanded an aviation Company in Panama during Operation Just Cause. From 1993 to 1994 he was the Battalion Executive Officer of an Aviation Battalion at Fort Hood, where he successfully deployed his OH-58D Kiowa Platoon to Somalia for two rotations in support of special operations. In 1996 he became the Narcotics Affairs Section Senior Aviation Advisor to the U.S. Ambassador in La Paz, Bolivia, where he conducted counter-drug aerial coca eradication and air-interdiction operations in Bolivia, which prevented illegal drugs from entering the United States.
LTC Martinez also served a few years as a System Automation Officer, working at the Directorate of Information Management, III Corp, from 1990-1992, where he served as the Battalion Plans and Requirements Branch Chief directly responsible for the design and installation of the Defense Data Network Node at III Corps. He served a second assignment at the Pentagon working on Installation Support Modules for the Assistant Chief of Staff Installation Management from 1994-1995. He developed two software modules that were critical to commanders by enhancing awareness of unit readiness and by facilitating the issues of equipment and clothing.
LTC Martinez culminated his career as a Foreign Area Officer. In 2000 as the Inspector General at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, he served over 9,000 service members and their families of all branches of service. He championed the Command’s war on alcohol abuse, bringing together a diverse group of military and civilian leaders in the community to find innovative ways to prevent excessive drinking, alcohol-related disciplinary problems, and drunk driving. In 2002 he became the Deputy Chief, International Military Affairs for U.S. Army South. He served as the Commanding General’s personal advisor on all political, economic, social, and cultural matters in 32 Latin American countries in Southern Command’s area of responsibility.
In the summer of 2008, LTC Martinez was asked to return to the same office in U.S. Army South, as a contractor with the Northrop Grumman Company. In July 2009 he transitioned to the Civil Service to manage the Military Personnel Exchange Program and the Schools of Other Nations Program, two critical Department of Defense security cooperation programs that empower the U.S. Army to send and exchange qualified officers to partner-nation assignments to work and/or attend staff and war college courses in Latin America.
LTC Martinez is an active member of the Bluebonnet Equine Rescue Society, and he provides a home to rescued farm animals at his ranch. He is an active member of the Sociedad Cultural Hispanoamericana, a Hispanic cultural society promoting Hispanic culture and tradition throughout the state of Texas. He actively supports UTA, the Military Science Department, and the Cadet Corps Alumni Council. He has a Master’s of Science in National Security Affairs, Western Hemisphere, from the Naval Postgraduate School.
LTC Axel Martinez and his wife Jill reside at their ranch in Somerset. They have three children and six grandchildren.