Senior Vice Commander

LTC(Ret.) Felix “Don Fe” O. Gonzales Jr, OIF/OEF Veteran
US Army

After enlisting in 1987, LTC “DON FE” GONZALES was commissioned in Dec 1991 before graduation from Midwestern State University (MSU) in May 1992. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from MSU, Master of Science degree in International Relations from Troy University and the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center, and an Executive-MBA from the University of Texas – San Antonio. His military education includes the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, Aviation Officer Basic Course, Aviation Officer Advanced Course, Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management, Federal Acquisition Institute, Defense Acquisition Institute and Command and General Staff College.  His aviation training includes the Initial Entry Rotary Wing Course, Advanced Combat Skills (ACS), Aviation Maintenance Officer Course, Aviation Logistics Manager Course, Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape (SERE) Instructor High Risk C, Government Flight Representative, Aviation Contracting Officer, Field Contracting Officer, Aviation Comptroller, Aviation Program Manager Level III, UH-60 A/L Qualification Course, UH-1H-II and UH-1N Qualification Course, MD-530, Bell 407, Bell 206 and OH-58 A/A+/C Courses.

In Don Fe’s first officer assignment in June 1993, he served as the Aviation Scout Platoon Leader in C-2/82nd Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He deployed Colombia in 1995 and to the Balkans for 19 months in 1996 and 1997. He was selected early for Advanced Civil Schooling (ACS) and was sent to the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He completed Regional Studies, Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Courses, graduating in 1999. He was immediately selected to Command Operational Detachment (OD) Colombia, 1st Psychological Operations Group (Airborne), USASOC, Fort Bragg, NC.  He completed numerous deployments for both 1st POG(A) and 96th Civil Affairs(A) throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America.

In 2003, Don Fe was selected as the Aviation Operations Officer for Joint Task Force - Omega (JTF-O) under Plan Patriota and Plan Colombia, in the Global War on narco-terrorism under OSD-SOLIC and DASD-CN. JTF-O had a long series of successful counter narco-terrorism operations and numerous High Value Target (HVT) captures and kills. His success also included planning, leading, mentoring and coaching hostage rescues with aviation assets, which directly resulted in the rescue of over 12 hostages.  In 2005, he was selected by USASATMO to command the first Aviation Depot and Joint National Aviation Maintenance and Logistics Center in Colombia under Plan Colombia (OSD-SOLIC). Later in 2007, he was selected as the USASATMO Aviation TAFT Colombia Executive Officer where he mentored, guided, led and maintained over 250 rotary wing aircraft and crews with the Colombian Aviation Brigade and DoS Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL-A) in support of US interests in Colombia and the war on narco-terrorism. With USASOC and CJ-SOTF tours in Iraq in 2009 and 2010, then 82nd ABN DIV tours in Afghanistan 2011 and 2012, he earned his purple heart while working with the Afghanistan National Directorate of Security (NDS) at Combat Outpost (COP) Moquer

In 2013, Don Fe was assigned as Chief of Current Operations - CTT to include Counter Transnational Organized Crime (CTOC), Counter Narcotics (CN) and Counter Terrorism (CT). Serving as the Command's focal point for all Counter Drug and Counter Terrorism related activities; Counter Drug activities included Central Skies, FOS Apiay, Swift Canopy, and the Guatemalan Inter Agency Task Force; Counter Terrorism activities included numerous engagements that directly supported Special Operations Command (SOC) South.  

With over 110 Joint Duty Points, Don Fe Gonzales’ awards include Legion of Merit, Bronze Star w Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, NATO Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation Medal, Army Superior Unit Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Afghanistan and Iraqi Campaign Medals. LTC Gonzales is decorated with the Combat Action Badge, the Senior Army Aviation Badge, and the Army Parachutist Badge. Foreign decorations include the Colombian Golden Wings, the German Parachutist Badge, the German Shooting Badge, the Colombian Parachutist Badge, the Colombian Senior Army Aviation Badge, and the Colombian PSYOP Instructor Expert Badge.

Don Fe retired in 2015 with 28 years of service. He is married to Patricia Londono Gonzales. They have five children, Dr. Anibella Gonzales (OD-UIW), Ms. Mirella Gonzales (MS–Texas Tech), Ms. Andrea Quitian (CE junior – UTSA), Sara Gonzales and Diego Gonzales.