“Hispanics in the Military” panel highlights USPTO veterans

Oct 4
USPTO Military Association (UMA)

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month with an inaugural “Hispanics in the Military” panel discussion in the National Inventors Hall of Fame, Sep. 19, 2023. Hosted by the USPTO Military Association (UMA), the USPTO Diversity Office, and the USPTO Hispanic Heritage Month planning committee, the virtual and in-person event was moderated by Glorimar “Glo” Maldonado, USPTO Diversity Officer, a military spouse whose father is an Air Force veteran from Puerto Rico and New York.

The panel featured four USPTO team members who are Hispanic veterans:

  • Britainy Riggins, Management & Program Analyst; Army veteran with roots in Puerto Rico and New York
  • Diego Gutierrez, Director of Technology Center 2600; Air Force veteran with roots in Ecuador
  • Michael Argüello, International Program Specialist; Army veteran with roots in Ecuador
  • Sintia Angarita, Lead IT Specialist (Trademarks); Air Force veteran with roots in Puerto Rico

Glo began by highlighting some of the significant Hispanic units that have served in various conflicts, including:

  • 158th Infantry (Bushmasters) who served in WWII, a group that General MacArthur gave the accolade, “No greater fighting combat team has ever deployed for battle”
  • 200th Coast Artillery Regiment who were at the Bataan Death March
  • 65th Infantry Regiment (“The Borinqueneers”) during the Korean War

During the course of the event, panelists shared experiences from their Hispanic upbringing, their military service, and their civil service.

Hispanic heritage

The discussion celebrated Hispanic culture, with panelists sharing their love of cultural traditions in food, music, and dance.

Sintia discussed the importance of passing one’s culture to the next generation, saying, “It is so important to keep traditions alive.” She shared how she Facetimed with her daughter for an hour and a half the first time she cooked a particular dish.

Diego, who moved from the warm climes of Ecuador to serve in the Air Force in Nebraska, shared the story of an alpaca blanket that his family sent him which has now become a family treasure, passed to the next generation.

Military service

Military service builds community through shared experiences and mission, and the panelists’ reflections showed that connection.

“The military is its own culture, a melting pot that includes people from all over. For military not being family, it’s the closest thing to family outside of family that I’ve seen,” said Michael, adding, “The military was the ultimate inclusive environment.”

Britainy was thankful to find an accepting environment: “I was fortunate to encounter leaders who said, ‘[…] We’re not going to tolerate racism. We’re all Army; we all bleed green.’” She described cooking “early and in bulk” for her “battle buddies.”

Both Diego and Sintia shared skills that the military fostered.

Diego said, “You bring attention to detail going to civil service from the military. Everything has its place.”

Sintia agreed, stating, “I learned a lot about efficiency. There is a ‘fast’ way and an ‘efficient’ way. I also learned the importance of communications.”

Civil service

All panelists admitted that there are dramatic differences in post-military employment, and some of those changes can be jarring.

“It’s difficult because you transition from [military senior leaders] looking out for you to being alone in the corporate world,” said Sintia.

Michael admitted that he was “ready for civilian life,” but he found that he “had outgrown many civilian friends because of the experiences I’d had.”

Diego expressed his satisfaction with the stability of working for the federal government and discussed some of the changes he’s seen in his 35 years at the USPTO, including the headquarters moving to its present-day Alexandria location.

Britainy explained one of the benefits of civil service at the USPTO: “The USPTO sees veterans as highly skilled. I’m working for leaders who are interested in growing me. The agency is promoting change, promoting diversity, and we have leaders saying, ‘I’m not going to hold you back.’”

anelists of the first-ever USPTO “Hispanics in the Military” discussion present at the National Inventors Hall of Fame Sep 19, 2023 as part of Hispanic Heritage Month.
USPTO International Program Specialist Michael A. speaks at the USPTO “Hispanics in the Military” discussion at the National Inventors Hall of Fame Sep 19, 2023.
USPTO Lead IT Specialist (Trademarks) Sintia A. speaks at the USPTO “Hispanics in the Military” discussion at the National Inventors Hall of Fame Sep 19, 2023.
USPTO Director of Technology Center 2600 Diego G. speaks at the USPTO “Hispanics in the Military” discussion at the National Inventors Hall of Fame Sep 19, 2023.
USPTO Management and Program Analyst Britainy R. speaks at the USPTO “Hispanics in the Military” discussion at the National Inventors Hall of Fame Sep 19, 2023.