Major General Orlando Llenza (July 1, 1930 – March 11, 2021) was the second Puerto Rican to reach the rank of Major General (two-star General) in the United States Air Force. Llenza served as commander of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard (PRANG).

Early years

Llenza was born to Maria Isabel Lopez and Harry B. Llenza in Santurce barrio in the municipality of San Juan, Puerto Rico the capital of Puerto Rico, where he received his primary and secondary education. In 1947, he graduated from Central High School in Santurce and applied for admission at Georgia Tech. In 1951 he earned his bachelor's degree in Architecture and a commission as 2nd lieutenant through the Air Force ROTC program.

Military career

Llenza began his military career as an enlisted airman in the United States Air Force Reserve in 1946 and in 1951 joined the regular United States Air Force as a 2nd lieutenant assigned to Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock County, Texas. He attended USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training, the Air War College, and Air Command and Staff College in Maxwell Air Force Base, among others. Llenza became the mission director in Ecuador for US AID from 1983 to 1986. As a civilian he was a successful architect with Llenza & Llenza (the other Llenza was Hector his brother).

Llenza was also the recipient of many awards, including the U.S. Distinguished Service Medal and the National Order of Merit-Ecuador.

After retiring from the Air National Guard, Llenza worked for the United States Agency for International Development as the mission director in Quito, Ecuador, for three years.

Death

Llenza died on March 11, 2021, in Miami, Florida, and was buried at the Puerto Rico National Cemetery in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.

Awards and decorations

Among Llenza's decorations and medals were the following:

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|Command Air Force Pilot Badge

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| Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

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| Meritorious Service Medal

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| Air Medal

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| Air Force Commendation Medal

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| Air Force Achievement Medal

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| Air Force Presidential Unit Citation

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| Combat Readiness Medal

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| Air Force Good Conduct Medal (with one Oak leaf cluster)

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| Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Bronze Hourglass Device)

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| National Defense Service Medal

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| Korean Service Medal (with two Service stars)

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| Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

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| Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon

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| Air Force Longevity Service Award

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| Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon

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| Air Force Training Ribbon

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|60px Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

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|| United Nations Korea Medal

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|| Florida Distinguished Service Medal

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|| Puerto Rico Service Medal with two bronce Oak leaf cluster

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|| Puerto Rico Medal for Distinguished Service

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|| Puerto Rico Civil Disturbance Ribbon

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Foreign award

National Order of Merit-Ecuador

See also

  • List of Puerto Ricans
  • List of Puerto Rican military personnel
  • Hispanics in the United States Air Force

References

Further reading

  • "Puertorriquenos Who Served With Guts, Glory, and Honor. Fighting to Defend a Nation Not Completely Their Own"; by : Greg Boudonck; ;