COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –
A Mexican Army (SEDENA) officer who was the first to attend the U.S. Air Force Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) graduated with the Class of '21 on May 27, 2021.
Mexican Army Major Maria Eugenia Salinas Nieves, an OB-GYN doctor in SEDENA's medical corps, was selected by her leadership to attend ACSC due to her outstanding military record and her strong command of the English language.
Born in Mexico City, Major Salinas Nieves is looking forward to continuing her professional growth, and to mentoring other women in the Mexican military who want to pursue educational opportunities in the U.S. and hone their leadership skills.
"ACSC has been an enlightening experience. It is an incredible tool for developing your very own and sometimes hidden skills, besides helping you gain a greater understanding of the world," Salinas Nieves said.
Professional military exchanges coordinated between USNORTHCOM and SEDENA make U.S. and Mexican forces increasingly compatible, allowing the two countries to provide combined responses to threats to North America.
"Our respective militaries benefit greatly from the shared educational and cross-cultural experiences of our officers. Major Salinas Nieves epitomizes the type of diverse leader our militaries need now and in the future," said U.S. Air Force Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command. "Our relationships with our partners grow ever stronger through opportunities to learn from each other."
Salinas Nieves' achievement is also a testament to how USNORTHCOM's Office of Defense Coordination in Mexico is directly supporting SEDENA's gender inclusion initiatives. Through its Women, Peace, and Security program, the office partners with Mexico to provide equal access to professional military opportunities regardless of gender.
ACSC is a rigorous 10-month graduate-level program that focuses on expanding understanding of air and space power, and professional growth of midcareer officers.