NUWC Division Newport engineer serves as brigadier general in RI National Guard

Photo By Jeffrey Prater | Brig. Gen. Alex Reina (second from left) was promoted during a ceremony with Gov. Gina Raimondo (center) at the R.I. State House on May 31, 2019. Also attending were Reina’s wife Maria (second from right), and his children, Allie and Ryan.  

NEWPORT, RI, UNITED STATES

02.10.2020

Story by Public Affairs Office 

Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport

NEWPORT — Javier “Alex” Reina, country manager for Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport’s Foreign Military Sales, spends his off-duty hours in service to another branch of the military – the R.I. Army National Guard. In May, Reina, a resident of East Freetown, Massachusetts, was promoted to brigadier general.

An engineer with NUWC Division Newport since August 1991, Reina currently works on Foreign Military Sales cases with countries in the Pacific Command and South Command regions. As a National Guard general, Reina is commander of the Land Component Command. He is responsible for the mental, tactical and technical readiness of 1,200 combat and combat support soldiers. He also has commanded at the battalion and brigade levels, each with increased responsibilities, as he transitioned his emphasis from tactical and operational to strategic levels.

“Maintaining two demanding careers has only been possible through the unquestionable support by both organizations, and the confidence each demonstrated in my ability to fulfill the requirements of my respective positions,” Reina said. “I do it because I believe it is every citizen’s duty to serve in their own capacity. I chose the military because it is the best way for me to repay my debt of gratitude to this amazing country.”

In both his Division Newport and Guard careers, Reina has demonstrated his continuous pursuit of positions with greater responsibility, satisfying his personal goals for improvement while supporting the goals of each organization. By constantly challenging himself, he continues to develop and hone tactical, technical, and professional skills necessary to succeed in dual careers. It takes discipline, focused dedication, and devotion, he said.

Reina began his Army career in 1992, when he joined via the Delayed Entry Program. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for exceptional meritorious service during combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the brigade logistics officer from 2005-2007. He also received the Joint Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service in support of the Global War on Terrorism while deployed with Joint Task Force 160 (Detainee Operations/Operation Enduring Freedom) in 2002. During this period, he served as the Task Force’s training officer and primary instructor for non-lethal weapons and capabilities.

“My 37 years of Army enlisted and commissioned service have provided me with a wealth of knowledge and skills I can draw on in the performance of my daily responsibilities at Division Newport,” Reina said.
Since 2017, Reina has been chair of the Joint Diversity Executive Council for the R.I. National Guard. He has mentored many Hispanic and international individuals in both of his careers. Through his leadership and technical ability, Reina has provided a mentoring environment for young engineers and is also an active participant in Division Newport’s recruitment activities. He has mentored and supported Hispanic co-op students assigned to his projects over several years and has hired Hispanic engineering graduates from the University of Puerto Rico. Reina has supported educational outreach such as the Division Newport-sponsored Sea Perch Program for local middle school students and has been a judge for both middle school and high school science fairs.
NUWC Newport is a shore command of the U.S. Navy within the Naval Sea Systems Command, which engineers, builds and supports America’s fleet of ships and combat systems. NUWC Newport provides research, development, test and evaluation, engineering and fleet support for submarines, autonomous underwater systems, undersea offensive and defensive weapons systems, and countermeasures associated with undersea warfare.

NUWC Newport is the oldest warfare center in the country, tracing its heritage to the Naval Torpedo Station established on Goat Island in Newport Harbor in 1869. Commanded by Captain Michael Coughlin, NUWC Newport maintains major detachments in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Andros Island in the Bahamas, as well as test facilities at Seneca Lake and Fisher's Island, New York, Leesburg, Florida, and Dodge Pond, Connecticut.

• Date Taken: 02.10.2020
• Date Posted: 02.10.2020 09:55
• Story ID: 362365
• Location: NEWPORT, RI, US
• Hometown: EAST FREETOWN, MA, US