Niels Mateo brings leadership, local perspective to role as DoDEA Puerto Rico/Cuba Community Superintendent

Courtesy Photo | Niels Mateo, the newly appointed Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Puerto Rico/Cuba Community Superintendent, is assuming leadership of schools in the Caribbean with a focus on student success, military readiness and community connection.  

PUERTO RICO

01.20.2026

Story by Carlos Cuebas 

U.S. Army Garrison Fort Buchanan

FORT BUCHANAN, Puerto Rico — Niels Mateo, the newly appointed Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Puerto Rico/Cuba Community Superintendent, is assuming leadership of schools in the Caribbean with a focus on student success, military readiness and community connection.

DoDEA serves approximately 1,500 students in the Caribbean, with the majority attending schools at Fort Buchanan, as well as schools at Ramey in Aguadilla and Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

“At the center of everything we do is the student. We are here to educate the children of our military families, and that responsibility is critical to the overall mission,” Mateo said.

A native of Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, Mateo brings both local ties and extensive military experience to the position. He grew up in a military household and later served 27 years on active duty in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a commander.

“My father served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, so military service has always been part of my life,” Mateo added.

While many DoDEA administrators follow a traditional education career path, Mateo said his military background provides a strong foundation for educational leadership.

“The leadership, management and program execution skills developed in the military translate very well into DoDEA administration,” he said.

Since joining DoDEA in 2015, Mateo has held leadership roles across multiple regions. His assignments include serving as a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps instructor in Naples, Italy; assistant principal in the United Kingdom; principal at Antilles High School in Puerto Rico; and now Puerto Rico/Cuba Community Superintendent stationed at Fort Buchanan.

Mateo said DoDEA schools in Puerto Rico and Cuba recently demonstrated strong academic performance, including a successful Cognia accreditation inspection last spring.

“All of our schools performed very well. I want to build on that success by continuing the transition to student-centered instruction, where students are more active, engaged and involved in their learning,” the new superintendent said.

Cognia is the accreditation organization for all DoDEA schools and serves more than 30,000 public and private schools across the United States and more than 70 countries.

Mateo emphasized that DoDEA schools play a direct role in supporting military readiness.

“During COVID in England, schools were considered mission essential. If service members couldn’t perform their duties because they had to care for their children, the impact on the mission would have been significant. That’s why what we do matters,” said Mateo.

Although he assumed the role midyear, Mateo said he remains focused on students, especially graduating seniors.

“This is personal for me. I am from Puerto Rico, my wife is an Antilles alumna, and I am proud to serve these schools. My goal is to ensure DoDEA continues to deliver the excellence it has always been known for,” Mateo said.

DoDEA operates as a field activity of the Office of the Secretary of War. It is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and managing prekindergarten through 12th-grade educational programs for the Department of War. DoDEA operates 161 accredited schools in 9 districts in 11 foreign countries, seven states, Guam, and Puerto Rico, serving over 67,000 military-connected students. DoDEA Americas operates 50 accredited schools across two districts on 16 military installations, including Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard bases in seven states, Puerto Rico and Cuba. Committed to excellence in education, DoDEA fosters well-rounded, lifelong learners, equipping them to succeed in a dynamic world.

• Date Taken: 01.20.2026
• Date Posted: 01.20.2026 12:37
• Story ID: 556405
• Location: PR
• Hometown: SAN JUAN, PR