Javier Cortes's Alumni Hall Of Fame

Javier Cortes, an FBI Special Agent, and military veteran become part of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund’s Alumni Hall of Fame for proudly embracing the attributes of resiliency, self-determination, and leadership that represent the Hispanic community.
Mr. Cortes, the son of a Mexican/American father and an Ecuadorian mother, was born and raised in Guayaquil, Ecuador along with his three little sisters. When he was 15 years old, he and his family moved to Miami, Florida because his parents wanted to provide their children the best possible education. In Miami, Mr. Cortes attended Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High where he was introduced to the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program. While in the program, Mr. Cortes became deeply in love with his new homeland and realized that his dream consisted of protecting this new place he calls home and its beloved citizens.
After graduating from high school, Javier Cortes decided to become the first person in his family to attend college and started pursuing a Criminal Justice degree at Miami College. His goal was to serve his nation as Naval Officer after obtaining his degree. During his first years at Miami Dade College, he faced several challenges since he was a first-generation student; but he did not let those challenges stop him from achieving his dream and worked hard to obtain a 4.0

The day after he graduated from Florida State University, Mr. Cortes achieved his dream. He commissioned in the United States Navy as a Naval Intelligence Officer. As he saw the need for specially trained officers to protect the United States against any possible threat, Javier Cortes decided to join the Special Forces community to be part of the first line of defense. Mr. Cortes did an exemplary job at leading his battalion and protecting his nation. After ten years of service, he retired with the rank of