biography

MAJ. GEN. JUAN G. AYALA USMC (RETIRED)

DIRector Of MILITARY & Veteran AFFAIRS

A native of El Paso, Texas, Mr. Ayala retired as a Major General in the United States Marine Corps after 36 years of service. He is currently the Director, Military and Veteran Affairs Department for the City of San Antonio. In this capacity, he serves as the city’s liaison to the military supporting the Mayor, City Council and city departments. He works closely with military and civilian partners to ensure military missions and installations continue to thrive and grow in the region. From March to August 2020, he was assigned as an Executive Temporary Loan to the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce where he concurrently served as the Chamber’s Interim President and CEO. Successfully completing the Chamber assignment, he was temporarily assigned from August 2020 to September 2021 as the City of San Antonio’s Operations Lead for the COVID – 19 Response Team.

Prior to his retirement, Major General Ayala commanded all 24 Marine Corps installations worldwide and was selected to lead the Department of Defense’s 2015 Warrior Games assisting the nation’s wounded, ill and injured warriors in their recuperative efforts. He is the former Inspector General of the Marine Corps and his service includes 4 combat tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, to include a year as the Senior Advisor of a Military Transition Team embedded with the 1st Iraqi Army Division.

Past military assignments include: Coordinated humanitarian assistance programs in 50 countries throughout Africa, Eastern Europe, and former Soviet Bloc countries, served as the Chief of Staff at United States Southern Command leading a staff in the implementation of U.S. national security objectives in 31 countries throughout the Western Hemisphere, to include coordinating detainee operations in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, led a Marine Logistics Group that supported combat operations throughout Iraq, supported humanitarian relief operations after the Haiti Earthquake of 2010, supported Haitian/Cuban refugee operations in Cuba, and coordinated civilian law enforcement counterdrug efforts along the U.S. Southwest Border.

Mr. Ayala received an MBA from Campbell University, an MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College and a BA in Business Administration from the University of Texas at El Paso.

His military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit w/ “V” Combat Distinguishing Device, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (4 stars), and the Combat Action Ribbon. He is the recipient of the 2007 Excellence in Military Service Award from the League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the 2022 Heroes of Military Medicine Award from the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, and the 2023 LATINA Style Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award.

He currently serves on the Governor of Texas’ Advisory Council on Cultural Affairs and is a board member of Visit San Antonio, Blue Star Families, and the National Veterans Outreach Program (GI Forum). He is the President of the Texas Mayors of Military Communities representing the 15 communities that host military installations in the state of Texas. Since 2016 he has taught Leadership and Ethics as a Visiting Instructor at the Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

An avid cyclist and hiker he completed the 500-mile El Camino de Santiago walk in France/Spain in October of 2022. He is married to the former Diane K. Reyes of El Paso, Texas. They have three daughters, a son, and five grandchildren.

Biography

TIM WOLIVER (LT COL USAF RETIRED)

Assistant to the DIRector Of MILITARY & Veteran AFFAIRS

Mr. Woliver retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force after 24 years of service. He is currently the Assistant to the Director, Office of Military and Veteran Affairs for the City of San Antonio. Mr. Woliver comes to the City of San Antonio with a strong record of success in leading people and commanding or leading organizations, small-to-large.

Before coming to the City of San Antonio, Mr. Woliver worked as a defense contractor applying his 24 years of experience as an intelligence officer in writing policy and action plans for the professional development of the Air Force’s analyst workforce and, he was an instructor of two Applications in Critical Thinking courses that taught structured analytical methodologies.

In his last three assignments prior to his retirement, Lt Col Woliver served in key leadership roles. He was Commander, 9th Intelligence Squadron (Beale Air Force Base, California) from 2009-2011, Deputy Commander, 57th Adversary Tactics Group (Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada) from 2011-2013, and finished his career as Deputy Inspector General, 25th Air Force (Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas) from 2013-2017.

During his military career, Lt Col Woliver served in a variety of assignments at the squadron, wing, Center levels and Numbered Air Force, Major Command, and Joint airborne staffs. He deployed numerous time to include a combat tour with Joint Special Operations Command to Iraq in 2006 and a combat tour to Afghanistan on the headquarters staff of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in 2012.

Mr. Woliver received a Master’s of Arts (with honors) in Strategic Intelligence, from American Military University, Joint Military Intelligence College’s Post-graduate Intelligence Program diploma (with honors), and a Bachelor’s of Arts (Geography major/Russian minor) from Bowling Green State University. He also completed all three levels of Air Force officer Professional Military Education: Air War College, Air Command and Staff College, and Squadron Officer School.

A native of Dayton, Ohio, Lt Col Woliver’s military awards include the Bronze Star Medal (one oak leaf cluster), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (four oak leaf clusters), Aerial Achievement Medal (three oak leaf clusters), Air Force Commendation Medal (one oak leaf cluster), Air Force Achievement Medal (two oak leaf clusters), Joint Meritorious Unit Award (gold border), Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (Valor device and two oak leaf clusters), Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, National Defense Service Medal (service star), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (one oak leaf cluster), Iraq Campaign Medal (service star), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon (gold border), NATO Medal, Article 5.

Mr. Woliver currently serves on the Governor of Texas’ Governor’s Committee on Military Support, and is active in municipal affairs in his city of residence, Cibolo, Texas.

He is married to the former Deana J. Osbourne of Evansville, Indiana. They have two sons, Maxwell (Max) and Isaac (Ike).

Biography

Nathan Roberts

Senior Management Analyst

Nathan Roberts served 8 years in the United States Army as an Armor Officer before transitioning from the service as a Captain. He is currently the Senior Management Analyst with the Military and Veteran Affairs Department (MVAD) for the City of San Antonio (CoSA). In this position, he works closely with Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) and the various city departments to support and advocate for the military installations and the servicemembers and their families here in San Antonio.

Throughout his time in the Army, Nathan served in a variety of both staff and leadership assignments within Armored Brigade Combat Teams. He has deployed to the Middle East, Korea, and Europe and conducted three training rotations at the National Training Center.

Nathan graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. After completing the Armor Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Moore, he was assigned to 1-77 AR, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division in El Paso, TX. While assigned to 1-77 AR, he served as a Tank Platoon Leader, Scout Platoon Leader, and Company Executive Officer. During his time in 1st Armored Division, Nathan deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Spartan Shield and to the Republic of Korea. Nathan graduated from the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course in 2019 and was subsequently stationed at Fort Cavazos. He served as the Brigade Maneuver Planner for 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division while the unit was deployed in support of EUCOM. In 2021, Nathan was selected to command a tank company and took command of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment. Nathan’s final assignment in the Army was as the Chief of Operations for 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division’s Home Station Mission Command element while the Brigade was deployed forward in Europe.

A native of Liberty, Indiana, Nathan’s military awards include the Army Commendation Medal (2 Oak Leave Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, and Army Overseas Service Ribbon. He is a graduate of the Armor Basic Officer Leader Course, Army Reconnaissance Course, Air Assault School, Maneuver Captain’s Career Course, and Cavalry Leader’s Course.

Nathan’s hobbies include running, playing piano, strategy games, and travel. He is married to Isela Alvarado of Eagle Pass, Texas; they are expecting their first son in August 2023.