Selfless Dedication and Servant
Leadership in the U.S. Military
By Gloria Romano-Barrera
They serve with honor, dedication, and courage. Meet 17 Latinas supporting the mission through
their duties as they set an example to their peers. Each epitomizes the military's core values and are
role models for the next generation of Latina leaders in the Armed Forces.
U.S. Army
Major Lidilia Garcia
Instructor/Faculty
United States Military Academy
Department of Behavioral
Sciences & Leadership
“It is an honor to play a role in developing our nation’s
future leaders,” shares Major Lidilia Garcia. “I want
my legacy to be that I enlarged the circle and
created opportunities for Latinas to showcase their
intellectual capacity and talent. We bring unique
perspectives that foster diversity, inclusion, and
multicultural competencies to West Point. My
presence lets other Latinas know that if I am here,
they can also be here. I want Latinas to be inspired
by our trailblazing actions in the Armed Forces.”
MAJ Garcia began her career on August 13,
1998, as a 75H, Personnel Service Specialist. She
completed basic and advanced individual training at
Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
MAJ Garcia currently serves as an instructor
in the department of Behavioral Sciences and
Leadership at the United States Military Academy. Her
career encompasses both enlisted and officer ranks,
which displays her critical assignments in support of
national defense.
CSM Mari-Ciriaco enlisted in the Army on June
20, 1995, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 1994, CSM
Mari-Ciriaco graduated from Basic and Advanced
Initial Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri as a
Technical Engineer Specialist (12T). With 26 years
of service, CSM Mari-Ciriaco is the first Latina in
senior enlisted ranks who achieved the rank of SGM
in Combat Engineers in the history of the U.S. Army.
U.S. Army
Ms. Delilah Ortiz-Meyer
Quality Manager, Defense Forensic Science
Center Office of Quality, Initiatives, and
U.S. Army
CSM Llirenelli L. Mari-Ciriaco
Maneuver Support Capability Integration
Development Directorate, SGM
Training “By joining the U.S. Army, I have had the opportunity
to pursue my passion, achieve higher education,
and earn the rank of Sergeant Major,” says Command
Sergeant Major Llirenelli Mari-Ciriaco. “At age
29, I realized I wanted to make the Army a career
upon my return from my first deployment to
Bosnia-Herzegovina.”
Delilah Ortiz-Meyer joined the Army as a Civilian
Latent Print Examiner with the Forensic Exploitation
Directorate. After the experience of her first
deployment at age 28, she knew that the
opportunities to be challenged and grow would be
many and knew that working for the Army Crime Lab
would be her career.
32 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle V ol. 27, No. 6, 2021