From drill sergeant to Army systems architect

AUSTIN, Texas – Jose Gonzalez, a systems architect analyst at Army Futures Command’s headquarters location in Austin, Texas, knew from a young age that he had a strong desire to serve.

“I always looked up to the military and their mission,” Gonzalez said. “I wanted to serve my country and learn skills that would mold me to become a better man and individual.”

Gonzalez, who grew up in the coastal city of Ponce, Puerto Rico, had a sister, grandfather, uncles and cousins who joined the U.S. military. Inspired to do the same, he enlisted in the Army at the age of 17.

“I remember before I departed for basic training, my uncle gave me a few pointers on how to properly march, hand salute and stand in a position of attention,” Gonzalez said.

Equipped with those tips, Gonzalez was eager to begin his training but found acclimating to the customs and culture of the military to be a challenge at first. He had spoken primarily Spanish before entering boot camp, for example, and had to put in extra work to learn Army doctrines while also improving his English language skills.

Gonzalez quickly found his footing, however, in part due to being paired with battle buddies from Tennessee and Kentucky who spoke only English.

He went on to serve for 12 years as a Soldier, carrying out the duties of a field artilleryman during an era heavily influenced by the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which took place just one month after he joined the Army.

Gonzalez completed deployments to Iraq, Korea and Afghanistan and earned multiple awards and medals, including a Bronze Star and the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara.

He additionally earned his parachutist badge and served with the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

After eight years in the Army, Gonzalez achieved his goal of becoming a drill sergeant, having been motivated to do so by the positive interactions he had with his own instructors.

“I recalled attending basic combat training and learning every little task from my drill instructors, DS Gatson and DS Craig. They became my mentors and taught me discipline, leadership and how to become a Soldier,” Gonzalez said.

Assuming the role of drill sergeant himself and seeing his young Soldiers succeed were some of his favorite moments as a Soldier. “The feeling of pride, joy and accomplishment is one of a kind when you witness the transformation from civilian to Soldier on graduation day.”

Gonzalez uses the term “grateful” to encapsulate his experience as a Soldier, noting the many opportunities and challenges he encountered provided invaluable insight on what it takes to lead skillfully and inspire change.

“My experience taught me leadership, discipline, organization, networking and team-building skills,” Gonzalez explained. “I developed a sense of pride for my country, as well as a desire to constantly work to improve it.”

“The way the Army carries out every task using teamwork to find the best outcomes is second to none,” he added.

Gonzalez’s years as a Soldier also gave him the confidence to pursue his other long-held dream of becoming an engineer. He left active duty in 2013 to pursue a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering.

While a student at the University of Texas at Tyler, he served as a Veterans counselor with the VA and completed internships at NASA, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and Harris County Engineering Department.

After graduating from college, Gonzalez secured a job as a field engineer in the oil and gas industry and was able to apply previous lessons learned to his new role.

“My prior military experience provided me with the foundation to be successful at any job or task assigned,” Gonzalez said, emphasizing that “having a positive attitude and mindset is key.”

Gonzalez enjoyed his position as a field engineer but eventually began to miss the teamwork and camaraderie he knew in the Army. Ready for a new adventure, he applied to and was offered the position of systems architect analyst at Army Futures Command, commencing the role in October 2020.

Gonzalez describes his experience thus far as a Department of the Army Civilian at Futures Command as a “healthy combination of excitement and challenging work,” adding that it has been “extremely rewarding” overall.

His primary job focus is on supporting objectives that fall under Project Convergence, the command’s dedicated campaign of learning and experimentation.

“During the past decade, we have seen extraordinary advancement in technology and equipment, to include drones, AI, automation, driverless cars, etc. Project Convergence is ensuring the Army stays ahead of the technology wave and supplies Soldiers with the best technology and equipment,” Gonzalez explained.

As a systems architect analyst with advanced knowledge of mechanical design engineering, Gonzalez learns, works with and tests many of the Army’s newest technologies. His job involves traveling to various locations to validate the functionality and proper integration of the novel technologies, which are quickly changing the way the Army operates.

“I believe that having the latest, most innovative and best equipment will give us the advantage and edge against the adversary for years to come,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez, who is pursuing a master of business administration degree from Baylor University in addition to working for Army Futures Command, hopes to enjoy a lengthy career in the Army and considers himself fortunate to have had the opportunity – as both a Soldier and a Civilian – to contribute meaningfully to the Army’s goals.

“It is a privilege to be able to work and collaborate with the sharpest minds in the industry to ensure that the technology we design meets the Army’s mission and needs,” Gonzalez said.