The Hispanic-American Veterans of Connecticut, Inc. mission is to provide bilingual (Spanish & English) services to any Connecticut Veterans who are actively serving, honorably discharged or members with a need to update their discharge, or retired, as well as their family.
The Hispanic-American Veterans of Connecticut, Inc. (HAVOCT, Inc.) was founded on November 05, 2006. The organization was created from a group of veterans and community volunteers that came together after they joined efforts for several weeks to bring Hispanic-American Veterans representation to the Greater Hartford Veterans Parade 2006.
MAJ Lesbia I. Nieves was officially promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel with the Connecticut Army National Guard on Thursday, May 15, 2014. The ceremony took place at the State Armory in the presence of her husband, son, parents, HAVOCT, Inc. family and her Battalion.
LTC Lesbia I. Nieves
Connecticut Army National Guard
MAJ Lesbia I. Nieves was officially promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel with the Connecticut Army National Guard on Thursday, May 15, 2014. The ceremony took place at the State Armory in the presence of her husband, son, parents, HAVOCT, Inc. family and her Battalion.
LTC Lesbia I. Nieves has been a member of the Connecticut Army National Guard since 1987. She is an OIF Veteran and Past President of the Hispanic-American Veterans of CT, Inc (HAVOCT, Inc.) and current Advisor. In May 1994, she enrolled in the Officer Candidate School with the Connecticut Army National Guard and graduated in August 1995.
During her years as a commissioned officer, she has held various leadership positions that have included but not limited to the following: Platoon Leader; Executive Officer; Company Commander; Staff Officer for BN, Logistical Officer; Operations Officer (Major Command Group), Operations and Training Officer for CTARNG Recruiting and Retention, Battalion Commander, and Executive Officer for the 118th Multifunctional Medical Battalion. She has also served as the State Partnership Program Director for the CT National Guard working with the Partner Nation of the Country of Uruguay. Most recently she completed a one tour at the National Guard Bureau working in the International Affairs Division State Partnership program, as one of the US Southern Commands desk officers. She was recently assigned as the Battalion Commander for the CTARNG 143rd Combat Service Support BN Waterbury, CT.
LTC Nieves holds a B.S. degree with a major in Psychology and minor in Sociology and two Masters Degrees: one in Counseling with a concentration in Marriage and Family Counseling and the second degree in Public Administration with a concentration on National Security Affairs. She has also completed various military educational programs as well to include most recently graduating from the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, Command and General Staff College program in 2009.
She has been employed by the Department of Children and Families since 1995 and holds the position of Social Work Supervisor. She has worked primarily within the Hartford and Manchester communities.
She is a Board Member of the Connecticut State Veterans Memorial, Inc. She is a life Member of the VFW, a member of the American Legion, the Women Veterans’ Memorial, and the American Veterans Association (AMVETS).
She is married to Edward Nieves and they have three children. LTC Nieves and her family reside in Manchester, Connecticut. The LTC thanked her husband, children and parents for their support throughout her years of service and she recognized MAJ (Ret) Edna Acosta-Newson as her mentor and one of the people who encouraged her to continue when she felt she could no longer serve for a variety of reasons.
The LT Colonel’s promotion made history as she is the first Hispanic female to move up to this high a rank within the Connecticut Army National Guard. We wish her the best of luck in her new endeavors and know she will continue to serve the State and the Nation well.
