“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”

Dedication

This biography is dedicated to the quiet forces that shaped the life and service of Dr. Jorge Eduardo Zequeira Medina—the people, institutions, and responsibilities that taught him to keep moving forward even when the path demanded discipline, risk, and sacrifice. It is dedicated to his family—especially his wife, Irene Sierra, whom he married in August 1997, and to their three children, Vance, Clara, and Arturo—whose presence has remained central through years defined by duty, relocation, and demanding service across regions and crises.

It is also dedicated to the mentors and professional environments that trained him into a leader capable of both structure and adaptability—the U.S. Army, where he served from 1986 until he honorably retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2010, and the humanitarian sphere of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), where he has served since 2010.

Above all, this dedication honors the enduring idea that a life can hold more than one calling—and that integrity can travel with a person from uniformed service into the service of humanity.

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.”

Phase 1: Roots Across Borders : Early Life, Family Background, and the First Call to Service

The first part of Dr. Jorge Eduardo Zequeira Medina’s life story begins with mobility. This is not because he was looking for something revolutionary; rather, it is because circumstances molded his environment from the very beginning. He is the youngest of his mother’s five children, and he was born in Miami, Florida. However, he stresses that he was not the youngest of his father’s children. He characterizes himself as the youngest of his mother’s five children. There is more to this straightforward clarification than just a family matter. His idea of identity was formed early on by complexity, by blended realities, and by learning how to stand firmly even when life is not ordered in easy lines.

His behavior is a subtle indicator that his understanding of identity was shaped by these factors. The breakup of his parents’ marriage was a pivotal moment in his life. This is something that he discusses without embellishing it, but the repercussions were significant: following the divorce, he relocated to Spain with his mother, and his mother schooled the children in Spanish schools until he was 12 years old.

In this particular segment of his life story, he demonstrates an early foundation of cultural adaptability. He did not consider his time in Spain to be a passing event; rather, it was a period of his life that lasted long enough to mold his language, his social habits, and his perspective on the world. The fact that he lived and attended school there meant that he was raised within a language and a system that demanded adjustment and maturity from him, and this was well before he was forced to do the same thing on a bigger scale as an adult.

Later, when he relocated from Spain to England, the situation underwent another significant change. For his education, he attended a public school in England that was in the Hereford region, close to Leominster (he refers to it as “Near Lebster”). He completed one O-level and one A-level during his stay there, and he remembers that he studied there up to the point where he earned his O-levels and A-levels.

“Excellence is never an accident. It is the result of intention, sincere effort,and intelligent execution.”

Phase 2 : Choosing the Path : Military Formation, Commissioning, and the Discipline of Preparation

Phase 1 laid the groundwork for Dr. Jorge Eduardo Zequeira Medina by establishing the foundation of adaptability and early discipline. Phase 2 is the point when Dr. Zequeira Medina’s plan became a commitment. The stage of his life that he is currently in is not characterized by spontaneous ambition but rather by calculated planning. It is a reflection of a young man who had already experienced structure and responsibility in a variety of settings and who has now decided to center his education, training, and career around a clearly defined path of service.

Although Dr. Jorge had completed his educational adventures in Spain and England, he did not simply transition into the subsequent stage of his life. The Marion Military Institute (MMI) in Marion, Alabama, was the first place Dr. Jorge moved to after completing his education, reflecting the discipline he had already come to admire. Although the environment was significantly more rigorous than a typical school one, he referred to this time period, which lasted from 1984 to 1986, as his high school years instead. As MMI was a military preparatory institution, it was necessary to have discipline, accountability, and consistency in how one lived their life there. The academy was not a location that one would enter off the cuff. Those folks who were willing to commit themselves to a regimented routine in exchange for the opportunity to develop and acquire their way were the ones who decided to reside there.

In the course of this time, Dr. Jorge was awarded a military junior college scholarship, which was a significant achievement that ultimately led to the formalization of his engagement with the United States Army. Not only did this scholarship provide financial assistance, but it also served as an early affirmation of his potential for holding a senior position in the military. Furthermore, it resulted in responsibility. During his time at MMI, he participated in both academic and military training, ultimately earning an Associate degree in Criminal Justice. His persistent interest in systems of order, accountability, and structured decision-making was mirrored in this field of study; these were interests that naturally coincided with his career in the military.

“Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.”

Phase 3 : Learning Leadership in Action : Early Active Service, Operational Training, and the Reality of Command

Dr. Jorge Eduardo Zequeira Medina reached a turning point when he was able to successfully prepare for the experience of reality. In this new setting, the years of disciplined schooling, controlled training, and meticulous commissioning have now moved into environments where responsibility is no longer limited to a theoretical concept. It is during this phase that he makes the transition from being a commissioned officer in formation to an active leader who is accountable for people, missions, and outcomes within the operational structure of the United States Army.

Following the completion of his bachelor’s degree and commissioning, Dr. Jorge entered active service and started the rigorous military training that would later form the basis of his professional foundation. The Basic Infantry Officer Course is a fundamental training program that is meant to prepare officers for leadership at the tactical level. He participated in this training. During this training, the need for making decisions under duress, holding soldiers accountable, and maintaining the discipline necessary to lead in uncertain circumstances was greatly emphasized. At this point, leadership evolved from being based on classroom instruction to being based on responsibility that was lived.

He also completed advanced military qualifications, such as Airborne (Parachutist) training and Pathfinder training, in addition to his training as an infantryman. Due to the fact that these courses were both physically and psychologically taxing, they served to emphasize the significance of preparation, precision, and trust-based collaboration among teams. These training situations do not tolerate shortcuts. Consistency, resilience, and the ability to execute well under pressure are all necessary abilities for them. The professional perspective that Dr. Jorge possessed, which was oriented on preparation and accountability, was strengthened as a result of these experiences.

Note of Thanks

This biography is offered with sincere gratitude to all those who have been part of the life journey of Dr. Jorge Eduardo Zequeira Medina, whether through guidance, collaboration, or shared responsibility. His path—from early education across countries, through decades of military service, and into humanitarian leadership—has never been shaped in isolation. It has been influenced by people and institutions that trusted him with responsibility and stood beside him as he carried it.

First and foremost, appreciation is extended to his family, whose presence has remained a steady anchor throughout years defined by movement, duty, and service. His wife, Irene Sierra, and their children, Vance, Clara, and Arturo, have shared in the sacrifices that accompany a life of commitment. Their understanding, patience, and support made it possible for him to serve with focus and integrity, even during demanding assignments and periods of transition.

Gratitude is also owed to the institutions that shaped his professional and ethical foundation. The United States Army, through its training, leadership responsibilities, and culture of accountability, provided the structure within which he learned discipline, adaptability, and responsibility. From early officer training to senior strategic roles, the Army environment challenged him to grow continuously and to lead with clarity and restraint.

Equally deserving of thanks is the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), where he has continued his service in a humanitarian capacity. The trust placed in him to support disaster response, civil-military relations, and security coordination reflects a shared commitment to protecting human dignity and enabling humanitarian action in complex environments.

This note of thanks also extends to colleagues, mentors, students, and partners across military, academic, diplomatic, and humanitarian settings. Each collaboration, assignment, and exchange contributed to a life shaped by learning and service.

Above all, this biography acknowledges the collective effort behind one individual’s journey—and affirms that service, at its core, is always shared.

Thank You
– Dr. Jorge Eduardo Zequeira Medina