BA, Univ. Puerto Rico, PR, 1977
MA, Univ. Puerto Rico, PR, 1979
MHA, Baylor Univ., Waco, TX, 1996
Commander, Martin ACH, Ft. Benning, GA, 2005 to present
Director, Advanced Medical Test Support Center, Ft. Gordon, GA, 2005
Commander, Munson ACH, Ft. Leavenworth, KS, 2002-04
Chief Staff, Madigan AMC, Ft. Lewis, WA 2000-02
Dep. Commander Admin., MEDDAC, Ft. Stewart, GA, 1997-99
Chief Staff, William Beaumont AMC, Ft. Bliss, TX, 1997
Dep. Chief Staff, William Beaumont AMC, Ft. Bliss, TX, 1996-97
Resident, William Beaumont AMC, Ft. Bliss, TX, 1995-96
Colonel Rivera was born in Brooklyn, New York and received her Baccalaureate of Science Degree in Biology and Masters of Science Degree in Anatomy from the University of Puerto Rico, where she was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Training Program.
Colonel Rivera's initial assignments took her to Fort Stewart, Georgia where she served as Platoon Leader, 24th Ordnance Company, 260th Quartermaster Battalion and Protocol Officer, 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized). She then branch transferred to the Medical Service Corps. Subsequent assignments included: Medical Subjects Instructor at the Academy of Health Sciences, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Company Commander and Chief, Plans, Operations and Training Division, 130th Station Hospital, Germany; Operations Officer, U.S. Army Health Service Command; Aide de Camp, Commanding General, Fifth United States Army; and the Secretary of the General Staff, U.S. Army Health Services Command, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. This was followed by a tour as the Executive Officer, 52nd Medical Battalion (Evacuation) in the Republic of South Korea and reassignment to Fort Sam Houston as a student in the U.S. Army Baylor Program in Health Care Administration. After completing her residency at William Beaumont Army Medical Center and receiving her Masters in Health Care Administration, she assumed the duties of the Deputy Commander for Administration and Chief of Staff at William Beaumont Army Medical Center and the Southwest Regional Medical Command, Fort Bliss, Texas; Winn Army Community Hospital, Fort Stewart, Georgia; and Madigan Army Medical Center and the Western Regional Medical Command, Fort Lewis, Washington. Following Command of Munson Army Health Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, she served as the Director of the Advanced Medical Test Support Center located at Fort Gordon, Georgia.
Colonel Rivera's awards and decorations include: the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with seven oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the Order of Military Medical Merit. She is the Assistant Medical Service Corps Chief for Supply and Administration career fields, a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, and the Chairperson of the American Hospital Association Federal Council.