Col. Daniel V. Chapa Jr., ’85 business management, retired in March after 37 years of service with the U.S. Army. Daniel started his career with Tech’s ROTC Golden Eagle Battalion, served as cadet commander and was named a distinguished military graduate.
He was one of a select group to receive the Army’s Order of Military Medical Merit for his work to provide updated medical equipment to soldiers and integrate that equipment and updated technologies into field kits. The updates included CT scanners, ultrasound machines and medical transport equipment to monitor and relay a wounded soldier’s health information en route to treatment.
Daniel also helped to provide enhanced capabilities to collect and evacuate wounded men and women from the battlefield and protect medics through the use of mine-resistant ambush-protected ambulances.
For those contributions, the Boy Scouts of America recognized Daniel as a 2015 distinguished Eagle Scout. During his nearly 40 years of service, Daniel was decorated twice with the Legion of Merit, received three Bronze Stars and the Soldier’s Medal for Heroism, among other honors and awards for military and civic service.
Daniel and Debra, ’85 English and education, have been married for 36 years. V