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González has been working at White House


Physician assistant is granddaughter of Uvalde residents

Lane Riggs

Staff Writer

U.S. Army Major Andrea González, granddaughter of Uvalde residents Andrea T. and Jesse R. Moreno, has worked at the White House as a physician assistant for the last two years; and although she has struggled to find a balance between family, faith and her job, she said she would do it all over again.

González was born in Hondo to Nora (Moreno) and Raul González. After attending St. Mary’s University for a bachelor’s degree in biology, González attended Phase 1 of the Interservice Physician Assistant Program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The process, she said, was expedited and brutal.

However, González graduated after 11 months at Fort Benning, Georgia, for Phase 1 and 13 months at Fort Benning for Phase 2. Then she returned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, as a PA. She was the first female PA in that cavalry.

“I want to show others they can do it, too,” González said of her dedication. “There is a lack of role models for Latina women in the military. We are the minority of the minorities.”

After giving birth in May of 2017 to a son, Xavier, she decided to stay in the Army and be “that person” for someone later on. She wanted people to know her story and learn from it.

“I made it. It’s possible,” she said. “I want to put my story out there and help someone else.”

In the Army, González said other women felt there wasn’t much support. She and other women felt alone.

“I am one of many, but the Army just expects that we are strong enough,” she said. “They want us to compartmentalize and move on.”

González struggled for the past two years because of her job at the White House, where she traveled 200 days out of the year. During this time, she hardly saw Xavier or her step-daughter, Abigail.

“It’s an adjustment. Now that I’m back, Xavier doesn’t want to fall asleep,” she said. “Used to, if he fell asleep, I would take off. I’m there for him now.”

Though she has missed her children, González said she loves what she does.

“I would do it all again. You have to give everything you have for the Army and your family,” she said.

For the González family, the Army and family life are intertwined. Her father, Raul, served 22 years in the Army; González’s brother has served for 20 years; her husband, Major Seth Grubbs, has served 16 years; and González herself has served 12 years.

She plans to remain in the Army until retirement at 20 years, but she said she’s ready to leave the White House and get back into her uniform.

“It was a different part of my life. I worked with the best of the best,” she said. “It was an honor to work there. It was a great job, and I did my job well.”

As a PA,  González worked with the White House medical unit; she would arrive at locations to receive the president and the vice president and would support them with anything they needed. Furthermore, she worked as a liaison between hospital staff and the president, vice president and their families.

During her time at the White House, González traveled to Canada, Egypt, Belgium, Japan, Singapore, and to 30 states in the U.S. Every week, she traveled to one or two places.

“We couldn’t keep up with her,” said grandfather Jesse Moreno of Uvalde. “It’s always been real fun to watch her travel.”

Additionally, Moreno said he is very proud of  González for all of her accomplishments.

“She’s a positive influence and a good example,” he said. “I am very proud of her. It’s a big deal what she’s accomplished.”

The support from her family is instrumental for  González – she joined the Army and became a PA because of family.

“I’m a PA because of my uncle Tony Moreno; he was a PA. He was my motivator. When I said I wanted to be a PA, everyone questioned me in school,” she laughed. “I was the only one who ever said that. But fourth-grade  told me I had to do it. I’ve always known. I knew that was where I wanted to be. And now I’m in it, I’m committed.”

González has been awarded the Presidential Service Badge, the flight surgeon badge, the German Proficiency Badge (Gold), a bronze star medal, the Valorous Unit Award, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Korean Defense Service Medal, among others.

González left her position at the the first of June.

Andrea González

Andrea González

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