Janisett De La Caridad Ortegoza is an industry operations investigator in ATF’s Miami Field Division and has been with ATF for one year. Ortegoza began her federal career in the military as an intelligence analyst with the U.S. Army for 10 years. After leaving the Army, she began her civilian federal career as a technician with U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security. Prior to joining ATF, she worked for the Department of Treasury as an intelligence research specialist.
Proud Heritage
Ortegoza considers herself “a proud Afro-Latina.” She is a second-generation American, with family roots in Cuba. Spanish was her first language and “my heritage is something I hold very dear to my heart,” she said. “My heritage is a part of me, a part that my mom made sure remained in me even though I was born in the United States.” She enjoys the opportunity to share information about her heritage with others, who may not know much about Cuba, and even with her children, who are U.S. citizens and native English speakers.
Appreciating National Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month is important and meaningful to Ortegoza because it provides the opportunity to share the positive elements and traditions of a community that can sometimes be overshadowed. “Being a Hispanic employee in the federal government is an honor. It is a proud accomplishment that I was able to reach with my family, for my family,” said Ortegoza. She is the first in her family to have joined the armed forces and also the first to work for a law enforcement agency. Ortegoza is proud of ATF’s mission to reduce street crime and deter gun violence. Regarding National Hispanic Heritage Month, Ortegoza said, “It is a reminder that Hispanics belong in every room.”
