Biography of Juan Orlando Hernandez Alvarado
Juan Orlando Hernández Alvarado, was born on October 25, 1968 in the village of Río Grande in the colonial city of Gracias, department of Lempira, in the west of the Republic of Honduras.
He is the 15th of the 17 children of Juan Hernández Villanueva and María Elvira Alvarado Castillo.
President of Honduras
He is currently the President of Honduras. On January 27, 2014, he became the youngest president since democracy was established in the country in 1980 (2014-2018). He was reelected for a second term through popular vote (2018-2022).
In 1985, he graduated from the Military Lyceum of the North in the city of San Pedro Sula. He then pursued higher education at the National Autonomous University of Honduras, where he obtained a degree in Law and Notary Public. Subsequently, he earned a master’s degree in Legislative Administration from the University at Albany, State University of New York in 1995.
Upon returning to his homeland, Hernández worked as a lawyer and notary public, running his own law firm, Legal Advisors, Consultants, and Notaries, from 1997 to the present.
He is married to Ana Rosalinda García, and they have children named Ivonne María, Juan Orlando, Ana Daniela, and Isabela. In the business field, he has been involved in beekeeping, agriculture, tourism, and radio and television companies.
Professional Education
Graduate Studies:
- Bachelor of Juridical and Social Sciences, National Autonomous University of Honduras, May 1990.
Degrees and Titles Obtained
- Lawyer and Notary Public
- Master’s Degree in Public Administration
- Bachelor of Juridical and Social Sciences
- Reserve Sub-Lieutenant in the Infantry Area
- Bachelor of Science and Letters
Languages
- Spanish
- English
Political Career
Juan Orlando Hernández, a member of the National Party of Honduras, was elected as a substitute deputy at the age of 29 for the Department of Lempira in the National Congress of Honduras in 1994, marking the beginning of his legislative career.
Other Positions
- Director of the National Youth Council in 1991.
- Assistant to the First Vice President of Congress in 1992.
- Member of the Legislative Committee for Public Service Management of the State of New York in 1995.
- Professor of Constitutional Law at the Faculty of Law of the National University of Honduras from 1997 to 1999.
- First Deputy of the Lempira Department in the period 2002-2006.
- Secretary General of the National Party for the period 2005-2009.
- Member of the Legislative Committees on Competitive Performance, Telecommunications, Budget, and University Reform at the National University of Honduras.
President of the National Congress of Honduras
Juan Orlando Hernández was elected as the President of the National Congress of Honduras by a majority of votes from deputies, assuming the position on January 25, 2010, to the present date.
Since 1998, at the age of 30, he joined the National Congress as a deputy for Lempira. In 2002, he served as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Congress, presided over by Porfirio Lobo. In the following term, he became one of the prominent voices of the nationalist caucus, especially during the crisis on June 28th, and since 2010, he has presided over the Congress, from where he launched his presidential aspirations. Controversial initiatives, ambitious reform proposals, constitutional setbacks, and the inclusion of athletes and media figures in his lists are the framework from which he claims to bring together nationalists and urges citizens to «do more for Honduras.»
Currently, he is a pre-presidential candidate for the «United Blues» movement.
Work Experience
- Legal Advisors, Consultants, and Notaries Law Firm, 1997 to present.
- Professor of Constitutional Law, Faculty of Law, National Autonomous University of Honduras, 1998-2000.
- Professor of Constitutional Law, School of Law, Faculty of Juridical and Social Sciences, National Autonomous University of Honduras, 1997-1999.
- Work experience required for the master’s degree, Legislative Committee for Public Systems Management, New York State Legislature, 1995.
- Assistant to the First Vice President of the National Congress of Honduras, 1992.
- Area Director of the National Youth Council (CONJUVE) (ad-honorem position), 1991.
- Assistant to the First Secretary of the National Congress of Honduras, 1990-1992.
- Monitor of Civil Procedural Law I, School of Law, Faculty of Juridical and Social Sciences, National Autonomous University of Honduras, 1989-1992.
- Clerk at the First Civil Court of Francisco Morazán, 1989.
- Clerk at the Third Civil Court of Francisco Morazán, 1987-1989.
Positions Held
- First Proprietary Deputy for the Department of Lempira and President of the National Congress for the 2010-2014 term.
- President of the National Party of Honduras 2012-2016
- Member of the Legislative Committees for Competitiveness, Telecommunications, Budget II, and Monitoring of the UNAH Reform.
- Secretary General of the National Party of Honduras for the 2005-2009 period
- First Secretary of the National Congress for the 2002-2006 term.
- First Proprietary Deputy for the Department of Lempira to the National Congress for the 2002-2006 term.
- Member of the Budget, Telecommunications, Peace, Democracy, and Development Committees for the 2002-2006 term.
- First Proprietary Deputy for the Department of Lempira to the National Congress for the 1998-2002 term.
- Member of the Labor, Tourism, and Legislation II Legislative Committees for the 1998-2002 term.
- Member of the organizing committee of the International Student Forum at the Rockefeller College of the State University of New York in Albany.
- First Vocal of the International Affairs Committee of the Central American Legislative Technicians Association.
- Proprietary Member of the Honorable Board of Directors of the Faculty of Juridical and Social Sciences representing the Student Sector, 1988-1989.
- President of the Law Students Association, National Autonomous University of Honduras, 1988-1989.
Organizations
- Honduran Bar Association.
- Central American Legislative Technicians Association.
- Member of the founding committee of the International Student Forum at the Nelson Rockefeller College of Public Affairs, University at Albany, New York.
