My Story

I'm a native New Mexican. Born and raised right here in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I'm very proud of my heritage and the education I received from the Albuquerque Public School system.

My military career began after graduation from high school with the 82nd Airborne Division as a paratrooper and a weapons instructor at the U.S Military Academy at West Point, New York. While at West Point, General Westmoreland offered me the opportunity to become a cadet at West Point, but I demurred, returning to Albuquerque to attend the University of New Mexico. I was Honorably Discharged from the US Army and returned to Albuquerque and joined the 9th Special Forces Reserves (Green Beret) and worked as a firemen for the Albuquerque Fire Department. While at the Fire Department I attended the University of New Mexico and I helped organize the AFL-CIO International Association of Fire Fighters.

In 1960, Arlene Green, RN and I were married.

The Cuban Missile Crisis interrupted my education in 1962. I was called back into the military and I was assigned to the 10th Special Forces in Bad Tolz, Germany.

In 1967, I was recruited out of the University of New Mexico by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and became a Case Officer and Para-Military Case Officer. While with the CIA, I served our country in the Republic of the Philippines assisting the Filipino Military in their Civic Action Program and Home Defense Programs.

After three years in the Philippines, I accepted command of Guerilla Forces in the Kingdom of Laos and I was stationed in Pakse and Savannaket, Laos, as a Para-Military Case Officer responsible for the Battle of Skyline Ridge and Long Tieng. My service in Laos was recognized by the Agency (CIA) with the Intelligence Star for Valor. My exploits during the secret war in Laos have been chronicled in seven books.

With the American withdrawal from Southeast Asia, I transferred to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a Special Agent in 1974. I was a covert DEA agent in the Republic of Mexico working to interdict narcotics traffickers throughout Mexico.

After my service in Mexico I was assigned to the DEA office in San Francisco before returning to Albuquerque as a Special Agent in 1977.

In 1980, I was diagnosed with diabetes. As the DEA did not permit persons with diabetes to function as Special Agents, I was retired on disability. I began a decade-long fight to return to the DEA, invoking provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

For the next several years, I worked in the security industry, including developing counter-terrorism training documents for the Department of Energy (DOE) and nuclear power plants throughout the country. As Director of Loss Prevention and Security for Marriott Corporation, I developed Loss Prevention and Security Standard Operational Procedures.

In 1985, I was appointed Under Sheriff for Bernalillo County, where I was responsible for all law enforcement and civil operations, budget, Internal Affairs, and Tactical Response Force Unit training and deployment. I was also instrumental in the development of the Sheriff Training Academy at Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute (TVI). Completion of this training program could then be credited toward an associate's degree.

In 1987, I established Loss Prevention Unlimited Inc., a New Mexico Corporation, under contract to several hotels in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. I also conducted background investigation for the United States Custom Service.

In March of 1990, I returned to DEA as an Analyst and later attended Basic Agents Class 80 at the FBI Academy (Quantico, VA). I graduated with honors from the FBI Academy in June of 1991. At the time of my graduation I was the oldest Special Agent to ever graduate from the FBI/DEA Academy at age 53.

In March of 1995, my life was turn upside down with the death of Arlene, my wife of 35 wonderful years. My children Jeannette, Ron, Karen and Wendy all professionals with college educations were grown and gone and I found myself alone and devastated beyond belief! Thanks to the love and support from my family and friends I was able to get my life together.

In October I returned to the FBI/DEA Academy as an Instructor and Counselor to DEA Basic Agents Class 101. While at the Academy (1996) I meet Sheryl at a Doctors Office under contract to the FBI Academy.

During the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996, I was attached to DEA Atlanta as a Group Supervisor responsible for public safety and coordination of law enforcement activities near Centennial Square. After the bombing at Centennial Square, my unit was one of the first on the scene, removing civilians from the area and checking for additional explosive devices. (Documented footage of the aftermath viewable on CNN's website.) After the Olympic Games, I was assigned to DEA Dallas, Texas.

In 1997, I married Sheryl. She has three children, Scott, Ryan and Kimberly all professionals with college educations. The Chavez family has now grown to 7 children and 5 grandchildren.

DEA and the US Department of State decided that Sheryl and I should be attached to the American Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela. As Special Agent and advisor to the Venezuelan Federal Police, we interdicted thousands of kilograms of cocaine, hundreds of pounds of heroin and countless other narcotics bound for our youth and to cities in the United States and Europe. I was also instrumental in the arrest of a Yugoslavian diplomat who was smuggling drugs from Colombia and Venezuela to Yugoslavia in exchange for weapons for the right-wing paramilitary rebels in Colombia.

Nancy Mason (DCM), John Maesto (Ambassador), Sheryl and I

Following a natural disaster that killed over 50,000 Venezuelans, the DEA appointed me Country Attaché, part of the Ambassador's Country Team. In that role I briefed and was in liaison with the Attorney General of Venezuela and the Prime Minister of Guyana regarding all narcotics interdiction efforts in the region.

In June of 2001, my life came full circle. Sheryl and I were transferred to the Albuquerque DEA office. We purchased our home about a mile from where I was raised (Atrisco).

After 28 years in Federal Law Enforcement, I retired in June 2002.

So who is Eli Chavez; I am a man of integrity; a man of bold leadership; a man who will standup for the rights of all New Mexicans; a man who has hopes and dreams for a better New Mexico!!!

It is my desire, and a large part of my makeup and heritage, to continue to give back to the community. I feel strongly that I represent the best of what we in the First Congressional District are and can be.

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Eli Chavez, Nancy A. Lesicka, Treasurer.