West Point’s Morales Nominated To International Judo Commission

USA Judo has nominated Lieutenant Colonel Hector Morales to represent the United States on the International Judo Federation’s Armed Forces and Police Commission.

Lt. Col. Morales is head sensei of the judo program  at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

“The military in the United States was key in spreading judo to our country and, along with our police forces, remains an active and critical component of the sport here,” said USA Judo’s CEO Jose H. Rodriguez. LTC Hector Morales “has been a strong supporter of the sport and USA Judo, and we’re confident that he’ll do a fantastic job on this IJF Commission.”

LTC Hector R. Morales-Negron is a native of Manati, Puerto Rico, and attended the University of Puerto Rico where he was a varsity judo and wrestling athlete. He completed the university’s ROTC program and graduated with a degree of kinesiology and a commission in the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant.

As an Air Defense Officer, he served as a platoon leader and battery commander. He also led multiple staff sections at the battalion, brigade, and division levels. In 2004, he was selected as an Academy Professor of Physical Education and attended Florida State University where he earned his PhD in Sport and Exercise Psychology. 

In addition to his instructional and leadership duties at West Point, he became the head coach of the West Point Judo Team that has won three consecutive National Collegiate Judo titles. As an Army Master Combatives Instructor, Morales has certified over 1,000 soldiers to lead combatives programs throughout the Army since 2003. He also represented the U.S. as an athlete in the Military World Games in 1995 and has coached the U.S. Armed Forces Judo Team since 2003 to four World Military Judo Championships in Italy, Croatia, India, and Brazil.