José E. Colón

José E. Colom was acting Governor of Puerto Rico between June 25, 1939 and September 11, 1939 after the previous governor, Blanton C. Winship, was removed from office by President Franklin D. Roosevelt for alleged abuse of his authority in depriving the people of Puerto Rico of their civil rights. (See the Ponce Massacre). Mr. Winship was formally removed from office May 12, 1939.

Colom was born in the municipality of Ponce on February 5, 1889.

In 1912, Colom left the University of Pennsylvania after completing his studies to become a civil engineer. Upon his return to Puerto Rico, he began employment in this field, continuing this as his civil job for the following decades. As an engineer, Colón participated in project commissioned by the Departamento de Obras Públicas and a number of colonial governors, receiving funds from the former or the insular legislature.

Colom served in the Puerto Rico National Guard, reaching the rank of infantry captain in 1917. In 1923, he was ascended to the rank of commander, which he would retain during the following five years. On July 1, 1928, Colom was ascended to the rank of lieutenant colonel. On October 15, 1940, Colom was activated by the United States Army and assigned command of the 296th Regiment of Infantry. As a consequence, he abandoned his civil job. Colom was reassigned to command Campamento Tortuguero, where he supervised the first special training assigned to the PRNG. Afterwards, he joined the government in other functions. He died in Hato Rey.