Lt Col (ret) Santiago "Rico" Vaca is a senior policy advisor in the Public Policy and Regulation Practice Group. He joined the firm following a distinguished 21-year military career in the Air Force, including several overseas deployments and direct work with the United States Congress. Mr. Vaca focuses his practice on appropriations, defense policy, acquisitions and regulatory issues, DOD renewable energy initiatives and client concerns related to national security. He has a deep understanding of the congressional budget, appropriations and authorization processes, as well as significant experience with Department of Defense organizational issues, policy directives, and military programs and procedures.
Mr. Vaca joined Holland & Knight in 2009, following four years of experience working in Congress as the primary Air Force budget and appropriations liaison to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees. In this capacity, he developed a keen understanding of all major Air Force programs and requirements, including F-22, F-35 and KC-X tanker programs. He assisted in crafting and implementing Air Force communications strategies for all service priorities seeking congressional approval and funding. Additionally, Mr. Vaca directed and led more than two dozen worldwide congressional fact finding missions for senators, members of Congress and congressional staff to more than 30 countries and nearly all 50 states.
Mr. Vaca was a command pilot and mission commander with more than 3,200 hours in the F-15C, F-16 and T-38. Prior to his congressional assignments, Mr. Vaca served as the chief of Air Combat Operations for United States Forces Korea, where he oversaw all flight operations over the Korean Peninsula. He acted as a professional adversary threat instructor pilot with the 64th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base and served as the chief of Combat Operations during Operation Enduring Freedom at Price Sultan Air Base in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He maintains a top secret clearance.