Special Feature an In-depth Interview
With
ROBERT J PORTALES
By Moises Ravelo
Roberto is 27, was born and raised in Tampa, and began playing sports at 4-years-old. He went on to play football and wrestling in high school and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2011. It was here where Roberto earned a B.S. in Economics and a commission as an officer in the U.S. Army. In May 2012 he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, where he served as the platoon leader for a multifunctional intelligence team. During his time in Afghanistan, Roberto became serious about fitness and he completely transformed his body. During his training to become an Army Counterintelligence Special Agent he began competing professionally and has since won numerous fitness awards.
In summer 2016 Roberto wrapped up his time in the Army and now works as an IT Sales Executive and is also certified by the Project Management Institute (PMI) as a Project Management Professional (PMP). He now lives in Los Angeles with his boyfriend, which is concerning for me as a fellow Angelino because if he leaves his windows open at bedtime there’s a good chance, he will hear me screaming his name each night. (this beautifully written bio was done by a remarkable journalist).
Robert and I didn’t have an opportunity to chat and have a proper interview but we did agree on him giving us his fans and followers a quote that best describes him and his life. He chose a quote by Maya Angelou, “my mission in life is not merely to survive but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style.” What a wonderful quote I thought and it leaves your public knowing a little bit about your sensitivities and vulnerabilities, which are the marks of a fully realized three dimensional person. Thank you Robert.
