Major Ernesto P. Hernandez, III (USAF, Ret.)

Ernesto P. Hernandez III is the Founder and Chairman of Wounded Paw Project © (WPP), a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating abused and neglected shelter dogs and advancing animal protection nationwide. Under his leadership, WPP established the nation’s first anonymous animal abuse hotline, creating a direct pathway for the public to report abuse to law enforcement.

A retired U.S. Air Force officer and Purple Heart recipient, Ernesto is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy (B.S. in Management) and holds a Master of Business Administration. During his distinguished military career, he held senior command and staff positions across the Department of Defense and the Department of State. He was one of only fifty Department of Defense officers detailed to the U.S. Department of State, serving as Senior Military Advisor to multiple bureaus, including Political-Military Affairs and Near Eastern Affairs. He also served as a Division Chief at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, advising on nuclear stockpiles and weapons of mass destruction.

Ernesto was wounded in Iraq on March 26, 2008, when he used his own body to shield fellow service members from indirect fire, earning the Purple Heart.