José A. Cabrera is a senior government professional, attorney, and U.S. Army veteran, focused on rural economic development and expanding communities' access to housing, access to capital, and critical infrastructure.

José is currently serving on detail as Business and Cooperative Programs Director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development (USDA RD), where he oversees a team that supports entrepreneurship and provides access to capital and affordable financing for rural businesses.

At USDA, he previously served as the Caguas Area Director and as a Community Programs Specialist. He secured over $118 million in federal funding for infrastructure and disaster recovery projects. He also served as Liaison to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In 2024, he received the Undersecretary of Agriculture for Rural Development’s Award for his disaster recovery efforts.

José served in the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division as a JAG Corps noncommissioned officer. A Distinguished Honor Graduate of the Army's paralegal and basic management schools, José was selected as the 25th Infantry Division's best paralegal in 2016 and 2017. In 2018, he was nominated for the Sergeant Eric L. Coggins Award, the Army's award for paralegal excellence. He received an honorable discharge in 2018 and earned the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters.

Previously, José worked as an attorney in private practice and as a marketing consultant. He is licensed to practice law in Puerto Rico and before the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico.

While a law student, José co-founded and led the Puerto Rico Statehood Students Association, the leading student organization that advocates for Puerto Rico statehood. Prior to that, José served as an intern for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Puerto Rico Senate President, and Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico.

José obtained a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, with majors in Political Science and History from the University of Dayton, a Juris Doctor from the University of Dayton School of Law, and a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Oklahoma, the latter while serving on active duty.

José later received certificates in Financial Management and Leadership from Cornell University and the University of Pennsylvania, respectively.

The Pacific Forum, the leading Asian defense affairs think tank, selected José as a Young Leader in 2017.

He currently mentors transitioning military service members through Hire Heroes USA and Service to School and serves on the Service Academy Nominations Board of the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico. He also supports a local Scouts of America pack as training coordinator.