Born in the mountains of Puerto Rico, Antonio Maldonado’s life began as the youngest of 12 children in a world of poverty, yet one also rich in love. His father was dedicated to his work and to reading to young Antonio every night from the pages of The Count of Montecristo, instilling a love of learning in Antonio at the very beginning. 

It was not until seeing a plane for the first time, his father at his side, that Antonio’s dreams began to soar beyond the clouds. From that moment on, a passion was ignited for the sky, leading him on a journey through the ranks of the Air Force, serving in Vietnam, and eventually achieving the rank of Brigadier General. 

The Sky Is Not the Limit is an inspirational story of one man’s journey from poverty to high-ranking Air Force general and eventually CEO of one of the largest companies in Puerto Rico, a life where determination and spirit let one boy to learn to reach beyond the sky itself. 

About the Author

Antonio Maldonado was born in Comerio, Puerto Rico on February 2, 1941, the youngest of twelve children. He graduated with high honors from the Central High School in San Juan, Puerto Rico and from the University of Puerto Rico in 1964. He obtained a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Interamerican University in 1969 and is also a graduate of the Senior Executive Development Course at the University of New Hampshire. Additionally, he is a graduate of multiple higher education schools in the US Armed Forces. Among them, he is a distinguished graduate of the United States Air War College class of 1982. 

Upon graduation from the University of Puerto Rico in 1964, where hw was also commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force (USAF), Maldonado began a brilliant military career that distinguished him as an aviator, leader and strategist of that branch of military service. In 1968 he became the youngest Air Force pilot to command a B-52 bomber. He is a veteran of the Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars with more than 4,000 flying hours including over 425 combat hours and 183 combat missions. His decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguish Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross and eleven Air Medals, among many others. In 1986 he was chosen as Best Wing Commander of the USAF Strategic Air Command. 

He culminated his distinguished military career as a Brigadier General retiring in September 1991 to begin his service to the people of Puerto Rico becoming President and General Manager of the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO) responsible for the development of Puerto Rico’s economy through the creation of jobs and industrial and hotel infrastructure in support of local and foreign investment. 

In 1993 Maldonado became the Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross, Puerto Rico Region, directing all laboratory operations, the manufacture of blood-derived biological products and unsuring the supply and safety of blood products collected and distributed by the American Red Cross in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Maldonado started the bone marrow transplant programs in Puerto Rico and served as a member of the U.S. Board of Directors of the National Bone Marrow Transplant Program from 1997 to 2002. 

In January 1999, Maldonado became the Executive Director of the Palmas del Mar residential-tourist development complex in Humacao, Puerto Rico, until his retirement in 2021. He remains actively involved in multiple community service and veteran aid organizations in Puerto Rico.