Last updated: July 11, 2026
Article
Elvin Diaz-Ortiz: From SkillBridge to Traditional Trades Advancement Program
NPS / Aaron Plaisted
Elvin Diaz-Ortiz is a U.S. military veteran who served for seven years in the Army before joining the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC) through SkillBridge with the Caribbean Regional Support Team, based at San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico. SkillBridge is a government-wide program that gives military service members the opportunity to gain civilian work experience during the last 180 days of military service. More recently, with Elvin’s continued interest in historic preservation and love for his work crew, he decided to extend his time with the Caribbean Regional Support Team through the HPTC’s Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP), a young adult program that provides hands-on historic preservation training and working experiences in national parks across the country.
Elvin took a moment to reflect on his journey to Washington D.C., where he and his team were providing support for an Executive Order on “Making DC Safe and Beautiful,” supported in part by the Great American Outdoors Act, in preparation for ongoing celebrations for America’s 250th birthday. Elvin and his team were helping to preserve masonry at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial during the time of the interview.
NPS / Aaron Plaisted
A Journey to HPTC
What has your journey been like and how did you find yourself in SkillBridge with the Historic Preservation Training Center?
“I moved to North Carolina in 2016, where I worked for three years at Fort Bragg as a contractor with a housekeeping company. I had a five-year plan before I moved from my home in Puerto Rico. My career goal was initially to go into the Postal Service, but that didn’t go as expected after I finally got the job. So, I moved on, and I decided to go into the Army instead. I did my seven years with the Army as a 42A human resources specialist and, towards the end of my duty, I wanted to take the opportunity to participate in a SkillBridge program, hopefully closer to home back in Puerto Rico.
I didn’t know anything about the National Park Service or HPTC when I looked into SkillBridge. But, after searching for SkillBridge opportunities in Puerto Rico, mostly Information Technologies or other desk jobs came up. Then, I found this position with the Historic Preservation Training Center. I’m like, ‘I would get to work with my hands and I would be back in San Juan? That sounds pretty awesome!’ So, I applied.”
NPS / Aaron Plaisted
A Transition to Traditional Trades
What made you want to continue with HPTC in the Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP)? How was the transition from SkillBridge to TTAP?
“I wanted to take the opportunity to participate in SkillBridge since we have the chance to take advantage of this program toward the end of our military duty. Once I completed SkillBridge, I thought, ‘I can see myself as a part of this team and moving back to San Juan more permanently.’
It felt really good helping to preserve history for Puerto Rico.
My time in the military really prepared me for working with others. The teamwork and communication has helped me transition into work with a new group of people. I think we have a great crew here as well. If the crew wasn't so great when I was doing SkillBridge, I might not have been so interested in returning as a TTAP participant. As much as I liked it, I knew that my crew was the only HPTC crew they had in San Juan, and I wanted to stay here with them.
I feel like I have more freedom in TTAP, now that I don’t have to worry about going back into military duty. [TTAP] is not too long of a commitment, only six months. Now, I have more opportunities to travel with my HPTC crew, meet more new people, and work at different parks across the country. You even get to experience work with new crews from time-to-time. I think that’s the best part of it.”
NPS / Aaron Plaisted
What has it been like to learn trades skills after having little experience prior to your time with HPTC?
“I've mostly worked on masonry since starting with HPTC. Getting to work on La Fortaleza wall, which is part of El Morro, was such a unique experience. Having the chance to clean up the masonry on such a historic structure and learning the processes really opened my eyes to historic preservation as a field of expertise.
I used to ask, ‘Who cuts the grass in El Morro? It's always so good.’ You never think about who actually takes care of these places and structures.
For me, it was just a matter of taking that first step and getting some practice in the trades. You can learn almost anything on YouTube, but, as far as the application techniques, seeing it in person and doing it yourself is a whole different story. So yeah, I think it came to me at the perfect time. I enjoy the work.”
Elvin also described how his experiences in SkillBridge and TTAP at HPTC have inspired him to use his newly acquired abilities outside of work hours. He mentioned, “Especially, since most houses in Puerto Rico are made of concrete, I'm now looking to fix up my grandma's house with the skills I have learned.”
An Extraordinary Experience
What does it mean for you to work on historic structures in DC as a part of America’s 250th birthday celebrations?
“I wouldn't have guessed I would be out here in DC and helping to preserve these structures as a part of Freedom 250. This is pretty awesome. My favorite experience during my time with HPTC has to be this. I came here to Washington DC when I was 11 years old, and, being back here, I remember things like this memorial I now get to work on.
Every now and then, I get a text from a buddy of mine who is also a veteran. He tells me about how the news had been covering the renovations on historic landmarks around DC, and he asks, ‘Oh, you did that?’ I am proud to tell him, ‘it’s our people at HPTC that are getting this great work done.’ I appreciate hearing this recognition, especially during such a celebration like the 250th birthday of America.
It didn't really hit me until I arrived in DC and saw all the different crews coming together to make this DC Beautification possible. Even when we walked to the Lincoln Memorial, and you see they are doing some extensive work on the structure, it reminds me how unique it is to see and be a part of this bigger project with HPTC. It really feels unbelievable.”