My name is Juan L. Clemente. I was born on June 24, 1967, in San Juan, PR. I grew up in Carolina, PR, and have been happily married to Lennys Hernandez since September 12, 1991. We are a family of three children—Lennys Joan (32), Juan Carlos (28), and Joanellies (26)—and two grandchildren, Amaya Andrea (4) and Luccas Andrés (2).
My education began at Colegio Inmaculada Concepción, followed by Villa Fontana, where I graduated in May 1985. I earned an associate degree in Banking, Finance, and Insurance (1994) and a Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance) (1997) from the University of Puerto Rico, then an MBA with a concentration in Accounting from the University of Phoenix (2003).
I began military service in May 1986 with the Puerto Rico Army National Guard as an Ammunition Specialist. In September 1991, I joined the Puerto Rico Air National Guard as a Munitions Systems Specialist with the 156th Fighter Group, also serving as a Contracting Airman and, later, as Information Management within the 156th Airlift Wing Intelligence unit. I spent over four years in the Counterdrug Support Program (CDSP), supporting enforcement efforts with U.S. Customs Service in San Juan and later as an Intelligence Analyst with the ICAT team, retiring in May 2007 after twenty-one years of service.
In April 2003, I began my federal career as a Marine Enforcement Officer with the U.S. Customs Service in St. Thomas, USVI; the agency later became CBP and the role evolved into Marine Interdiction Agent. My duties encompassed maritime patrols, inspections, boarding operations, and enforcement of customs, immigration, and safety regulations. I collaborated with federal, state, and local partners, prepared legal documents for prosecution, delivered testimony, and supported port operations and emergency responses.
In May 2006, I joined DHS/ICE–HSI as a Special Agent, leading financial investigations into money laundering, complex fraud, sanctions evasion, and other illicit transfers. I collected and analyzed financial data, developed investigative plans, managed multi-agency operations, preserved evidence, and pursued prosecutorial outcomes.
I collaborated with DHS components, the FBI, DEA, FinCEN, IRS-CI, prosecutors, and international partners; conducted risk assessments and cyber-financial investigations; maintained regulatory knowledge and pursued certifications; and ensured civil rights and privacy protections throughout investigations. I also provided training on financial crime detection and investigative techniques.
In 1999, while in military service, I had an unrelated illness that led me to get a check-up. Several urine tests were abnormal, and although I was asymptomatic, doctors continued to monitor my urine. This condition was noted again during federal government medical assessments in 2003. I underwent additional medical tests, and I was deemed fit for duty at that time.
In 2013, I was diagnosed with diabetes, glomerulonephritis, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 3. I continued treatment to slow the progression, but by 2023, my eGFR declined to 21 and more medications were added.
In September 2024, after contracting COVID-19, my eGFR declined rapidly. By January 2025, it declined even more, and I became severely ill and was placed on dialysis for several weeks. In July 2025, I underwent a pre-kidney transplant evaluation and was placed on the active waitlist for a kidney transplant in October 2025.
I retired in May 2024 after 25 years of combined military and federal service. Throughout my life, I have remained dedicated to family, education, and service to my country, and I am proud of the impact I have made.
For medically cleared donors, giving the gift of life through living kidney donation has been proven to be very safe. DOVE will assist all prospective donors throughout the process and make sure they do not incur any out-of-pocket expenses related to the evaluation or surgery. A healthy person can live a normal life with one kidney and save Juan‘s life with the other!
Your support, whether through spreading the word on social media or considering becoming a donor, can make a profound impact on his life and the life of his family!
Please click on the link below if you would like to learn more OR call (551) 233-1611