Diego Maldonado

Fellow

Diego Maldonado served four years in the United States Coast Guard as an Electronics Technician specializing in communications, radar, and information technology systems. His transition to college was supported by Warrior-Scholar Project’s Virtual College Readiness Program in 2024 and the STEM Boot Camp at MIT in 2025, experiences that helped him build confidence as he entered higher education.

Now a rising sophomore at Amherst College, Diego is pursuing studies in Mathematics and Economics. Beyond the classroom, he is involved in Amherst’s Chess Club, where he discovered a passion for the game, and has already begun contributing to meaningful academic conversations. One of his recent projects examined the Red Hill fuel spill and its legal aftermath, resulting in a published article in Intercontinental Cry.

Diego is passionate about mentorship, education, and helping veterans successfully navigate the transition from military service to college. Outside of academics, he enjoys golfing, a hobby he picked up shortly before starting school, and hopes to continue pursuing aviation after previously working toward his pilot’s license.