Being raised in a community where your history connects to every part of your present, it is difficult to find the courage to leave. It is similarly difficult to forge a path and stay. Questa del Rio News is committed to highlighting different members of our community, both those who have created their paths and planted their own roots in the community that raised them, and those who have pursued lives outside of the community—through our Representando series. This series is dedicated to those who are representandos communities in northern Taos County, in various facets of life.
This month we spoke with Bianca Castillo, who grew up in Questa. She is now a Major in the Army, specializing in telecommunications. The daughter of Debora and David Castillo and one of three siblings, Bianca has always had an eye out for adventure and is known for embracing a challenge. While in school, Bianca was very involved with extracurricular activities, which led her to develop important life skills such as being a part of a team and also being a leader—qualities that would prove invaluable in her future career.
As a youth in Questa, Bianca (affectionately known as “Binky” to her close friends and family) was immersed in the close-knit community that helped her flourish. While her mother, Debora, worked as a dentist in Questa, Bianca and her siblings spent considerable time with Roger and Gloria Herrera. “We had such a great time with Roger and Gloria,” Bianca fondly recalls. “I remember that Roger taught me how to ride a bike, and we were always playing outside.” Another family that became like a second home was that of her best friend, Tiffany Medina, whose parents were Efren and Sandra Medina. “I would walk into their home like it was mine. I’d sit down for dinner like I was part of the family. Efren was my sponsor for confirmation, and they were such a great family to me.” Bianca also recalled and cherishes her enduring friendship with Michelle Trujillo, noting that the two of them have gone through all major milestones together.
When Bianca graduated from Questa High School in 2009, she had a very good idea of what she wanted to do. She knew she wanted to join the Army and do something that would challenge her. After becoming a third-generation graduate of the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque with a degree in university studies, Bianca started working full-time for the Army. She is currently in her 11th year.
While in college, Bianca and her best friend Michelle started a sorority specifically for multicultural women, and it continues to thrive today.
Being in the Army has allowed Bianca to travel around the world. She has already visited an impressive 24 countries. In her first year with the Army, Bianca was immediately deployed to Kuwait and then Bagram, Afghanistan. She then spent a year in D.C. followed by four years in Italy. “College Bianca would not recognize Army Bianca. I’ve grown and experienced so much,” she says.
As a Major in the Army’s Signal Corps Branch, Bianca now oversees telecommunications from Fort Carson, Colorado, where she is part of the First Space Brigade. Her responsibilities encompass “anything you can communicate on.” Prior to this role, she worked in international agreements for satellite communications, building relationships and policy with other nations across the globe. “I was part of making decisions for the U.S. Department of Defense with other countries’ militaries.”
For fun, Bianca loves to explore the restaurant scene in Denver, enjoys outdoor recreation, noting one her and her fiance’s favorite spots is “Garden of the Gods” in Colorado Springs. Mostly, Bianca is looking forward to getting married and celebrating their honeymoon in Peru.
Bianca’s work demands exceptional organizational skills, strong leadership, and an unwavering confidence. She embodies her personal mantra: “You only have one life to live so take the risks and trust in yourself to get through whatever comes.” Maj. Bianca Castillo’s inspiring journey exemplifies the profound impact of a Questa upbringing combined with a courageous spirit of adventure and dedicated service.
