Gonzalez completed a distinguished career in the U.S. Army that spanned twenty-six years. He served with the Defense Intelligence Agency as a military attaché to U.S. Embassies in El Salvador and Mexico, taught at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and headed the Office of Special Assistants for the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Southern Command. During his military career he earned numerous US military decorations as well as the Parachutist Badge and the Presidential Staff Badge. Gonzalez has also been decorated by the Governments of Spain, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Colombia. He retired from active duty with the rank of Colonel.