Eloy Aguilar

Eloy O. Aguilar has been chief of The Associated Press' Mexico Bureau since 1979, coordinating news and photo coverage throughout Mexico and Central America. During his 20 years as Mexico bureau chief, Aguilar has overseen comprehensive coverage of civil wars in Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua, protecting local correspondents during periods of press censorship and defending them from reprisals by groups from both sides of the political spectrum. He has covered or coordinated coverage of: five papal visits to Mexico, Central America and Cuba; the 1985 earthquake in Mexico; the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama; the Pan-American Games, and two World Cup soccer games in Mexico. He also assisted in establishing the AP's bureau in Havana.

Aguilar has spent virtually his entire career in Latin America, starting with The Associated Press in Caracas in 1965, transferring to Puerto Rico in 1966, moving to Mexico as a correspondent in 1969, then transferring to Dallas in 1972. He returned to San Juan as chief of Caribbean Services in 1977, before becoming Mexico bureau chief in 1979.