Gonzalo Duran

Autobiography

My name is Gonzalo Duran and this is my autobiography.

I was born and raised in the Belmont section of the Bronx, the son of a single mother who immigrated from El Salvador in pursuit of a better life. We were raised on public assistance, but my mother’s determination instilled in me resilience, responsibility, and a deep commitment to service. Those values continue to guide my work today.

I graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School in 2003, where I remained actively engaged in both school and community life. I competed in wrestling, volunteered with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, worked at a local supermarket, and pursued early college coursework, including zoology studies at the Bronx Zoo. On my eighteenth birthday, I made a defining decision and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.

I served eight years on active duty, attained the rank of Sergeant, and deployed to Iraq in 2008. The Marine Corps instilled discipline, leadership, and a profound sense of duty. Upon returning home in 2011, I faced the difficult transition many veterans experience. While raising two children as a devoted father, I encountered periods of homelessness and employment instability. I refused to be defined by those challenges and rebuilt my life through education, discipline, and perseverance.

In 2014, I graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science. I went on to serve the community through roles at the Bronx Veterans Affairs office and the Bronx Labor Department. During this time, I became increasingly aware of systems that managed problems rather than solving them.

In 2013, I founded Devil Dog USA Incorporated to advocate for veterans and working families in the Bronx. As Chief Executive Officer, I have led initiatives focused on mental health awareness, suicide prevention, workforce development, and combating homelessness. Our advocacy contributed to the passage of New York City Local Law 119 in 2017, recognizing the GI Bill as lawful income for veterans seeking housing.

In 2026, we launched the Corporal Yegor Zubarev Veterans Bill, a national initiative focused on ensuring that Post 9/11 GI Bill housing stipends are recognized as creditable income for housing purposes, fast tracking the naturalization of non citizen veterans with honorable discharges, and streamlining reimbursement for organizations providing mental health services to veterans.

Concerned by the economic pressures facing the Bronx, I stepped further into public service to fight for accountability and opportunity. I currently serve as District Leader for the 79th Assembly District and as Vice Chairman of the Bronx Conservative Party.

In 2025, I founded the United Alliance Party, a non partisan independent petitioning organization designed to help everyday citizens, both first time and experienced candidates, gain access to the ballot without being tied to traditional party structures or ideologies.

Today, I am running for the United States Congress in New York’s 15th Congressional District to ensure the Bronx has a strong, credible voice and a future built on action, dignity, and opportunity.