OAS FCU’s Carlos Calderón Receives AACUC Leadership Award

Carlos Calderón, CEO of OAS Federal Credit Union, was presented with the Maurice R. Smith Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Leadership Award during a special ceremony last night. The award, which is presented by the African-American Credit Union Coalition, recognized Calderón's outstanding contributions to advancing DEI in the credit union industry.

Calderón was introduced by Carla Decker, President and CEO of SkyPoint Federal Credit Union, who praised his unwavering passion for empowering underserved communities, particularly Latino and immigrant populations. Decker also presented the award, highlighting Calderón's deep-rooted belief in lifting others as he leads.

A dedicated leader with a global perspective, Calderón has served on numerous international boards and committees and is widely respected for his advocacy and innovation. He co-founded the Network of Latino Credit Unions and Professionals and ACCESO, which supports the underserved immigrant community in DC. His achievements have been recognized with several national and international honors, including the World Council of Credit Unions' Silver Award and NAFCU's 2019 CEO of the Year.

"Congratulations to Carlos on this well-deserved honor," said MD|DC Credit Union Association President and CEO John Bratsakis. "His unwavering commitment to community-centered leadership and expanding access to affordable financial services truly exemplifies the credit union philosophy of 'people helping people.'"

The DEI Leadership Award, renamed in 2023 to honor the legacy of Immediate Past Chairman and passionate DEI advocate Maurice R. Smith, is awarded biennially. It recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership in advancing DEI principles, engage others in meaningful DEI work, and create lasting social impact within the credit union movement and the communities they serve.