Lester Martínez López[note 1] (born 1955) is an American government official and former Army general who served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs from March 2023 to October 2024.

Martínez López was born in the city of Mayagüez, located on the western coast of Puerto Rico, but was raised and educated in the town of Maricao.

In 1995, Martínez López served as chief medical officer when U.S. forces were sent to Haiti, and three years later, in 1998, he oversaw military relief operations for 8,500 victims of Hurricane Mitch in Central America.

The command's research includes vaccines for dengue fever, anthrax and hepatitis; anti-virals for smallpox and countermeasures for environmental, biological and chemical hazards.

[4] Among the major accomplishments of the USAMRMC while under his command are the following:[5] Martínez López wrote the keynote for "Biomaterials for Military Medical Needs.

[10] On November 17, 2021, the White House announced that President Biden intends to nominate Lester Martínez López for the position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs.