In 1983 Acuña Velázquez enrolled in the General Carlos Rolof Military Academy, from which he graduated as a communications engineer. In his military career, he occupied various posts linked to the specialty of communications, and he rose successively in rank until attaining that of lieutenant colonel. Acuña Velázquez was murdered in 2007 when he tried to stop two hijackers of an airplane at José Martí International Airport.