David M. Rodriguez

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David M. Rodriguez
File:General David M Rodriguez USAFRICOM.jpg
Official portrait, 2013
Born (1954-05-23) 23 May 1954 (age 71)
Overbrook, Philadelphia, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
BranchUnited States Army
Service years1976–2016
RankGeneral
CommandsUnited States Africa Command
United States Army Forces Command
82nd Airborne Division
International Security Assistance Force Joint Command
United States Forces – Syria
ConflictsInvasion of Panama
Gulf War
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Army Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (5)
Bronze Star Medal (2)

David Mitchell "Rod" Rodriguez[1] (born 23 May 1954) is an American Army four-star general who served as the Commander of the United States Africa Command from April 2013 till August 2016.[2]

Rodriguez served as the Commanding General of the United States Army Forces Command from 12 September 2011 until 15 March 2014. He has also served as Commander, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command (IJC) and Deputy Commander, United States Forces – Afghanistan (USFOR-A) from 12 November 2009 to 11 July 2011. General Rodriguez retired in August 2016 after 40 years of service.[3]

Early life and education

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Born in Overbrook, Pennsylvania on 23 May 1954[4] and raised in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Rodriguez earned his commission from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1976.[5] He was recruited by Tom Cahill to play for the Army Black Knights football team and earned varsity letters in football and baseball.[6]

Military career

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Rodriguez commanded at every level across the United States Army. His assignments included the Commanding General of the United States Army Forces Command, the International Security Assistance Force – Joint Command (IJC) in Afghanistan, the 82nd Airborne Division, the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, and the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). He also commanded companies of the 75th Ranger Regiment, and 1st Armored Division.[5]

Rodriguez's extensive combat experiences include: G-3 Planner, XVIII Airborne Corps, Operation Just Cause, 1989 – 1990; Operations Officer, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, 1990 – 1991; Assistant Division Commander, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized), 2002 – 2003; Commander, Multi-National Division-Northwest, 2005; Special Assistant to the Commander, Multi-National Corps-Iraq, 2006; Commander, Combined Joint Task Force-82 in Afghanistan, 2007 – 2008; and Deputy Commander, United States Forces Afghanistan and Commander, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command.[5]

Rodriguez holds a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College and a Masters of Military Art and Science from the United States Army Command and General Staff College.[5]

On 11 November 2011, Rodriguez received the Abraham Lincoln Award during a Veterans Day celebration at the Union League of Philadelphia. Union Leagues were founded during the Civil War to support President Abraham Lincoln and the preservation of the Union; Philadelphia's, established in 1862, was the first. First presented to Major General Ulysses S. Grant, the award, which recognizes patriotism and service to country, has been bestowed on many distinguished civilian and military leaders, including former Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan; Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, General David H. Petraeus, and General Raymond T. Odierno.[7]

Dates of rank

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File:U.S. Military Academy Coat of Arms.svg United States Military Academy class of 1976
Second lieutenant First lieutenant Captain Major Lieutenant colonel
O-1 O-2 O-3 O-4 O-5
File:US Army O1 shoulderboard rotated.svg File:US Army O2 shoulderboard rotated.svg File:US Army O3 shoulderboard rotated.svg File:US Army O4 shoulderboard rotated.svg File:US Army O5 shoulderboard rotated.svg
2 June 1976 2 June 1978 1 August 1980 1 September 1987 1 April 1993


Colonel Brigadier general Major general Lieutenant general General
O-6 O-7 O-8 O-9 O-10
File:US Army O6 shoulderboard rotated.svg File:US Army O7 shoulderboard rotated.svg File:US Army O8 shoulderboard rotated.svg File:US Army O9 shoulderboard rotated.svg File:Army-USA-OF-09.svg
1 August 1997 1 March 2002 15 July 2005 29 July 2008 15 August 2011

[8] [9]

Awards and decorations

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Rodriguez' military decorations include:[5]

File:Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with two bronze oak leaf clusters)
Army Distinguished Service Medal (with bronze oak leaf cluster)
File:Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Superior Service Medal
File:Legion of Merit ribbon.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Legion of Merit (with four bronze oak leaf clusters)
File:Bronze Star Medal ribbon1OLC.png Bronze Star Medal (with oak leaf cluster)
File:Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Meritorious Service Medal
File:Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Meritorious Service Medal (with four oak leaf clusters)
File:Joint Service Commendation Medal ribbon.svg Joint Service Commendation Medal
File:Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svgFile:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Army Commendation Medal (with two oak leaf clusters)
File:Joint Service Achievement Medal ribbon.svg Joint Service Achievement Medal
File:Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Commendation (with oak leaf cluster)
File:National Defense Service Medal ribbon, 2nd award.svg National Defense Service Medal (with one bronze service star)
File:Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
File:Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016), 1st award.svg Southwest Asia Service Medal (with service star)
File:Afghanistan Campaign Medal ribbon.svgFile:Bronze-service-star-3d.svgFile:Bronze-service-star-3d.svgFile:Bronze-service-star-3d.svg Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with three service stars)
File:Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon, 2nd award.svg Iraq Campaign Medal (with two service stars)
File:Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
File:Global War on Terrorism Service Medal ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
File:Korea Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg Korea Defense Service Medal
File:Army Service Ribbon.svg Army Service Ribbon
File:Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svgFile:Award numeral 5.png Army Overseas Service Ribbon (with bronze award numeral "5")
File:NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar.svg NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia
File:Medaille de la Defense Nationale Or ribbon.svgFile:UK MID 1920-94.svg National Defence Medal in gold with bronze palm (France)
File:Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
File:Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

References

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  3. ^ "Lt. Gen. Rodriguez: What is the ISAF Joint Command" Archived 13 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine. nato.int
  4. ^ NOMINATIONS BEFORE THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, FIRST SESSION, 113TH CONGRESS. gpo.gov
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