David M. Rodriguez

David M. Rodriguez
David M. Rodriguez
	Rodriguez in April 2013
Born	23 May 1954; Overbrook, Pennsylvania, United States
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1976–2016
Rank	General
Commands held	United States Africa Command; United States Army Forces Command; 82nd Airborne Division; International Security Assistance Force Joint Command; United States Forces – Syria
Battles/wars	Invasion of Panama; Gulf War; War in Afghanistan; Iraq War
Awards	Defense 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 May 23, 1954) is a retired United States Army four-star general who served as the Commander of the United States Africa Command from April 2013 to July 2016.[2]

Rodriguez previously 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.[3]

Early life and education

Born in Overbrook, Pennsylvania to a Latin American family on May 23, 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

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, Joint Task Force-82 in Afghanistan, 2017 – till date; 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

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

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

1 August 1997	1 March 2002	15 July 2005	29 July 2008	15 August 2011

[8] [9]

Awards and decorations

Rodriguez' military decorations include:[5]

Combat Infantryman Badge
Expert Infantryman Badge
Master Parachutist Badge
Air Assault Badge
Ranger Tab
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
United States Africa Command Badge
German Parachutist Badge in bronze
82nd Airborne Division CSIB
82nd Airborne Division DUI
10 Overseas Service Bars

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with two bronze oak leaf clusters)
	Army Distinguished Service Medal (with bronze oak leaf cluster)
	Defense Superior Service Medal
	Legion of Merit (with four bronze oak leaf clusters)
	Bronze Star Medal (with oak leaf cluster)
	Defense Meritorious Service Medal
	Meritorious Service Medal (with four oak leaf clusters)
	Joint Service Commendation Medal
	Army Commendation Medal (with two oak leaf clusters)
	Joint Service Achievement Medal
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award
	Meritorious Unit Commendation (with oak leaf cluster)
	National Defense Service Medal (with one bronze service star)
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	Southwest Asia Service Medal (with service star)
	Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with three service stars)
	Iraq Campaign Medal (with two service stars)
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Korea Defense Service Medal
	Army Service Ribbon
	Army Overseas Service Ribbon (with bronze award numeral "5")
	NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia
	National Defence Medal in gold with bronze palm (France)
	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

References

"David Mitchell Rodriguez". West Point Association of Graduates. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
"Rodriguez Succeeds Ham as Africom Commander". Defense.gov. 12 March 2009. Archived from the original on 8 April 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
"Lt. Gen. Rodriguez: What is the ISAF Joint Command" Archived 13 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine. nato.int
NOMINATIONS BEFORE THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, FIRST SESSION, 113TH CONGRESS. gpo.gov
"General David M. Rodriguez, Commander". United States Africa Command. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
"MISSION FIRST: Sense Of Duty". goarmysports.com. 19 December 2013. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
Jim Hinnant, FORSCOM Public Affairs Officer (11 November 2011). "Rodriguez receives historic award, celebrates veterans in return to home area". U.S. Army. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
Official biography
Sgt. Marcus Gable, 49th Public Affairs Detachment (12 September 2011). "GEN Rodriguez takes command with promotion". U.S. Army. Retrieved 1 January 2013.

External links

Appearances on C-SPAN

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[1] "David Mitchell Rodriguez". West Point Association of Graduates. Retrieved 11 December 2020.

[2] "Rodriguez Succeeds Ham as Africom Commander". Defense.gov. 12 March 2009. Archived from the original on 8 April 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.

[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

[africombio-5] "General David M. Rodriguez, Commander". United States Africa Command. Retrieved 5 April 2013.

[Mission_First-6] "MISSION FIRST: Sense Of Duty". goarmysports.com. 19 December 2013. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.

[7] Jim Hinnant, FORSCOM Public Affairs Officer (11 November 2011). "Rodriguez receives historic award, celebrates veterans in return to home area". U.S. Army. Retrieved 31 December 2012.

[bio-8] Official biography

[9] Sgt. Marcus Gable, 49th Public Affairs Detachment (12 September 2011). "GEN Rodriguez takes command with promotion". U.S. Army. Retrieved 1 January 2013.