David M. Rodriguez

Last updated
David M. Rodriguez
General David M Rodriguez USAFRICOM.jpg
Rodriguez in uniform, 2013
Born (1954-05-23) May 23, 1954 (age 70)
Overbrook, Pennsylvania, United States
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1976–2016
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 an American Army four-star general who served as the Commander of the United States Africa Command from April 2013 till August 2016. [2]

Contents

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

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, 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

Second lieutenant First lieutenant Captain Major Lieutenant colonel
O-1O-2O-3O-4O-5
US Army O1 shoulderboard rotated.svg US Army O2 shoulderboard rotated.svg US Army O3 shoulderboard rotated.svg US Army O4 shoulderboard rotated.svg US Army O5 shoulderboard rotated.svg
2 June 19762 June 19781 August 19801 September 19871 April 1993


Colonel Brigadier general Major general Lieutenant general General
O-6O-7O-8O-9O-10
US Army O6 shoulderboard rotated.svg US Army O7 shoulderboard rotated.svg US Army O8 shoulderboard rotated.svg US Army O9 shoulderboard rotated.svg Army-USA-OF-09.svg
1 August 19971 March 200215 July 200529 July 200815 August 2011

[8] [9]

Awards and decorations

Rodriguez' military decorations include: [5]

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

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References

  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
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "General David M. Rodriguez, Commander". United States Africa Command. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  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.
  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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
Military offices
Preceded by Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division
2006-2008
Succeeded by
Preceded by Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense
2008-2009
Succeeded by
New title Commander of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command
2009-2011
Succeeded by
Curtis Scaparrotti
Deputy Commander of United States Forces - Afghanistan
2009-2011
Preceded by Commanding General of the United States Army Forces Command
2011-2013
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the United States Africa Command
2013-2016
Succeeded by