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David M. Rodriguez

{{short description|US Army general}}

{{Multiple issues|

{{independent sources|date=May 2017}}

{{Use American English|date=June 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{BLP sources|date=January 2013}}

}}

{{Infobox military person

| name = David M. Rodriguez

| image = General David M Rodriguez USAFRICOM.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Official portrait, 2013

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1954|5|23|df=y}}

| birth_place = Overbrook, Pennsylvania, United States

| death_date =

| death_place =

| placeofburial =

| allegiance = United States

| branch = United States Army

| serviceyears = 1976–2016

| rank = General

| unit =

| commands = United States Africa Command
United States Army Forces Command
82nd Airborne Division
International Security Assistance Force Joint Command
United States Forces – Syria

| battles = 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)

| relations =

| laterwork =

}}

David Mitchell "Rod" Rodriguez{{cite web |url=https://www.westpointaog.org/FindaGradDisplay?reid=ubrTN7y5S7uWYaEeajZ1%2bg%3d%3d&bbsys=0&bbrt=0 |title=David Mitchell Rodriguez |website=West Point Association of Graduates |access-date=2020-12-11}} (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.{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/id/119699/ |title=Rodriguez Succeeds Ham as Africom Commander |publisher=Defense.gov |date=12 March 2009 |access-date=5 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408193039/http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=119699 |archive-date=8 April 2013 }}

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.[http://www.isaf.nato.int/the-afghan-hands-blog/commanders-blog/lt.-gen.-rodriguez-what-is-the-isaf-joint-command.html "Lt. Gen. Rodriguez: What is the ISAF Joint Command"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313075346/http://www.isaf.nato.int/the-afghan-hands-blog/commanders-blog/lt.-gen.-rodriguez-what-is-the-isaf-joint-command.html |date=13 March 2013 }}. nato.int

Early life and education

Born in Overbrook, Pennsylvania on 23 May 1954[http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-113shrg87878/pdf/CHRG-113shrg87878.pdf NOMINATIONS BEFORE THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, FIRST SESSION, 113TH CONGRESS]. gpo.gov and raised in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Rodriguez earned his commission from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1976.{{cite web|title=General David M. Rodriguez, Commander|url=http://www.africom.mil/about-the-command/leadership/commander|publisher=United States Africa Command|access-date=5 April 2013}} He was recruited by Tom Cahill to play for the Army Black Knights football team and earned varsity letters in football and baseball.{{cite news|title=MISSION FIRST: Sense of Duty|url=http://www.goarmysports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121913aaa.html|publisher=goarmysports.com|date=19 December 2013|access-date=28 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028110324/http://www.goarmysports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121913aaa.html|archive-date=28 October 2014|url-status=dead}}

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.

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.

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.

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/69420|title=Rodriguez receives historic award, celebrates veterans in return to home area|author= Jim Hinnant, FORSCOM Public Affairs Officer|date=11 November 2011|publisher=United States Army|access-date=31 December 2012}}

{{Clear}}

=Dates of rank=

{{center|35px United States Military Academy class of 1976}}

class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; width:100%;"
Second lieutenant

!First lieutenant

!Captain

!Major

!Lieutenant colonel

O-1

!O-2

!O-3

!O-4

!O-5

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| style="text-align:center; width:16%;"| 150px

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| style="text-align:center; width:16%;"| 150px

2 June 1976

!2 June 1978

!1 August 1980

!1 September 1987

!1 April 1993


class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; width:100%;"
Colonel

!Brigadier general

!Major general

!Lieutenant general

!General

O-6

!O-7

!O-8

!O-9

!O-10

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1 August 1997

!1 March 2002

!15 July 2005

!29 July 2008

!15 August 2011

{{citation

| title = Official biography

| url = https://www.scribd.com/doc/15402700/LTG-David-M-Rodriguez

}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/65381|title= GEN Rodriguez takes command with promotion|author=Sgt. Marcus Gable, 49th Public Affairs Detachment |date= 12 September 2011|publisher= United States Army|access-date=1 January 2013}}

Awards and decorations

Rodriguez' military decorations include:

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}14px14px

|Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with two bronze oak leaf clusters)

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}

|Army Distinguished Service Medal (with bronze oak leaf cluster)

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=US_Defense_Superior_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=60}}

|Defense Superior Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=60}}14px14px14px14px

|Legion of Merit (with four bronze oak leaf clusters)

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=60}}

|Bronze Star Medal (with oak leaf cluster)

60px

|Defense Meritorious Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}14px14px14px14px

|Meritorious Service Medal (with four oak leaf clusters)

60px

|Joint Service Commendation Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}14px14px

|Army Commendation Medal (with two oak leaf clusters)

60px

|Joint Service Achievement Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg|width=60}}

|Joint Meritorious Unit Award

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=60}}

|Meritorious Unit Commendation (with oak leaf cluster)

{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}

|National Defense Service Medal (with one bronze service star)

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}

|Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg|width=60}}

|Southwest Asia Service Medal (with service star)

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Afghanistan Campaign ribbon.svg|width=60}}11px11px11px

|Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with three service stars)

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}11px11px

|Iraq Campaign Medal (with two service stars)

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg|width=60}}

|Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg|width=60}}

|Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Korea Defense Service ribbon.svg|width=60}}

|Korea Defense Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Service Ribbon.svg|width=60}}

|Army Service Ribbon

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=numeral|ribbon=Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg|width=60}}11px

|Army Overseas Service Ribbon (with bronze award numeral "5")

60px

|NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Medaille de la Defense Nationale Or ribbon.svg|width=60}}20px

|National Defence Medal in gold with bronze palm (France)

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg|width=60}}

|Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg|width=60}}

|Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

References

{{Commons category}}

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{C-SPAN|1009278}}

{{Portal bar|Biography}}

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{{s-bef|before=William B. Caldwell IV}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division|years=2006–2008}}

{{s-aft|after=Curtis Scaparrotti}}

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{{s-bef|before=Peter W. Chiarelli}}

{{s-ttl|title=Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense|years=2008–2009}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Commander of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command|years=2009–2011}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Commander of United States Forces – Afghanistan|years=2009–2011}}

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{{s-bef|before=Howard B. Bromberg
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{{s-ttl|title=Commanding General of the United States Army Forces Command|years=2011–2013}}

{{s-aft|after=Daniel B. Allyn}}

{{s-bef|before=Carter F. Ham}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commander of the United States Africa Command|years=2013–2016}}

{{s-aft|after=Thomas D. Waldhauser}}

{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodriguez, David M.}}

Category:1954 births

Category:Living people

Category:Hispanic and Latino American military personnel

Category:American people of Colombian descent

Category:Army Black Knights football players

Category:United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni

Category:Naval War College alumni

Category:United States Army generals

Category:United States Army personnel of the Iraq War

Category:United States Army personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)

Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit

Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal

Category:Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal

Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)

Category:Members of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America

Category:Army Black Knights baseball players