Rafael O'Ferrall
Encyclopedia
Brigadier General Rafael O'Ferrall (born June 29, 1954) is a United States Army
officer who is the first Hispanic
of Puerto Rican
descent to become the Deputy Commanding General for the Joint Task Force at Guantanamo Bay
, Cuba
while simultaneously serving as Assistant Adjutant General (Army) and Deputy Commanding General of the Joint Force Headquarters at San Juan, Puerto Rico.
and Blanca Rose Cordova, a nurse from the town of Yabucoa. His parents moved to the United States from Puerto Rico in search for a better way of life and lived in New York City
where O'Ferrall was born. When he was 5 years old, he was sent to live with his grandmother in Puerto Rico where he received his primary and secondary education. In the 1960s O'Ferrall's mother returned to Puerto Rico upon the death of his grandmother. He was enrolled at Dr. Jose M. Lazaro High School in Carolina, Puerto Rico
, where he excelled in sports. In 1972, he was asked by the Puerto Rican Olympic Committee to represent Puerto Rico in the Munich Olympics
in the track and field
events, however he was later substituted by the more experienced Luis Alers. After he graduated from high school in 1973, he enrolled in the University of Puerto Rico
and participated in various competitions as member of the track and field team of his Alma Mater. In 1974, he represented the island in the XII Central American and Caribbean Games
which were celebrated in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. During his student years he became a member of the university's Reserve Officer Training Corps program, which is also known as ROTC. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration on Natural Science on June 20, 1978 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant
in the Army National Guard
that same year.
. From June 1978 to June 1984, he served in various administrative positions, among them: Assistant Executive Officer, Forward Observer and Fire Direction Officer. On June 19, 1984, O'Ferrall was promoted to First Lieutenant
and assigned to the 101st Troop Command in San Juan, Puerto Rico
, where he served as Communication Electronic Officer, until February 1985. On February he was assigned to Camp Santiago Training Site at Salinas, Puerto Rico
as Communication Electronic Officer, during which he was promoted to the rank of Captain (1985).
In 1986, O'Ferrall earned his Master's in Business Administration and Management from Turabo University in Gurabo, Puerto Rico
and served as Range Control Officer at Camp Santiago until October 1988. That same year he served as trainer and facilitator at the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico's Biotechnology workshop. From October 1988 to May 1992, he continued to serve at Camp Santiago, as Detachment Commander and as Director of Administration Branch and was promoted to Major
.
On May 1992, O'Ferrall was named Assistant G-4 of the State Area Command Headquarters at San Juan, Puerto Rico and from March 1994 to April 1997, he served as Operations Officer S-3, Headquarter, Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 162nd Field Artillery, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico
. In 1996, he became a member of the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association and served as such until 1999. On April 1997, O'Ferrall was named Combat Commander at Headquarters of the 201st Regimental School at Fort Allen in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico
. On August 28, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
and on March 1998, he was once more reassigned to the 162nd Field Artillery, this time as Commander. Outside of his military roles, he was a member of the Labor Department Employer Committee in Carolina, Puerto Rico
(1998) and member of the Course Design Committee at the University of Puerto Rico's Business Management School (1999).
On May 2000, He assumed the obligations of Operations Officer S-3, of the 101st Troop Command and on June 2001, the Temporary Additional Duty at Headquarters, State Area Command. From July 2001 to July 2002, O'Ferrall continued his military academic education and became the first Puerto Rican to attend the United States Army War College/ Senior Service College at Harvard University
, John F. Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Massachusetts
. Upon the completion of the course he was reassigned to Headquarters, State Area Command as Logistics Staff Officer and on September 2002 as Director, Secretary General Staff.
On October 2002, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel
and on February 2003, he was sent to Fort Bragg
, North Carolina
where he first served as Deputy Brigade Commander and later as Brigade Commander of the Task Force Guardian Mariner, XVIII Airborne Corp. The Guardian Mariner is a strong force which conducted multinational operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom/ Noble Eagle in what the United States and it's allies referrer to as the Global War on Terrorism. O'Ferrall managed and directed mobile security teams to complete over 242 security missions aboard 173 Military Sealift Command ships, ensuring the safe and timely delivery of over 500000000 square feet (46,451,520 m²) of war fighting equipment and supplies essentials to United States Central Command.
In 2004, O'Ferrall attended the Executive Seminar Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection, Level IV, at Washington D.C. and the United States Navy
, Commanding Officer Anti-Terrorist/Force Protection Course, Level III at Norfolk, Virginia
. Upon the completion of the courses he was assigned to the 92nd Infantry Brigade Separate in Puerto Rico as Deputy Brigade Commander and on September 2004 as Director Military/Civilian at the Joint Force Headquarters. In 2005, O'Ferrall served in the Board of Directors of the Chamber of the Food Industries Marketing and Distribution Association in Puerto Rico. During his stint at the Joint Force Headquarters from April 2006 to December 2008, O'Ferrall served in various positions, among them as Director for Operations J-3, Director for Intelligence J-2 and Assistant Adjutant General-Army/Deputy Commanding General (Army). In this assignment he was responsible for the training, readiness, personnel, and other areas of the Puerto Rico Army National Guard. He also served in the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rico Economic Development Alliance (2007) and in the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association from 2006 to the present. After attending the Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, United States Northern Command at Colorado Springs, Colorado
in 2008, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General
.
at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, position in which he currently serves while simultaneously serving as Assistant Adjutant General (Army) and Deputy Commanding General of the Joint Force Headquarters, of San Juan, Puerto Rico. O'Ferrall became the first Hispanic and general officer from the Puerto Rico Army National Guard supporting a joint forces mission of this caliber.
He is responsible for the supervision of over 2150 members from the United States Army
, Marines, Navy
, Air Force
and Coast Guard
as well as over 5000 civilian contractors and workers on the base. Among O'Ferrall's responsibilities is to ensure that those under his supervision provide safe, humane, legal and transparent care custody of detained enemy combatants, conduct intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination for protection of detainees and personnel working in Joint Task Force-Guantanamo in support of the Global War on Terrorism, support the Office of Military Commissions to law enforcement and war crime investigations in planning for and on order to respond to Caribbean mass migrations operations.
. Prior to this O'Ferrall had worked in the Pharmaceuticals Division of Johnson & Johnson
; was the Business Unit Manager for Industrial Products for Baxter Sales Corporation and he also served as VicePresident/General Manager for Pac-Tech. He is married to Maria Del Carmen Vazquez and has four children: Carmen Michelle O'Ferrall (from a previous marriage); Rafael Jr., Gian and Stephanie O'Ferrall.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
officer who is the first Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
of Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
descent to become the Deputy Commanding General for the Joint Task Force at Guantanamo Bay
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base is located on of land and water at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba which the United States leased for use as a coaling station following the Cuban-American Treaty of 1903. The base is located on the shore of Guantánamo Bay at the southeastern end of Cuba. It is the oldest overseas...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
while simultaneously serving as Assistant Adjutant General (Army) and Deputy Commanding General of the Joint Force Headquarters at San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Early years
O'Ferrall (birth name: Rafael O'Ferrall Cordova) was born to Victor Manuel O'Ferrall Sr., from SanturceSanturce, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Santurce is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico.-Summary:Santurce is one of the top ten most populated areas of the island holding Miramar, Loíza, Isla Grande, Barrio Obrero, and Condado as main cultural hot spots for art, music, cuisine, fashion, hotels, technology, multimedia, film, textile and...
and Blanca Rose Cordova, a nurse from the town of Yabucoa. His parents moved to the United States from Puerto Rico in search for a better way of life and lived in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where O'Ferrall was born. When he was 5 years old, he was sent to live with his grandmother in Puerto Rico where he received his primary and secondary education. In the 1960s O'Ferrall's mother returned to Puerto Rico upon the death of his grandmother. He was enrolled at Dr. Jose M. Lazaro High School in Carolina, Puerto Rico
Carolina, Puerto Rico
Carolina is a city located in the northern part of Puerto Rico, bordering the Atlantic Ocean; it lies north of Gurabo and Juncos; east of Trujillo Alto and San Juan; and west of Canóvanas and Loíza. Carolina is spread over 12 wards plus Carolina Pueblo...
, where he excelled in sports. In 1972, he was asked by the Puerto Rican Olympic Committee to represent Puerto Rico in the Munich Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
in the track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
events, however he was later substituted by the more experienced Luis Alers. After he graduated from high school in 1973, he enrolled in the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
and participated in various competitions as member of the track and field team of his Alma Mater. In 1974, he represented the island in the XII Central American and Caribbean Games
Central American and Caribbean Games
The Central American and Caribbean Games are a multi-sport regional championships event, held quadrennial , typically in the middle year between Summer Olympics...
which were celebrated in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. During his student years he became a member of the university's Reserve Officer Training Corps program, which is also known as ROTC. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration on Natural Science on June 20, 1978 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the Army National Guard
Army National Guard
Established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia operating under their respective governors...
that same year.
Military career
O'Ferrall was assigned to Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 162nd Field Artillery at Hato Rey, Puerto RicoHato Rey, Puerto Rico
Hato Rey is a former ward located in the northwest part of the dissolved municipality of Río Piedras. It now stretches over three wards of the municipality of San Juan, Puerto Rico:*Hato Rey Central*Hato Rey Norte*Hato Rey Sur...
. From June 1978 to June 1984, he served in various administrative positions, among them: Assistant Executive Officer, Forward Observer and Fire Direction Officer. On June 19, 1984, O'Ferrall was promoted to First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
and assigned to the 101st Troop Command in San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, where he served as Communication Electronic Officer, until February 1985. On February he was assigned to Camp Santiago Training Site at Salinas, Puerto Rico
Salinas, Puerto Rico
Salinas is a small municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico located in the southern coast of the island, south of Aibonito and Cayey; southeast of Coamo, east of Santa Isabel; and west of Guayama...
as Communication Electronic Officer, during which he was promoted to the rank of Captain (1985).
In 1986, O'Ferrall earned his Master's in Business Administration and Management from Turabo University in Gurabo, Puerto Rico
Gurabo, Puerto Rico
Gurabo is a municipality in eastern Puerto Rico located in the central eastern region, north of San Lorenzo; south of Trujillo Alto; east of Caguas; and west of Carolina and Juncos. Gurabo is spread over 9 wards and Gurabo Pueblo...
and served as Range Control Officer at Camp Santiago until October 1988. That same year he served as trainer and facilitator at the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico's Biotechnology workshop. From October 1988 to May 1992, he continued to serve at Camp Santiago, as Detachment Commander and as Director of Administration Branch and was promoted to Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
.
On May 1992, O'Ferrall was named Assistant G-4 of the State Area Command Headquarters at San Juan, Puerto Rico and from March 1994 to April 1997, he served as Operations Officer S-3, Headquarter, Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 162nd Field Artillery, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico
Hato Rey is a former ward located in the northwest part of the dissolved municipality of Río Piedras. It now stretches over three wards of the municipality of San Juan, Puerto Rico:*Hato Rey Central*Hato Rey Norte*Hato Rey Sur...
. In 1996, he became a member of the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association and served as such until 1999. On April 1997, O'Ferrall was named Combat Commander at Headquarters of the 201st Regimental School at Fort Allen in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico
Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico
Juana Díaz is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the southern coast of the island, south of Jayuya, Ciales, Orocovis and Villalba; east of Ponce; and west of Coamo and Santa Isabel and the Caribbean Sea to the south. Juana Díaz is spread over 12 wards and Juana Diaz Pueblo...
. On August 28, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
and on March 1998, he was once more reassigned to the 162nd Field Artillery, this time as Commander. Outside of his military roles, he was a member of the Labor Department Employer Committee in Carolina, Puerto Rico
Carolina, Puerto Rico
Carolina is a city located in the northern part of Puerto Rico, bordering the Atlantic Ocean; it lies north of Gurabo and Juncos; east of Trujillo Alto and San Juan; and west of Canóvanas and Loíza. Carolina is spread over 12 wards plus Carolina Pueblo...
(1998) and member of the Course Design Committee at the University of Puerto Rico's Business Management School (1999).
On May 2000, He assumed the obligations of Operations Officer S-3, of the 101st Troop Command and on June 2001, the Temporary Additional Duty at Headquarters, State Area Command. From July 2001 to July 2002, O'Ferrall continued his military academic education and became the first Puerto Rican to attend the United States Army War College/ Senior Service College at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, John F. Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
. Upon the completion of the course he was reassigned to Headquarters, State Area Command as Logistics Staff Officer and on September 2002 as Director, Secretary General Staff.
On October 2002, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
and on February 2003, he was sent to Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg (North Carolina)
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
where he first served as Deputy Brigade Commander and later as Brigade Commander of the Task Force Guardian Mariner, XVIII Airborne Corp. The Guardian Mariner is a strong force which conducted multinational operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom/ Noble Eagle in what the United States and it's allies referrer to as the Global War on Terrorism. O'Ferrall managed and directed mobile security teams to complete over 242 security missions aboard 173 Military Sealift Command ships, ensuring the safe and timely delivery of over 500000000 square feet (46,451,520 m²) of war fighting equipment and supplies essentials to United States Central Command.
In 2004, O'Ferrall attended the Executive Seminar Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection, Level IV, at Washington D.C. and the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, Commanding Officer Anti-Terrorist/Force Protection Course, Level III at Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
. Upon the completion of the courses he was assigned to the 92nd Infantry Brigade Separate in Puerto Rico as Deputy Brigade Commander and on September 2004 as Director Military/Civilian at the Joint Force Headquarters. In 2005, O'Ferrall served in the Board of Directors of the Chamber of the Food Industries Marketing and Distribution Association in Puerto Rico. During his stint at the Joint Force Headquarters from April 2006 to December 2008, O'Ferrall served in various positions, among them as Director for Operations J-3, Director for Intelligence J-2 and Assistant Adjutant General-Army/Deputy Commanding General (Army). In this assignment he was responsible for the training, readiness, personnel, and other areas of the Puerto Rico Army National Guard. He also served in the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rico Economic Development Alliance (2007) and in the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association from 2006 to the present. After attending the Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, United States Northern Command at Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
in 2008, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
.
Deputy Commanding General, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
On December 2008, O'Ferrall was deployed and named Deputy Commanding General, Joint Task Force GuantanamoJoint Task Force Guantanamo
Joint Task Force Guantanamo is a U.S. military joint task force based at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba on the southeastern end of the island. JTF-GTMO falls under US Southern Command...
at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, position in which he currently serves while simultaneously serving as Assistant Adjutant General (Army) and Deputy Commanding General of the Joint Force Headquarters, of San Juan, Puerto Rico. O'Ferrall became the first Hispanic and general officer from the Puerto Rico Army National Guard supporting a joint forces mission of this caliber.
He is responsible for the supervision of over 2150 members from the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, Marines, Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
and Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
as well as over 5000 civilian contractors and workers on the base. Among O'Ferrall's responsibilities is to ensure that those under his supervision provide safe, humane, legal and transparent care custody of detained enemy combatants, conduct intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination for protection of detainees and personnel working in Joint Task Force-Guantanamo in support of the Global War on Terrorism, support the Office of Military Commissions to law enforcement and war crime investigations in planning for and on order to respond to Caribbean mass migrations operations.
Civilian
As a civilian O'Ferrall serves in the board of various companies and as of September, 2004, is the General Manager of Dade Paper Company's Puerto Rico and Caribbean Division, a foremost supplier of paper, plastic and foam foodservice disposables as well as janitorial supplies and equipment located in Cataño, Puerto RicoCataño, Puerto Rico
Cataño is a municipality located on northern coast of Puerto Rico bordering the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent to the north and east by San Juan; north of Bayamón and Guaynabo; east of Toa Baja and west of Guaynabo and is part of the San Juan Metropolitan Area. Cataño is spread over 7 wards and...
. Prior to this O'Ferrall had worked in the Pharmaceuticals Division of Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson is an American multinational pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer packaged goods manufacturer founded in 1886. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the company is listed among the Fortune 500....
; was the Business Unit Manager for Industrial Products for Baxter Sales Corporation and he also served as VicePresident/General Manager for Pac-Tech. He is married to Maria Del Carmen Vazquez and has four children: Carmen Michelle O'Ferrall (from a previous marriage); Rafael Jr., Gian and Stephanie O'Ferrall.
Written works
Among the written works in which O'Ferrall has participated either as author or co-author are the following:- "The Transformation of Reserve Component (RC) Modernization: New Options for DOD?" LTC (P) Rafael O'Ferrall, LTC R Alford, LTC K. Riedlera and LT Col C. Rehberg.
- "United States Army War College Article: Reserve Component Equipping: A Critical Element of the National Military Strategy." LTC (P) Rafael O'Ferrall, LTC R Alford, LTC K. Riedler, LT Col C. Rehberg.
Military awards and decorations
Among O'Ferrall's military awards and decorations are the following:
Defense Superior Service MedalDefense Superior Service MedalThe Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."...
Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal (United States)The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
(with 1 Gold Star Navy)
Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal (with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service MedalNational Defense Service MedalThe National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
(with Bronze Service Star)
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary MedalGlobal War on Terrorism Expeditionary MedalThe Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is a United States armed forces military award created by George W. Bush on March 12, 2003 by Executive Order 13289. It recognizes those military service members who have deployed overseas in direct service to the War on Terror from September 11,...
Global War on Terrorism Service MedalGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalThe Global War on Terrorism Service Medal is a military award of the United States military which was created by Executive Order 13289 of President George W. Bush on March 12, 2003...
Humanitarian Service MedalHumanitarian Service MedalThe Humanitarian Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States armed forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under...
Armed Forces Reserve MedalArmed Forces Reserve MedalThe Armed Forces Reserve Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that has existed since 1950. The medal recognizes service performed by the Reserve and National Guard forces of the United States of America....
(with Silver Hourglass and M Device)
Army Service RibbonArmy Service RibbonThe Army Service Ribbon is a military decoration of the United States Army that was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981 as announced in Department of the Army General Order 15, dated 10 October 1990....
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- List of Puerto Rican military personnel
- Irish immigration to Puerto RicoIrish immigration to Puerto RicoFrom the 16th to the 19th century, there was considerable Irish immigration to Puerto Rico, for a number of reasons. During the 16th century many Irishmen, who were known as "Wild Geese," fled the English Army and joined the Spanish Army. Some of these men were stationed in Puerto Rico and...