National Guard
Major General RAFAEL A. RIBAS
  
Director for Mobilization and Reserve Affairs, US Southern Command
Doral, FL
Retired
 Official Photo
SOURCE OF COMMISSIONED SERVICE  ROTC

EDUCATIONAL DEGREES
University of Miami - BA - History
University of Miami - BS - Chemistry
United States Army War College - MSS - Strategic Studies
Harvard University – Executive Certificate – Public Leadership

MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED
Infantry Officer Basic Course
Infantry Officer Advanced Course
United States Army Command and General Staff College
United States Army Infantry School, Infantry Brigade/Battalion Commanders Course
National Defense University, Reserve Component National Security Seminar
Advanced Joint Professional Military Education (AJPME)
United States Air Force, Air War College
United States Army War College
United States Army Command and General Staff College School for Command Preparation, Brigade Pre-Command/Command Sergeants Major Course
Dual Status Commanders Course (NORTHCOM)
Joint Task Force Commanders Course (NORTHCOM)
Army Strategic Education Program - Basic (ASEP-B)
General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar (GFOS)
Senior Executives in National and International Security (SENIS)
Army Strategic Education Program - Advanced (ASEP-A)
Combined Forces Maritime Component Commander Course (CFMCC)
National Security Studies Management Course (NSSMC)

FOREIGN LANGUAGE(S)  Spanish

PROMOTIONS DATE OF APPOINTMENT
2LT 8 May 87
1LT 26 May 90
CPT 30 Jun 93
MAJ 18 Feb 00
LTC 22 Sep 06
COL 1 Mar 13
BG 11 Apr 16
MG 6 May 19

FROM TO ASSIGNMENT
May 19 May 23 Director for Mobilization and Reserve Affairs, US Southern Command, Doral, FL
Jan 18 May 19 Deputy Commanding General, Army National Guard-United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning, Georgia
Mar 16 May 19 Director of the Joint Staff - Florida, St. Augustine, Florida; and October 2016, Dual Status Commander for Hurricane Matthew Response, Florida; later September 2017, Hurricane Irma Response, Florida; later October 2018, Hurricane Michael Response, Florida
Jan 15 Mar 16 Commander, 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Florida Army National Guard, Pinellas Park, Florida
Mar 13 Dec 14 Deputy Brigade Commander, 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Pinellas Park, Florida
Nov 11 Feb 13 Executive Officer, 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Florida Army National Guard, Pinellas Park, Florida
Sep 07 Oct 11 Commander, 2-124th Infantry, Florida Army National Guard, Orlando, Florida and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Kuwait/Iraq
Dec 06 Dec 09 State Partnership Program Coordinator (USSOUTHCOM-J5), Doral, Florida
Sep 06 Aug 07 Branch Chief, Joint Forces Headquarters, Florida Army National Guard, St. Augustine, Florida
Apr 05 Aug 06 Operations Officer (S3), 1-124th Infantry, Florida Army National Guard, Miami, Florida
Jul 01 Mar 05 Executive Officer, 1-124th Infantry, Florida Army National Guard, Miami, Florida and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Jordan/Iraq
Aug 99 Jun 01 S3 Air, 53rd Infantry Brigade (SEP), Florida Army National Guard, Tampa, Florida
Aug 98 Aug 99 Assistant Plans Officer, 53rd Infantry Brigade (SEP), Florida Army National Guard, Tampa, Florida
Sep 97 Aug 98 Logistics Officer (S4), 1-124th Infantry, Florida Army National Guard, Miami, Florida
Sep 96 Aug 97 Administrative Officer (S1), 1-124th Infantry, Florida Army National Guard, Miami, Florida
Sep 95 Aug 96 Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1-124th Infantry, Florida Army National Guard, Miami, Florida
Sep 91 Aug 95 Commander, Company C, 1-124th Infantry, Florida Army National Guard, Homestead, Florida
Nov 89 Aug 91 Executive Officer, Company C, 1-124th Infantry, Florida Army National Guard, Homestead, Florida
Nov 87 Nov 89 Platoon Leader, Company C, 1-124th Infantry, Florida Army National Guard, Homestead, Florida

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS DATE GRADE
Director for Mobilization and Reserve Affairs, US Southern Command, Doral, FL May 19 - May 23 Major General
State Partnership Program Coordinator (USSOUTHCOM-J5), Doral, Florida Dec 06 - Dec 09 Lieutenant Colonel

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS DATE GRADE
Dual Status Commander, Hurricane Michael Response, Florida Oct 18 - Oct 18 Brigadier General
Dual Status Commander, Hurricane Irma Response, Florida Sep 17 - Sep 17 Brigadier General
Dual Status Commander, Hurricane Matthew Response, Florida Oct 16 - Oct 16 Brigadier General
Commander, 2-124th Infantry Battalion, Florida Army National Guard, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Kuwait/Iraq Mar 10 - Dec 10 Lieutenant Colonel
Executive Officer, 1-124th Infantry, Florida Army National Guard, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Jordan/Iraq Apr 03 - Mar 04 Major

US DECORATIONS AND BADGES
Defense Superior Service Medal
Bronze Star Medal (with "V" Device and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Valorous Unit Award
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver and 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Iraq Campaign Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars)
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hourglass and "M" Device)
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon (with Numeral 2)
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (with Numeral 4)
Florida Cross (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Florida Service Medal
Florida Commendation Medal
Florida Meritorious Service Ribbon
Florida Service Ribbon (with 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Florida State Active Duty Ribbon (with 3 Silver Oak Leaf Clusters)
Florida National Guard Retention Ribbon
Florida Governors Meritorious Unit Citation (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Combat Infantryman Badge
Parachutist Badge
German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
National Guard Association of the United States
National Guard Association of Florida
National Infantry Association, Order of Saint Maurice
Association of the United States Army
American Legion
Veterans of Foreign Wars
United States Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps Hall of Fame

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2009, Level III Joint Qualified Officer Designation
2021, Columbian Army "For Faith in the Cause" Medal

 

 

As of: 23 Jan 25

 

The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.