March 6, 2009 — Adjutant General of the V.I. National Guard Renaldo Rivera was promoted from Brigadier General to Major General (V.I.) with a promotion and pinning ceremony in the ballroom at Government House Friday. Rivera is the first Virgin Islands appointee and National Guardsman to receive the federal recognition of appointment to the rank of Major General.
About 150 dignitaries, colleagues, family and friends attended, among them former adjutant general Robert Moorehead and Brigadier General Antonio Vincens, adjutant general of the Puerto Rico National Guard.
While this is a promotion in rank for Rivera, he remains adjutant general of the Virgin Islands.
Rivera spoke briefly, thanking his wife Diane, who he said was his "rock," as well as his children for their support of his career. He encouraged young officers to also prepare themselves to one day be generals. His children Renee, Chantal, Lanique and Kiahn were at the ceremony.
Lt. Gov. Gregory Francis, speaking on behalf of Gov. John deJongh Jr., congratulated Rivera on his promotion, noting his long service in the military and his work to maintain government operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Omar.
As adjutant general of the Virgin Islands, Rivera serves as adjutant general of the V.I. National Guard, executive director of the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency, advisor for Homeland Security and director of the Emergency Management Council.
Rivera, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, was appointed adjutant general of the Virgin Islands in April 2007. As the adjutant general, Rivera serves as adjutant general of the Virgin Islands National Guard, as the Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency and as the advisor for Homeland Security.
In his post, Rivera has overseen the deployment of numerous units within the Virgin Islands National Guard in support of U.S. counterterrorism and revived the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve program in the territory to boost military and business cooperation.
Rivera is the first Virgin Islander of Hispanic descent to be promoted to the rank of major general within the V.I. National Guard and the second senior officer to receive federal recognition for the rank and grade of Brigadier General.
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