The Pentagon announced Sept. 22 that Maj. Rodolfo I. Rodriguez, 34, of El Paso, Tex., died Sept. 20 in Islamabad, Pakistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. The blast reportedly killed some 53 people, including two DOD personnel. Rodriguez was assigned to the 86th Construction & Training Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany.
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.