Command Sergeant Major

Ernesto L. Cruz

Command Sergeant Major Ernesto L. Cruz is a native of Arroyo, Puerto Rico; he enlisted in July 1998 as a cryptologic linguist. He attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, the Hebrew basic course at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center at the Presidio of Monterey, and completed follow-on training at the Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, Texas.

Command Sgt. Maj. Cruz has served in every leadership position from Team Leader to Battalion Command Sergeant Major. His stateside assignments include 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Noncommissioned Officer Academy at Goodfellow Air Force Base at San Angelo, Texas; Army Network Warfare Battalion at Fort Meade, Maryland, and DLIFLC at the Presidio of Monterey, California. He deployed several times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Special Operations Team Alpha (SOT-A) member/team leader, and once for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel/Resolute Support. He also deployed in support of peacekeeping operations in Kenya and twice to Jordan.

Command Sgt. Maj. Cruz’s military education includes Basic, Advanced, and Senior Leader Courses, Sergeants Major Non-Resident Course at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, Basic Airborne and Jumpmaster schools, High Risk and 215 SERE, Basic and Small Group Instructor courses, the Defense Strategic Debriefer Course, and the Defense Advanced Tradecraft Course. Command Sgt. Maj. Cruz earned two Associate of Arts degrees from DLIFLC and a Bachelor of Science degree from Excelsior College.

Command Sgt. Maj. Cruz ‘s awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), the Army Commendation Medal (4 OLC), the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal (6th award), the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2 stars), the Iraq Campaign Medal (5 stars), the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (5th award), the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Military Intelligence Corps Association Knowlton Award.

Command Sgt. Maj. Cruz is married and has three children.