| Ramón Colón-López | |
|---|---|
Chief Master Sergeant Ramon Colon-Lopez The first Hispanic recipient of the Air Force Combat Action Medal. |
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| Born | October 21, 1971 Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1990-present |
| Rank | Chief Master Sergeant |
| Commands held | Commandant of the Pararescue and Combat Rescue Officer School |
| Battles/wars | Gulf War Operation Southern Watch Operation Northern Watch Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| Awards | Bronze Star Medalw/ Valor and oak leaf cluster Defense Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal w/ oak leaf cluster |
Chief Master Sergeant Ramón Colón-López[note 1] (born: October 21, 1971) is pararescueman with the U.S. Air Force, who in 2007, was the only Hispanic amongst the first six airmen to be awarded the newly created Air Force Combat Action Medal. He is the Squadron Superintendent, 24th Special Tactics Squadron (STS), Pope AFB, N.C.
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Colón-López was born in the City of Ponce, Puerto Rico, located in the southern coast of the island. His family moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut and in 1989, he graduated from Kolbe Cathedral High School. Colón-López wanted to pursue a degree in the field of biology and attended Sacred Heart University. However, after two semesters in December 1990, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and trained as a Transportation Specialist after completing his basic training. He served as a Transportation Specialist during the Gulf War.[1]
In 1994, he volunteered for Pararescue duty training and completed his training in 1996. Pararescuemen are United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) and Air Combat Command (ACC) operatives tasked with recovery and medical treatment of personnel in humanitarian and combat environments. They are the only members of the DoD specifically organized, trained and equipped to conduct personnel recovery operations in hostile or denied areas as a primary mission.[2]
He participated in various assignments, among which were Operation Southern Watch and Operation Northern Watch as Combat Search and Rescue Team Leader. From July 2002 to September 2004, Colón-López was again deployed as part of a joint task force to several classified locations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan where he participated in a series of joint operations, including direct assaults and combat search and rescue missions. He was selected to create and implement the unit's compartments Personnel Recovery Advance Force Operations team, which serviced the entire Joint Special Operations arena.[1]
On March 11, 2004, Colón-López together with his Advance Force Operations Team and elements of the Afghan National Strike Unit, participated in an operation which required the capture of a high level target and a follow-on site exploitation with the intention of preventing the proliferation of chemical weapons. His helicopter drew hostile enemy fire yet Colón-López continued on his mission, which resulted in the capture of 10 enemy troops, and the destruction of multiple rocket propelled grenades and small caliber weapons.[3] In January 2005, after Colón-López returned to the United States, he was named Superintendent of Training and later Commandant of the Pararescue and Combat Rescue Officer School.[1][4]
On June 13, 2007, Colón-López became the first Hispanic, amongst the first six airmen, to be awarded the newly created Air Force Combat Action Medal, bestowed upon him by Air Force Chief of Staff General Teed Michael Moseley at the Air Force Memorial, in Washington, DC.[5] The medal was created to recognize Air Force members who are engaged in air or ground combat "outside the wire" in combat zones. Airmen who are under direct and hostile fire, or who personally engaged hostile forces with direct and lethal fire are eligible to receive the award.[6] The other five airmen to receive the award were Major Steve Raspet; Master Sgt. Byron P. Allen; Master Sgt. Charlie Peterson; Staff Sgt. Daniel Paxton; and Capt. Allison K. Black.[5]
Colón-López continues in his function as the Commandant of the Pararescue and Combat Rescue Officer School. His military rank of Chief Master Sergeant (E-9), is the highest enlisted rank in the Air Force. He is married to the former Janet K. McCaskill of Seagrove, North Carolina. Colón-López is featured at the U.S. Air Force Museum located in Dayton, Ohio, in the museum's "Warrior Airmen" exhibit for his role in missions to capture or kill high value targets directly related to the recent terrorist attacks on U.S. soil and abroad.[7]
Among Colón-López' decorations and medals are the following:[1]
Badges
Other