| Ronald J. Rábago | |
|---|---|
Rear Admiral Ronald J. Rábago First Hispanic promoted to Rear Admiral in the United States Coast Guard |
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| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | Coast Guard |
| Years of service | 1978-present |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Commands held | Coast Guard Program Executive Officer (PEO) and Director of Acquisition Programs (Deepwater Program). |
| Awards | Legion of Merit w/1* Meritorious Service Medal w/2* |
Ronald J. Rábago is a United States Coast Guard rear admiral who in 2006 became the first person of Hispanic American descent to be promoted to flag rank in the United States Coast Guard.[1] He is the Coast Guard's Program Executive Officer (PEO) and Director of Acquisition Programs.
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Rábago, was born in Germany and entered the United States Coast Guard Academy upon his graduation from high school in Laredo, Texas. In 1978, he graduated from the academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Ocean Engineering and was commissioned as an Ensign. His first assignment was aboard the Honolulu-based USCGC MELLON as a Student Engineer.[2]
Rábago’s other assignments included the following:
On July 13, 2007, Rábago relieved Rear Admiral Gary T. Blore as the program executive officer of the U.S. Coast Guard’s largest recapitalization and modernization initiative, the $24 billion, 25 year programed Integrated Deepwater System Program. The Integrated Deepwater System Program (IDS Program), or Deepwater, is the 25-year program to recapitalize the United States Coast Guard's aircraft, ships, logistics, and command and control systems. The $24 billion program includes equipment that will be used across all missions.[4] Rábago not only acted as program executive officer of Deepwater, but also as director of all Coast Guard acquisition programs. His office will oversaw all major acquisitions of cutters, aircraft, C4ISR and boats.[5]
In 1983, he attended the University of Michigan and earned Masters of Science Degrees in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. In 1995, he was named the Coast Guard’s "Engineer of the Year" and in 1996, he attended the Naval War College, where he earned a Masters Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.
"Joint Migration Operations: A Growing Mission Area"; This paper explores the growing Joint mission area of migrant and refugee operations both as a single mission Joint Task Force (JTF) and as part of existing JTF Operations. Authors: Ronald J. Rabago; NAVAL WAR COLL NEWPORT RI [6]
Council Member - American Society of Naval Engineers Organization Council of the Society.[7]
Among Rábago's military awards and recognitions are the following:
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