Colonel Osvaldo “Oz” Ortiz is a native of El Paso, Texas. He graduated from Bowie High School in 1991, and from Texas A&M University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a Reserve Officer Training Corps commission to the U.S. Army Signal Corps.
Colonel Ortiz is a graduate of the Signal Officer Basic Course, Signal Captains Career Course, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the College of Naval Command and Staff, and the United States Army War College. He holds a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College.
His previous assignments include Platoon Leader and Operations Officer, Joint Communications Support Element (JCSE), MacDill Air Force Base, Florida; Battalion S-6, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Air Assault), 2nd Infantry Division, Republic of Korea; Commander, Delta Company, 40th Signal Battalion, Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Presidential Communications Officer, White House Communications Agency (WHCA), Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, D.C.; Battalion S-3, 25th Signal Battalion, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan; Brigade S-6, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas; Division G-6, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; Commander, 123rd Division Signal Battalion (Provisional), 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia; Executive Officer to the Commanding General, Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) and Senior Commander of Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland; and Brigade Commander, U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command (USAISEC), Fort Huachuca, Arizona. His most recent assignment was with the Headquarters, Department of the Army G-3/5/7 as the Mission Command Support Element Chief, a combined HQDA G-3/5/7 and G-6 team responsible for prioritizing, synchronizing, and integrating Army-wide command and control strategies, plans, architectures, and capabilities.
His deployments include Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR in Bosnia-Herzegovina and five tours in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (1 OLC), Bronze Star Medal (2 OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (1 Silver OLC), the Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Combat Action Badge, the Presidential Service Badge, and the Army Staff Badge. COL Ortiz is a recipient of the Signal Corps Regimental Association’s Silver Order of Mercury, the U.S. Cavalry and Armor Association’s Noble Patron of Armor, the Infantry Association’s Order of Saint Maurice, and is the 2023 Secretary of the Army’s Diversity and Leadership Award recipient.
As of 04 August 2024