Colonel Felix A. Rodriguez Jr.
Chief of Staff, Florida Army National Guard
Colonel Rodriguez currently the Chief of Staff for the Florida Army National Guard. He received his commission as an Ordnance Officer in 1998 from the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps at Mercer University. He began his military career at Fort Carson, Colorado as a platoon leader in the 183rd Maintenance Company later serving as its Shop Officer and Executive Officer.
After deploying to Saudi Arabia in 2001, he was reassigned to the 68th Corps Support Battalion as the Intelligence Officer (S-2). In 2002, he transitioned into the Florida National Guard where he served as the Ammunition Officer for the 927th Corps Support Battalion in Starke, Florida before taking command of the 690th Military Police Company located in Crystal River, Florida in 2003. During his command, he deployed to Afghanistan and after returning in 2006, he was assigned as the Assistant Professor of Military Science for Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. While in Tallahassee, he was reassigned to 83rd Troop Command in 2008 where he served as both the Brigade Logistics Officer (S-4) and Brigade Operations Officer (S-3).
In 2013, he was reassigned to Joint Force Headquarters, St. Augustine, Florida as the Assistant Chief of Staff. In 2016, he was selected for battalion command of the Florida Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion where he served for two years. He relinquished battalion command in 2018 and assumed duties as the 50th Regional Support Group Deputy Commander (DCO) and full time Florida Army National Guard Deputy G-1. He completed his Command Leadership Tour in January of 2020 relinquishing his DCO responsibilities. He continued serving as the Deputy G1 until July 2020 when he was selected to serve as the Director Operations, Plans and Training (G3). He began serving is his current assignment as the Florida Army National Guard Chief of Staff in January 2024.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with 4 OLC, Army Commendation Medal 1 OLC, Army Achievement Medal 1 OLC, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Florida Distinguished Service Medal with 1 OLC, Basic Recruiter Badge and the Parachutist Badge.
Colonel Rodriguez holds a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Mercer University, a Master of Science in Management from Troy State University and a Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. He is a graduate of the Ordnance Officer Basic Course, Military Police Officer Advanced Course, Command and General Staff College, Advanced Operations Course, Joint Domestic Operations Course, Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, Dual Status Command Course, United States Army War College and Airborne School. He also holds the Logistician specialty.