Colonel (R) Fred Ortiz
Colonel Ortiz hails from Mexico City, Mexico by the way of Kansas. He earned a Bachelor’s of Art Degree in Chemistry from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. He has earned a Master of Science Degree in Continuing Adult Education from Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, as well as a Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. He is an OCS Chemical Officer YG 94.
COL Ortiz enlisted in the Army in 1988 as a Chemical Operations Specialist as a Private First Class. He was certified as an NBC Reconnaissance Specialist. He was assigned to the 11th Chemical Company in Nellingen, Germany. Ortiz deployed in support of Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Upon his return he was assigned to 1st Infantry Division in Fort Riley, Kansas. He attended Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning, Georgia and was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served as Battalion Chemical Officer (1/321 FAR). Lt. Ortiz served as Platoon Leader and Executive Officer (21st CML CO) while at Fort Bragg. After attendance to Chemical Officer Advance Course he was sent to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he served as 3rd Brigade Chemical Officer (101st ABN DIV AASLT) and to command a support detachment (HHD 561 Support BN). After a year at University of Kansas, he was sent to Command the Houston South Recruiting Company in Friendswood, Texas. In 2003 Ortiz moved to be an Observer/Trainer for the Battle Command Training Program and to attend Intermediate Level Education at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. COL Ortiz next assignment was HHB 101st ABN DIV AASLT, where he served as Future Operations Planner, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion Operations Officer, and Battalion Executive Officer in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (IX and XI) in Fort Campbell, Kentucky and Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan. In 2011 Ortiz was assigned to Fort Riley, Kansas to be the 1st Infantry Division Current Operations Officer and deployed in same position to Bagram, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom XIII. In 2013, LTC Ortiz became the Commander of the Radford Army Ammunition Plant in Radford, Virginia. Following his command, Ortiz was sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky to be the Chemical Corps Branch Chief in Human Resources Command (HRC). After attending the Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, COL Ortiz was assigned to Fort Bragg as the XVIII ABN Corps Protection and CBRNE Chief. In July 2018 COL Ortiz assumed Command of Pine Bluff Arsenal. In July 2020 COL Ortiz arrived at FORSCOM for his last active duty station where he served as the Director of Operations and Readiness (ORD).
Since his retirement in March 2023 COL Ortiz (retired) worked at JULO Global as coach and mentor for entrepreneurs and currently is a PMP manager for LLEAD Services along his younger two sons. He has also returned to officiating Soccer at all levels.
COL Ortiz personal awards include: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (7 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Meritorious Unit Award (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Good Conduct Medal (2 award), National Defense Service Medal (2 award), Afghanistan Campaign Medal Campaign Star (2 award), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Most Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, NATO Medal, Saudi Arabia Kuwait Liberation Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Recruiter’s Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge.