Army Guard Col. Philip Pugliese, a Rexford Resident, Named Chief-of-Staff of 42nd Infantry Division

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Col. Philip Pugliese

TROY, NY (06/01/2012)(readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard Colonel Philip Pugliese, a Rexford resident and Iraq War veteran, has been named as the next Chief-of-Staff of the Troy-based 42nd Infantry Division.

As Chief-of-Staff, Pugliese will run the day-to-day operations of the division headquarters at the direction of Major General Steven Wickstrom, the division commander. He replaces Col. Gary Yaple who will move into a new position at New York National Guard headquarters.

The 42nd Infantry Division was nicknamed the "Rainbow Division" by its one-time Chief of Staff, Gen. Douglas McArthur. The division has oversight of almost 20,000 Army National Guard troops in New York, Vermont, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Pugliese, who currently serves as the Director of Logistics for the New York Army National Guard, where he is responsible for maintenance, supply and transportation for the 10,500 member force. He has served in the Active Army and the Army National Guard since 1983.

During his military career he has served as a maintenance officer in a variety of Army units and as the commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Troop of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment' Combat Support Squadron in Germany, Commander of the New York Army National Guard's 145th Maintenance Company and Commander of the New York Army National Guard's 342nd Forward Support Battalion. He has also served as a training officer and plans officer.

Pugliese served as the Chief of the Division Material Maintenance Office for the 42nd Infantry Division and as the Logistics Officer for the 42nd Infantry Division in Kuwait and at Forward Operating Base Speicher in Tikrit, Iraq from October 2004 to November 2005.

His awards include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, New York State Defense of Liberty Medal (awarded for service in response to the 9/11 attacks) and the Army Parachutists Badge.

He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the State University of New York, Brockport and a Masters in Public Administration from Marist College. He is a graduate of the Army War College, and the Army Command and General Staff College.

He and his wife Robin have a daughter, Gabriella.