Robert Romano, Afghanistan veteran and Freeville resident gets promoted to Lieutenant Colonel

New York Army National Guard Lt. Col Robert Romano, an Afghanistan veteran with more than 34 years of service, received his promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel in a ceremony December 9, 2017 at the 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters in Troy, N.Y.

Romano currently serves as the Staff Civil Affairs officer for the 42nd Infantry Division.

In 1983, Romano began his military service entering the US Air Force and attending Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base, T.X. He held various positions during his active duty tenure to include tactical fire team leader, weapons instructor and a flight security controller.

In 1996, Romano transferred to the New York Army National Guard where he completed infantry school and assumed the role of platoon sergeant.

Attending the reserve component Officer Candidate School program, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in July 2000. He completed the Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course, Fort Huachuca, A.Z. in 2002.

In 2008, he deployed to Afghanistan with the 27th Infantry Brigade, serving as the Deputy Intelligence Officer and conducted numerous missions throughout the Kabul area.

In 2010, he attended the Civil Affairs Branch qualification course, Fort Bragg, N.C. as one of first five National Guard Officers authorized to attend the course.

Deploying again in January 2012, he was assigned to the US 3rd Army, serving in Kuwait as the Director of Host Nation Affairs. He conducted operations as a liaison to multiple foreign governments with an international staff of military members and civilians.

His awards and decorations include; Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, NATO Service Medal, NCO Professional Development, Air Reserve Meritorious Service Ribbon, Global War On Terror Expeditionary Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, Air Force Security Forces Master Badge, Air Force Aircraft Maintenance Master Badge, and the French Afghanistan Meritorious Service Medal

His wife is an Air Force Master Sgt., assigned to the 105th Airlift Group, Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburg N.Y. He has one child, Michelle, who is attending Scranton University, enrolled in the Occupational Therapy Program.

To view these members click here: http://dmna-ny.meritpages.com/achievements/Robert-Romano-Afghanistan-veteran-and-Freeville-resident-gets-promoted-to-Lieutenant-Colonel/83080