Cristobal Cruz

Master Sergeant (MSG) Cristobal Cruz enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 26, 2007, from Boston, Massachusetts. Following completion of Infantry One Station Unit Training, the Basic Airborne Course, and the Ranger Indoctrination Program, he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Over his 17-year career, he has served in a wide range of leadership and operational roles, including Team Leader, Squad Leader, Technical Exploitation Sergeant, Assistant Operations Sergeant, and Platoon Sergeant. He later served as the 75th Ranger Regiment Liaison Officer to the Joint Special Operations Command (J3) and currently serves within Regimental Headquarters (RHQ) as the Training Developer and Liaison Officer to the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS). He has deployed 12 times in support of the Global War on Terrorism, contributing extensively to operations requiring precision leadership, planning, and mission execution. His military education includes Infantry OSUT, Airborne School, Ranger Indoctrination Course, Ranger School, Basic Leader Course, Mountain Warfare School, Jumpmaster Course, Advanced Leader Course, Senior Leader Course, and Master Leader Course. Among his awards and decorations are the Silver Star, two Bronze Star Medals, the Meritorious Service Medal, two Joint Service Commendation Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, the Master Infantryman Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge, and the Ranger Tab. He is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at North Carolina State University, with concentrations in Business Analytics and Finance. This academic pursuit represents both a personal challenge and a commitment to professional growth, as he seeks to set an example of resilience for his children and prepare for a career in financial consulting, with a focus on leveraging artificial intelligence systems to drive data-informed strategy.