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Maryland Guardsman Honored with Prestigious MacArthur Leadership Award

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4822″ img_size=”large”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1603389561534{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”]Article By 1st Lt. Eric Evans, 29th Combat Aviation Brigade, Public Affairs[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1605300725692{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”]Capt. Raffaele Simpson, 1229th Transportation Company commander, was one of only 28 company grade officers and warrant officers from across the entire Army, to include the Active, National Guard, and Reserve components, to be recognized for outstanding leadership and performance throughout the previous calendar year. Simpson was honored with the General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award during a ceremony at the Pentagon on Oct. 21, 2020.

“I cannot think of another Soldier that embodies General MacArthur’s sentiment than Capt. Simpson,” said Col. Richard Ferguson, 29th Combat Aviation Brigade commander. “The 29th CAB could not be prouder and fortunate to have such an amazing junior officer. I look forward to watching how he shapes his career in leading our nation’s sons and daughters.”

Simpson has deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and has responded to numerous state activations for domestic emergencies.

“I’m honored to serve in the Maryland Army National Guard and my experience in my 11 years has been amazing,” said Capt. Raffaele Simpson. “I will continue to bring my best each day and I am appreciative of the journey and look forward to continually supporting the Maryland National Guard.”

Simpson commanded a transportation unit that helped deliver nearly 210,000 boxed meals and executed over 130 missions moving critical medical and other essentials supplies across Maryland as part of the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The unit drove a total distance more than the 25,000-mile circumference of Earth.

The MacArthur Foundation and the Department of the Army established the annual General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award to recognize officers who demonstrate the ideals of duty, honor, country.  The Army announced the winners of the award in April but the COVID-19 pandemic prevented an earlier ceremony. Gen. James McConville, Chief of Staff of the Army, hosted this year’s event, presenting the awards to the select few from over 120,000 company grade officers and warrant officers across the Army.

“Leaders that care, that truly care about the Soldier that they lead. We need leaders that care about their people, Soldiers, family and civilians,” said McConville. “Every single one of you has worked incredibly hard and demonstrated the competence, the commitment, the character, and care for our Soldiers that our Army needs.”[/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=”VIDEO – General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Awards Ceremony – Hosted by CSA Gen James McConville” css=”.vc_custom_1603390209971{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_raw_html]JTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cuZHZpZHNodWIubmV0JTJGdmlkZW8lMkZlbWJlZCUyRjc3MDM2MSUyMiUyMHdpZHRoJTNEJTIyNjQwJTIyJTIwaGVpZ2h0JTNEJTIyMzYwJTIyJTIwZnJhbWVib3JkZXIlM0QlMjIwJTIyJTIwYWxsb3d0cmFuc3BhcmVuY3klMjBhbGxvd2Z1bGxzY3JlZW4lM0UlM0MlMkZpZnJhbWUlM0U=[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]