Albert Lea native retires from Army Reserves
Published 9:14 am Saturday, January 16, 2010
Col. Rodney R. Peterson retired from the United States Army Reserves on Dec. 13.
Peterson, a 1976 graduate of Albert Lea High School, enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard on June 27, 1977, where he spent his first 24 years of service.
He was commissioned on April 13, 1980, from the Minnesota officer candidate school as an infantry second lieutenant. Following basic and infantry advanced individual training, he was assigned to Alpha Company, 135th Infantry Battalion, 47th Infantry Division in Albert Lea.
His duty assignments include headquarters company commander of the 135th Infantry Battalion Headquarters in Rochester from 1985 to 1986, Alpha Company Commander of the 135th Infantry Battalion from 1986 to 1989, and remained with the 135th Infantry Battalion in many staff positions to include communication and electronics officer, the assistant S-3 air and the S-3 until he was transferred to the 47th Division Headquarters in St. Paul in 1992. In 1995, he was transferred to the 1st Brigade, 34th Infantry Division in Stillwater to serve as the S-2 and later the S-3 before he was transferred to the 34th Infantry Division headquarters to serve as the Deputy G-2.
Peterson assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 34th Infantry Division in Mankato in 1998. After command he transferred to the Minnesota State Area Readiness Command in St Paul in 2000.
In 2003, Peterson transferred to the United States Army Reserves and was assigned as the director of contracting for the 19th Theater Support Command in Des Moines, Iowa, until he accepted a deployment in 2005 supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom in Balad, Iraq as the deputy corps distribution chief.
Upon return from deployment, Peterson accepted the position as the chief of staff for the 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) (ESC) on Oct. 10, 2006. On June 20, 2008, he took command of the 654th RSG in Tacoma, Wash., until Dec. 13, 2009, at which time he retired and relinquished the command as his final military act.
Additionally, he holds the civilian position as the United States Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District as realty specialist.
His civilian education includes the Winona State University with a degree in business administration. He also obtained a juris doctorate degree from the William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul. His military education includes the infantry officer basic and advance courses, Combined Arms Services and Staff School, intelligence officer transition course, general staff college, multi-functional logistic course, the joint course on logistics and the Army War College, in which he received a master’s degree in strategic studies.
Peterson’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze star, Global War on Terrorism-Expeditionary Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas training Ribbon with 7 Device, Meritorious Unit Citation, Expert Infantryman’s Badge and the Combat Action Badge.
He will be presented the Legion of Merit for his years of service sometime this spring.
He and his wife, Teresa, have three children: Robyrta, Bailey and Zachary.