COL Richard J. Noriega to Command Texas National Guard Group

Aug. 12, 2011 - PRLog -- Please join AVANCE, Inc. as we celebrate the assignment of our President and CEO Richard J. Noriega as the Commander of the 71st Theater Information Operations Group this Saturday, August 13th from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM at the Texas Capitol, South Steps, 1100 Congress Ave @ 11th Street.  A reception will follow the ceremony in Texas Capitol Conference Room, E2.002.

COL Noriega has served in the National Guard and Army Reserves since 1980 and has made a lifelong commitment to serve his community and country.  He most recently served as the Deputy Commander for Texas’ Joint Interagency Task Force.  COL Richard J. Noriega was born in Houston, Texas. He enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army Reserves in 1980.  In civilian life, COL Noriega is the President and CEO of AVANCE, Inc., a 38 year-old nationally renowned early education non-profit organization.

Col Noriega will take over as commander of the 71st Theater Information Operations Group “Unseen Dominance” which was constituted 24 October 2001 in the Texas Army National Guard and was reorganized as the 49th Information Operations Group headquartered at Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas.

It is with great honor and pride that AVANCE, Inc. congratulates COL Noriega on his recent assignment and for his years of service to AVANCE and our country.

Richard J. Noriega military background:

COL Noriega served with the 75th Maneuver Area Com-mand until he was commissioned in 1984 through the University of Houston ROTC program. He then joined the Texas Army National Guard where he was assigned to G Company 143d Infantry. He served as a Platoon Leader, Executive Officer and Communications Platoon Leader until 1988. He then served as the Mortar Platoon Leader, 6-112th, 49th AD.
Twice COL Noriega served as an Aide-de-Camp; to BG David Heuer, 36th BDE, 50th AD and as Aide-de-Camp to MG Samuel Turk, then Adjutant General of Texas. He commanded the 143d IN (LRS) Detachment, 49th AD. COL Noriega served as an S-3 Air, 2-141 IN (M), 36th BDE, and as the Assistant S-3 IN, 36th BDE, 49th AD. COL Noriega served as the S-4, Logistics Officer for the 131st Regiment, Combat Arms.  He served as the S-3 for the 3-144 IN BN, 3d BDE, 49th AD, before his assignment as the Training Readiness Officer for HQ STARC, TXARNG.
In 2004, COL Noriega deployed to Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom as a Battalion Training Leader, Embedded Training Team, and later as the Garrison Commander, Kabul Military Training Center. Upon his return to Texas, COL Noriega commanded the Laredo Border Sector, Operation Jumpstart, working with U.S. Border Patrol. He then commanded the 1-141 IN BN (First Texas), 72nd BDE, 36th ID. COL Noriega recently served as the Deputy Commander for Texas’ Joint Interagency Task Force.
He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from the University of Houston, and earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He received his Certificate in Advanced International Affairs from the George Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University. COL Noriega is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College, Senior Service College Fellowship, University of Texas.
COL Noriega’s awards include the Combat Infantry Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal 3rd Award, Army Achievement Medal 2nd Award, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal 7th Award, National Defense Service Medal 2nd Award, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.
In civilian life, COL Noriega is the President and CEO of AVANCE, Inc., a nationally renowned early-childhood education non-profit.

71st Theater Information Operations Group “Unseen Dominance” Overview:
IO FSU #1 was constituted 24 October 2001 in the Texas Army National Guard.
14 August 2001 IO FSU #1 was reorganized as the 49th Information Operations Group headquartered at Camp Mabry, Austin.
1 October 2008 the 49th IO Group was reflagged as the 71st Theater Information Operations Group (TIOG) with the 101st Field Support Battalion and the 102nd General Support Battalions as subordinate commands.
The 71st TIOG ‘s mission is provide operational and strategic Information Operations support to commanders at brigade level and above. The 71st Theater Information Operations Group stands ready to deploy ready and responsive forces, fully trained and qualified to conduct full spectrum in-formation operations in joint and coalition environments, as well as to state and federal agencies.
The 71st TIOG is one of four Theater Information Operations Groups Army wide. The 71st TIOG and its subordinate battalions have deployed IO teams and detachments to Operations IRAQI FREEDOM from its inception to the present. 71st TIOG Soldiers have deployed to Operation EN-DURING FREEDOM 2, 3, 5 and 7, the Balkans 3B, 4A, 4B and to Bosnia on KFOR 7. Over the last year members of the 71st TIOG have deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti, Dominican Republic, and El Salvador.