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2024 Freedom Ball Keynote Speaker

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CSM Randolph Delapena currently serves as the Senior Enlisted Advisor of the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.


Command Sergeant Major Randolph Delapena is a native of Miami, Florida. He graduated from Miami Coral Park Senior High in June 1996.  He enlisted in the United States Army in 1996 and attended One Station
Unit Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri to become a Combat Engineer.


CSM Delapena has held numerous positions, which include: Combat Engineer; Team Leader; Driver to The Commanding General V Corps, Squad Leader, Drill Sergeant, Drill Sergeant of the Year, Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, ROTC Senior Military Instructor, the BN CSM for the 127th Airborne Engineer Battalion, 1st BCT, 82nd Airborne Division, the BCT CSM for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Division CSM for the U.S Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division, and the CSM for the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence, Fort Leonard Wood, MO.


CSM Delapena’s stateside assignments include Ft. Stewart, GA, Ft. Bragg, NC, Ft. Sill, OK, University of
Florida ROTC, Gainesville, FL, Ft Bliss, TX, and Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. His overseas assignments include
Bamberg and Heidelberg, Germany. He has deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation
Enduring Freedom, and Operation Inherent Resolve.


CSM Delapena’s military education includes the: 7th Army Primary Leadership Development Course (Honor
Graduate and Leadership Award), the Combat Engineer Basic Non-Commissioned Officers course (Honor
Graduate and Leadership Award), the Combat Engineer Advanced Non-Commissioned Officers course (Honor
Graduate and Leadership Award), the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy Class 64 (Commandant
List), the Nominative Leaders Course, Joint Staff Keystone Course, the United States Army Drill Sergeant
School (Leadership Award and Commandants List), Basic Airborne Course, Fort Bragg Small Arms Master
Gunner Course, Jumpmaster School, Route Clearance Planners Course, Airborne Rough Terrain Jumper
Certification, Master Resilience Trainer Course. He holds a bachelor’s in history degree from Excelsior College
graduating Cum Laude.


CSM Delapena’s awards and decorations include: the Legion of Merit (3rd Award); the Bronze Star Medal (3rd
Award); the Meritorious Service Medal (4th Award); Army Commendation Medal (6th Award); Army
Achievement Medal (9th Award); Good Conduct Medal (8th Award); National Defense Service Medal with
Bronze Star Device; Iraqi Campaign Medal (1 Star); Afghanistan Campaign Medal (1 Star); Inherent Resolve
Campaign Medal (1 Star); Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service
Medal; NCO Professional Development Ribbon (5th Award); Overseas Service Ribbon (3rd Award); Army
Service Ribbon; ISAF NATO Medal; Meritorious Unit Commendation (3rd Award); Combat Action Badge; Drill
Sergeant Identification Badge; Master Parachutist Badge; Drivers Badge (Wheel and Track), Ivory Coast,
German, Australian, and Canadian Jump wings, and the German Schützenschnur (Silver). He is a member of
the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club. He has also been awarded the Legionnaire Order of Saint Maurice
(Infantry), the Silver DeFleury Medal (Engineer), the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara (Field Artillery), the
Legionnaire order of the Dragon (CBRN), Distinguished Member of the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment;
Honorary Member of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, the Military Police Friend of the Regiment
awardee; he was selected as the Fort Sill Drill Sergeant of the Year for 2005, and awarded the FORSCOM
Sturgis Award (Top Engineer NCO) recipient for 2007.

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