Rafael O'Ferrall

Rafael O'Ferrall
Brigadier General Rafael O'Ferrall Deputy Commanding General for the Joint Task Force-Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Born	June 29, 1954 New York City, NY
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	Army National Guard
Years of service	1978-present
Rank	Brigadier General
Commands held	Deputy Commanding General of the Joint Force Headquarters, of San Juan, Puerto Rico Deputy Commanding General for the Joint Task Force at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Awards	Defense Superior Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Gold Star Navy)
Other work	General Manager of Dade Paper Company's Puerto Rico and Caribbean Division

Brigadier General Rafael O'Ferrall (born June 29, 1954) is an Army National Guard officer who is the Deputy Commanding General for the Joint Task Force at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and the Assistant Adjutant General (Army) and Deputy Commanding General of the Joint Force Headquarters at San Juan, Puerto Rico.

O'Ferrall (birth name: Rafael O'Ferrall Córdova ) was born to Victor Manuel O'Ferrall Sr., from Santurce and Blanca Rose Córdova, a nurse from the town of Yabucoa. His parents moved to the United States from Puerto Rico in search for a better way of life and lived in New York City where O'Ferrall was born. When he was five years old, he was sent to live with his grandmother in Puerto Rico, where he received his primary and secondary education. In the 1960s O'Ferrall's mother returned to Puerto Rico upon the death of his grandmother. He was enrolled at Dr. Jose M. Lazaro High School in Carolina, Puerto Rico, where he excelled in sports. In 1972, he was asked by the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee to represent Puerto Rico in the Munich Olympics in track and field events, however he was later substituted by the more experienced Luis Alers. After he graduated from high school in 1973, he enrolled in the University of Puerto Rico and participated in various competitions as member of the track and field team of his Alma Mater. In 1974, he represented the island in the XII Central American and Caribbean Games which were celebrated in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. During his student years he became a member of the university's Reserve Officer Training Corps program, which is also known as ROTC. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration on Natural Science on June 20, 1978 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army National Guard that same year.