The Legion of Merit

Over his 31 year career, Lieutenant Colonel Alfred J. Padden has distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious service in a succession of positions of great importance and responsibility to the Army and the Nation, culminating as the Strategy and Policy Branch Chief, Stability Operations Division, Strategy, Plans and Policy Directorate, Operations and Plans (G-3/5/7), Headquarters, Department of the Army for the past eighteen months. His previous positions of significant leadership included Chief of Current Operations J3, United States Forces Iraq, Iraqi Army Brigade Transition Team Chief, Mosul; Inspector General, District of Columbia National Guard and Battalion Commander, 1st Battalion, 312th Regiment.

As the Strategy and Policy Branch Chief, Stability Operations Division, Lieutenant Colonel Padden positively and directly influenced Army and Department of Defense Policy and program recommendations to the Chief of Staff, Army; the Vice Chief of Staff, Army; and the DCS, G3/5/7 on a daily basis. His carefully communicated advice reflected the depth and breadth of his considerable experience and affected future programs and policy that will carry the Army through the end of sustained combat operations and into an Army focused on building the capacity of the partners of the United States.

Lieutenant Colonel Padden played a key role in the transition between Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn by carefully managing over 250 External and Stability Transition Teams as the Chief of Transition Team Operations for the J3 in United States Forces Iraq. His guidance and leadership were instrumental in navigating the complex and critical issues surrounding the Iraqi people's realization of sovereignty and the Iraqi Security Forces being thrust into the lead role for security operations. Lieutenant Colonel Padden performed this task, at a critical time in Iraq's evolving history. His success was built upon his superb efforts in his previous post which saw him mentor, coach, train and lead by example what would become the best brigade in the 2nd Iraqi Army Division, in Mosul, then the most complex and lethal part of all Iraq.

As the Inspector General for the District of Columbia National Guard from 2005 until 2008, Lieutenant Colonel Padden was credited for restoring the positive command climate that had been missing from the command. He achieved this by first clearing the backlog of Inspector General cases that dated back to 2001 and then ensuring timely disposition of the 185 new cases that were presented to him during his tenure. Through integrity, compassion, equality, fairness and outstanding leadership, Lieutenant Colonel Padden earned his exceptional reputation as the go to guy for the entire District of Columbia National Guard force including commanders, staff, retirees and family members.

As a Training Support Battalion Commander in the early years of Operation Enduring Freedom, Lieutenant Colonel Padden employed the diverse characteristics and capabilities of the 1st Battalion, 310th Regiment to fully prepare National Guard and Army Reserve Brigades for deployment to Afghanistan for combat operations. As the vanguard in preparing deploying forces, Lieutenant Colonel Padden created and employed techniques for instruction, sequencing and evaluation that became the baseline for the next ten years of Army efforts to ready and deploy forces from the Reserve Component into combat.

His actions, over 31 years of military service, are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service.

The citation of the Legion of Merit to the DARNG is now in "Active Voice" (This example is for retirement):

Citation to accompany the award of the Legion of Merit
FOR EXCEPTIONALLY MERITORIOUS SERVICE WHILE SERVING IN POSITIONS OF INCREASING RESPONSIBILITY AND CULMINATING AS COMMANDER, 96TH TROOP COMMAND. THROUGHOUT THIRTY-FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE YOU HAVE PROVIDED SOLDIERS AND FAMILIES WITH UNLIMITED SUPPORT AND CARE WHILE LEADING BY EXAMPLE WITHOUT REGARD TO PERSONAL HARDSHIP OR RISK AND YOU DISPLAYED AN EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY TO COMMAND INFANTRY, ARMOR, AND SUPPORT UNITS ALIKE. YOUR EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP IS IN KEEPING WITH THE FINEST TRADITIONS OF THE MILITARY AND REFLECTS GREAT CREDIT UPON YOURSELF, THE WASHINGTON ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

Citation to accompany the award of the Legion of Merit
For exceptional meritorious service from 1 June 2005 to 1 August 2011 culminating as Senior Intelligence Officer, Detachment 1, 2600th Military Intelligence Group, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Throughout her 28 years of service, Major Doe has distinguished herself by exceptional duty performance in positions of escalating importance and responsibility. During her career, Major Doe, by extra ordinary leadership, integrity and technical skills enhanced the readiness of numerous units throughout the United States Army and deployed. Upon retirement, Major Doe is recognized for distinguished performance of duty that reflects great credit upon herself, the 2600th Military Intelligence Group and the United States Army.

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