User:Jleaux1/sandbox

Jason Willard Lopez is a Major in the United States Army. He is an Army Strategist currently assigned to United States Central Command.

Early Life and Education :
Lopez was born in Louisiana at Rayne-Branch Hospital in 1979. He spent his youth between the homes of his parents (Ronald and Trish Lopez, née Richard) and maternal grandparents (Willard and Janelle Pousson, née Lavergne) in Acadia Parish. Lopez graduated from Rayne High School in 1997, as an honor student and Academic All-State, All-Parish, and All-District football player.

Lopez graduated from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette in 2001 with a BA in History. He earned a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts in Military History from Louisiana State University in 2012 and a Master of Military Studies from Marine Corps University in 2016.

Military Service:
Lopez entered military service at Fort Jackson, South Carolina in 2005 as a member of the College Option Officer Training Program. He completed Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia as a Distinguished Military Graduate, earning a commission as a Second Lieutenant of Armor. MAJ Lopez has spent the majority of his career assigned to Airborne and Light Infantry Units. He has deployed in support of Peace Operations Training in Jordan (MAR - APR 2007), as part of surge forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom (JUN 2007 - JUL 2008) and to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom (OCT 2010 - OCT 2011). He is the receipient of two Bronze Star medals and was in Command of B Troop, 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalary Regiment when the unit earned the Valorous Unit Award (VUA) by displaying "extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy of the United States ... equivalent of the individual degree of heroism required for the Silver Star which is awarded for gallantry in action" during combat operations in Afghanistan.

Lopez is qualified Airborne, Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader, Scout Platoon Leader, U.S Army Ranger, and Pathfinder.

Personal Life :
Lopez is married to the former Noel Paton Boatwright. Noel is a graduate of North Carolina State (BS - Business) and the University of West Florida (BS - Nursing). She is currently Nurse Manager at the Reproductive Medicine Group in Tampa, FL. The couple has five children.