Command Sergeant Major Francisco J. Santiago Rivera assumed responsibility as the Command Sergeant Major, 500th Military Intelligence Brigade - Theater on 04 October 2023.
CSM Santiago is a native of Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 1996. He attended Basic and Advance Individual Training at Fort Sill, OK, where he was awarded the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of 13E, Fire Direction Specialist. In 2007, he attended Advance Individual Training at Fort Huachuca, AZ where he was awarded the MOS of 35M, Human Intelligence Collector.
CSM Santiago’s assignments include Chief Fire Direction Sergeant, 2nd BN, 3rd FA, Giessen, Germany and 1st BN, 10th FA, Ft Benning, Georgia; Drill Sergeant,1st BN, 40th FA, Ft Sill, Oklahoma; HUMINT Platoon Sergeant, 1st Brigade (BDE), 1st Infantry Division, Ft Hood, Texas; First Sergeant, 163d Military Intelligence BN, Ft Hood, Texas; 111th MI BDE, Ft Huachuca, Arizona; USAICoE Headquarters Command G3 Sergeant Major, Ft Huachuca, Arizona; Mission Command Training Program Intel SGM, Ft Leavenworth, KS; Eighth Army G2 Sergeant Major, Republic of Korea and 715th Military Intelligence BN Command Sergeant Major.
CSM Santiago has deployed several times to the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
CSM Santiago’s military education includes Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Senior Leaders Course, Master Leaders Course, Class 68 of the Noncommissioned Leadership Center of Excellence SMG-A, BDE and BN Pre-Command Course, CSM Developmental Program for BDE and BN, Master Resiliency Training, Faculty Development Course Phase I and II, Drill Sergeant Course, Basic and Tactical Combatives Course, Air Assault Course, CI/HUMINT Operations Management Course, Squad Designated Marksmanship Course, Digital Trainer Management Systems Course and Advance FATADS Course. His civilian education includes an Associate Degree of Applied Sciences Degree in Intelligence Operations from Cochise College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Excelsior College.
CSM Santiago’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (3 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (5 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (4 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (6 OLC), Presidential Unit Citation Award, Meritorious Unit Citation Award (2 OLC), Army Superior Unit Award (3 OLC), Good Conduct Medal 9th award, National Defense Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal (BSS), Afghanistan Campaign Medal (3 CS), Iraqi Campaign Medal (4 CS), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 5, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 6, Nato Medal Kosovo, Nato Medal Afghanistan, Drill Sergeant Badge, Combat Action Badge, Air Assault Badge and Driver Badge (W/T). CSM Santiago is also a recipient of the Military Intelligence Corps Knowlton Award and the Field Artillery Order of Saint Barbara.
CSM Santiago is married to Amarilis and together they have three children, Mia,Kam’Ron, and Javier and a grandson Micah.