WASHINGTON -- An officer from the 76th Operational Response Command at Fort Douglas, Utah, was one of seven company-grade Army Reserve officers recognized with the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award May 30.
Captain Anthony Padilla, inspector general for the 76th ORC, was presented the award for displaying commitment to the Army values; technical and tactical competence; and a mature understanding of their leaders, subordinates and peers.
The MacArthur award, which is a 15-pound bronze bust of the general, is given annually to 28 company-grade officers of all three Army components who represent the ideals for which Gen. MacArthur stood: duty, honor, country.
MacArthur was a combat commander in World War I, World War II and the Korean War and one of only five Army generals to wear five stars.
The MacArthur awards were presented by the Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno.
"The 28 of you receiving this award this afternoon are some of our most outstanding junior Army officers," he said, pointing out that nearly all had served combat tours in Iraq, Afghanistan or both. "You represent not only the best of the total Army, Active, National Guard and Army Reserve, but also the very best that our nation has to offer."
Also in attendance was the Chief of the Army Reserve, Commanding General USARC Lt. Gen. Jeffrey W. Talley, who took time to speak with the seven award recipients from the Army Reserve after the ceremony.
Padilla, a native of the Bronx, N.Y., entered Active Duty in San Juan, Puerto Rico in Nov. 1991 as an enlisted Soldier. He reached the rank of Master Sergeant before he accepted his direct commissioning in Jun. 2008 and was branch qualified in the Engineer Corps.
"I held every position while I was an enlisted Soldier from private to master sergeant," said Padilla. "I will never forget where I came from and the skills I learned as an enlisted Soldier."
Leading the way early in his career, Padilla, was assigned to be the Company Commander for the 439th Engineer Company in Bellefonte, Pa. as a 1st Lt., a position held for captains.
As company commander he implemented recruiting, retention, and training plans that his Soldiers embraced. He developed Soldiers extensively on fitness, weapons qualification, drivers training, and performing missions in tactical scenarios. Padilla engaged and motivated Soldiers which resulted in overall improvements to unit readiness and its abilities to perform its mission.
Currently as the inspector general for the 76th ORC, Padilla's initiatives and skills in dealing with Soldier and civilian complaints has greatly improved how his command deals with certain situations resulting in faster resolutions.
"As an IG, you really have to know how to communicate and listen. It is almost like being a company commander but with a different twist because although you don't have command authority, as an IG, we are the eyes, ears, and voice of our commanding general," said Padilla
Padilla was accompanied by his wife, Sogdiana Rodiguez and his two step-sons Kyle and Dylan, who flew in from Puerto Rico to share this milestone.
"It is a great honor for a captain to be selected for the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award. The fact that CPT Padilla won the award this year is an indicator of his excellent leadership skills, commitment to our Army Values and dedicated service to our nation. I'm extremely proud of Anthony and the 76th ORC is blessed to have fine officers like him in our ranks," said Maj. Gen. Daniel L. York, commanding general of the 76th Operational Response Command.
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