ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — Two civilians and one Soldier were honored for their positive contributions to the installation and the Army during the quarterly installation retirement ceremony at the APG post theater on July 25, 2024. The three retirees had a combined service time of 87 years.
Col. Scott Smith, the chief of staff of the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command, hosted the event. He was assisted by Sgt. Maj. Jammie O. Comacho, 20th CBRNE Command.
The honorees were Hassan Azzam, lead general engineer with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center; Donald James, a logistics management specialist with the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command’s Integrated Logistics Support Center; and Sgt. 1st Class Rinaldo Rivera Jr., a military equal opportunity advisor with CECOM.
Smith thanked each of the retirees for the sacrifices they have made, giving part of their lives to serve the nation.
“Over the past 20 years plus, each of you has selflessly poured yourself into doing the right thing on a daily basis,” he said.
Smith said the retirement ceremony is also about honoring the family members who supported the Soldiers and civilians.
“Do not forget that our accomplishments as a team today are only possible through those who have supported us along the way,” he said.
Smith closed his remarks by leading the audience in a round of applause for the retirees.
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Hassan Azzam
Hassan Azzam received the Civilian Service Commendation Medal, the Department of the Army certificates of retirement and appreciation, a Senior Executive Service note, and a retirement pin. His spouse, Linda Azzam, received the DA certificate of appreciation. He officially retired on April 30, 2024, with 23 years of civilian retirement.
Azzam was born in Cairo, Egypt, and served in the Egyptian Air Force. While in the Egyptian Armed Forces, he received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Military Technical College in Cairo, Egypt, and a master’s degree in power stations and networks from Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt.
After almost four years as a contractor, Azzam transitioned to a government civilian position at Fort Monmouth as a computer engineer supporting the CECOM Software Engineering Center and later as the project lead for the Radar Frequency Interferometer System. In 2009, he became a supervisor for the Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center’s Software Engineering Directorate as the chief of the Force Protection Branch. He later went on to serve as the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command Science and Technology advisor for U.S. Army AFRICA in Vincenza, Italy, before moving to APG during Base Realignment and Closure to serve as the Tactical Communications Division chief within CERDEC SED and the Sensors Branch Chief within CERDEC SED before ending his career in the C5ISR Center's Research and Technology Integration Directorate Power Division as a team lead within the Power & Environmental Control Readiness Branch.
Some of his noteworthy career accomplishments include supporting the U.S. Army Africa commanding general during the chief of staff of the Army’s African Land Forces Summit in Kampala, Uganda; providing technical assistance to the Texas Army National Guard's 3rd Squadron, 124th Cavalry Regiment at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, and leading the software transition plan to the Biometrics Automated Toolset-Army program with the Program Executive Office-Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors-Project Manager DOD Biometrics.
Azzam said he feels blessed to serve the nation and looks forward to traveling and spending more time with his family.
“I am proud of paying my dues now it’s time to spend time with Linda and my grandchildren,” he said.
Donald James
Donald James received the DA Civilian Service Achievement Medal, DA certificates of retirement and appreciation, and retirement pin.
James retired on July 31, 2024, with more than 18 civilian and 22 years of military service.
James was born in Galveston, Texas. After attending Ball High School, he graduated from Central Texas University with a bachelor’s degree in general studies/business in 1986. After college, James joined the U.S. Army out of Houston in August 1978 as an enlisted Soldier. After 22 years of dedicated military service, James retired as a sergeant first class.
James began his career as a federal government employee with CECOM in 2006 at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. With extensive logistics experience from prior military service and contractor deployments, James accepted a position as a logistics management specialist with CECOM’s Integrated Logistics Support Center, formerly the Logistics and Readiness Center, a role critical to mission support. As a result of BRAC, James relocated from New Jersey to APG with CECOM. Here, he continued to support readiness and field operations projects for the ILSC’s Readiness Directorate.
James has served as an action officer and a lead point of contact for various high- visibility initiatives within the CECOM ILSC Readiness Field Support Directorate and Headquarters Mission Resources Division. Most recently, James and his team were reassigned to the ILSC HQ Operations Cell, led by the ILSC military deputy, to stand up a new Current Operations/Future Operations Branch to enhance the interface between ILSC Headquarters and the Command G3/5.
James said he feels good about being able to serve the Army, both as a Soldier and a civilian. James plans to move back to Texas, where he will serve his community by mentoring youth.
“I am not going to just stay home on the couch with the remote control; I will stay active,” he shared.
Sgt. 1st Class Rinaldo Rivera Jr.
Sgt. 1st Class Rinaldo Rivera Jr. received the Meritorious Service Medal, DA certificates of appreciation and retirement, the U.S. Flag, and a retirement pin. His wife, Patty Barzola, received the DA certificate of appreciation. Rivera officially retired on July 31, 2024, with 24 years of service.
Rivera enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the Fort Hamilton Military Entrance Processing Station in Brooklyn, New York, in 2000 and re-enlisted in the U.S. Army in September 2008.
Rivera has served in various roles throughout his military career; human resources specialist for the 41st Signal Battalion at Camp Coiner, South Korea; and human resources sergeant for the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Squadron, in Vilseck, Germany, with deployment to Afghanistan; human resources sergeant for the 66th Military Intelligence Brigade in Wiesbaden, Germany; squad leader for the 259th Human Resource Company in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, with deployment to Bulgaria and Romania as the postal supervisor; platoon sergeant for the 101st Human Resource Company in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, with deployment to Kuwait; and senior human resources sergeant for the 716th Military Police Battalion in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Rivera is pursuing a business management degree at the American Military University as part of his continuing education.
Rivera said he is adjusting to retirement and will always have fond memories of his military service. He called being in the military a “great motivation.”
“If you feel lost, the military is always going to be there; it gave me a foundation; it gave me structure,” Rivera stated. “It helped me find myself.”
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