U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones received the Defense Meritorious Service Medal during a ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base, recognizing his service as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve assigned to Headquarters U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM). The medal was presented by Major General Richard A. Harrison, Chief of Staff at USCENTCOM, with Colonel Joseph M. Fairfield, Staff Judge Advocate at USCENTCOM, also present.
Reding Quiñones was honored for his work as a lawyer and military officer supporting OPERATION MIDNIGHT HAMMER, OPERATION ROUGH RIDER, and other national security missions. In this capacity, he provided senior legal counsel on national security and counterterrorism issues to the Commander of USCENTCOM.
“Serving in uniform remains one of the greatest honors of my life,” said U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones. “I am humbled to receive this medal, but the true credit belongs to the extraordinary men and women of CENTCOM, whose dedication and sacrifice protect our nation every day. As both a U.S. Attorney and a military officer, I will continue to defend the rule of law, safeguard our freedoms, and serve the American people.”
The Defense Meritorious Service Medal is awarded for exceptionally meritorious non-combat service while assigned to joint activities.
As head of the Southern District of Florida’s federal prosecutorial office, Reding Quiñones oversees cases involving violent crime, narcotics trafficking, corruption, immigration offenses, and other significant matters.
