Following the recent and tragic shooting in Colorado Springs, we want to acknowledge and thank an alum of our Aztec Army ROTC Battalion, Mr. Richard Fierro, for his heroic actions in preventing many more casualties on November 21, 2022, by springing into action to take down the shooter until police could arrive.
After attending Mira Mesa High School, Richard Fierro started at San Diego State University and graduated from the Army ROTC program in 1999. A high achieving Cadet, Fierro served as the Cadet Battalion Commander during his senior year; the highest position within the Cadet Chain of Command. For the 1998-1999 Academic Year, he also received the Aztec Battalion Commandant’s Award for outstanding dedication to duty, an award reserved for the top Cadet of each commissioning class. His name appears on a Commandant’s Award plaque in the Army ROTC office at San Diego State University (pictured).
Fierro commissioned within the top 20% of Cadets across the nation, earning him Distinguished Military Graduate status. After commissioning as a second lieutenant, Fierro branched Field Artillery and went on to serve as a Platoon Leader, Battery Commander, Operations Officer, Brigade Plans Officer and Corps Counter Fire Officer, After four combat tours to Iraq and Afghanistan, two Bronze Stars (among other accolades), 15 years of service, and achieving the rank of major (O5), Fierro left to work as a defense contractor and eventually open his own business in Colorado.
Our hearts go out to those who lost their lives or were injured on November 21st, and their grieving loved ones. We are thankful for the heroics of Mr. Fierro in saving the lives of many more and are proud to call him an Aztec.
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Lieutenant Colonel Michelle ParletteProfessor of Military ScienceDepartment of Military Science/Army ROTC