Command Sergeant Major Santiago was born in Manhattan, New York and raised in Alexandria, Virginia. He graduated from Hayfield High School, Alexandria, VA, in 1982. Upon graduating from High School he entered the Army in December of 1982 on the delayed entry program. In February of 1983, he attended Basic Combat Training and Advance Individual Training as an Infantryman at Fort Benning, GA.
CSM Santiago mobilized and deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism, Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He served a combat tour in IRAQ OIF 08-09, as the Battalion Command Sergeant Major for the 157th CSSB.
CSM Santiago’s other assignments includes: Delta Co 2nd Battalion, 41st Infantry, 2nd Armor Division, Fort Hood, TX; Alpha Co 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division, Aschaffenburg, Germany; Alpha Co 4th Battalion, 7th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division, Aschaffenburg, Germany; Heavy Weapons Committee (Infantry Instructor) 80th Division , Alexandria, VA; Bravo Co 2nd Battalion, (TSB), 80th Division, Alexandria, VA; United States Army Reserve Forces School, Owings Mills, MD; HQs 6th Brigade, NCOES Detachment, Fort Belvoir, VA; 2nd Detachment, 2174th Garrison Support Unit, Fort Eustis, VA; HHC 5th Brigade, 78th Division (TS), Fort Meade, MD; HHB 72nd Field Artillery Brigade, 1st Army Division East, Fort Dix, NJ; 157th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion, Naval Air Station, Joint Reserve Base, Willow Grove, PA; 165th Quartermaster Group, Fort Belvoir, VA and 143rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Orlando, FL.
CSM Santiago served in critical Non-Commissioned Officer positions from Infantry Team Leader to Command Sergeant Major. His Leadership assignments includes: a Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle Section Leader; a Non Combatant NCO (Forward); an Infantry Course Instructor; USASMA NCOES certified Senior Instructor; First Sergeant; QA/ QC Sergeant Major (NCOIC) of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM & OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM Mobilization and Training Team at (FT. Dix, NJ); Deputy Commandant of First Army’s Division East OC/T Training Academy; Commander’s Council Facilitator; Battalion and Group Command Sergeant Major to Nominative ESC Command Sergeant Major.
CSM Santiago completed all NCOES education, the United States Army Sergeant’s Major NCOES Instructor Certification Course; Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training Course, Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course, Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) Phase I Course, Response Cell Operations Course, Structured-Self Development IV & V, the Sergeants Major Course, the Executive Leader’s Course and numerous other functional and developmental courses.
CSM Santiago is a Graduate of the United States Army Sergeant’s Major Academy and the U.S. Army War College, Executive Leader’s Course.
CSM Santiago’s military awards and decorations includes the BSM, MSM (Two Oak Leaf Cluster), ACM (Two Oak Leaf Clusters), AAM (Four Oak Leaf Clusters), GCM (2nd Award), ARCAM (Four Oak Leaf Clusters), NDSM (with Bronze Star), ICM (w/two bronze service stars), GWTSM, AFRM (with M Device/ Second Award and Hour Glass device), NCOPD Ribbon (with 4 affixed), ASR and OSR. CSM Santiago earned and was awarded the AMU and ASU Award. He also holds the Expert Infantry Badge and the Driver’s Badge.
CSM Santiago completed three years of undergraduate studies maintaining the Dean’s List at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, in pursuit of his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice.
CSM Santiago is currently employed as a Detective with the City of Alexandria Police Department with over 25 years of service. He is married to the former Maria G. Carrera for over 32 years and have two adult children, Orlando Jr, a graduate of Old Dominion