Indian Head, Md. –
Thanksgiving has always been a special holiday for the Rodriguez family. On Thursday, November 26, 1953, Staff Sgt. Anselmo Rodriguez was serving with the 25th Infantry Division in Korea. Little did he know that when celebrating the holiday with his fellow soldiers in the “Tropic Lightning” that on the same day 11 years in the future, his son Carlos — now a computer scientist with Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD) — would be born on Thanksgiving Day.
The elder Rodriguez returned from the war and used his G.I. Bill to earn a degree from the University of Puerto Rico — all while continuing to serve in the Puerto Rico Army National Guard, which he did for the next 28 years. As an elementary school science teacher in Fajardo, Anselmo instilled a curiosity and love of science in his children.
"Education was very important to my father; he was always teaching us, inside and outside the classroom," Carlos Rodriguez said. "I truly owe my love of learning to him — a love of science that carried me through college and graduate school and still drives me to this day."
After graduating with a degree in computer science from the University of Puerto Rico, Carlos came to the Washington, D.C. area as an intern with the Department of Labor, working on software in the early days of the internet. After 13 years with the Department of Labor, Carlos began work with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division.
Having been with NSWC IHD for 23 years now, Carlos's current role is as a computer scientist with the Software Support Activity for the Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (JCREW)-- a system for electronically countering Improvised Explosive Devices and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. In today's geopolitical environment, a system such as JCREW is more vital than ever.
"Like my father serving our country in the Korean War, and as an educator and Guardsman, I am proud to continue serving in a way I can contribute the most to the warfighter," Carlos said. "Helping field a system such as JCREW, that most definitely saves lives in the field, is how I serve. I am extremely proud of the work my team does."
Two generations devoting their life to service of the country is notable, but the Rodriguez family didn't stop there. Carlos's first son and daughter-in-law are both recent graduates from Texas A&M University who are now 2nd Lts. in the Space Force. With three generations now serving or having served, the deep value the family places on service to the country is apparent.
This year the Rodriguez family will celebrate Thanksgiving together. "Thanksgiving has always been a special holiday for me and my family," Carlos said. "I always look back and give a special thanks to my dad whose love of this country and to our family was so strong that it's still with us today. That's something I'm always thankful for."