CAMP JOHNSON, Vermont –
The Vermont National Guard director of joint staff retired May 26, 2022, in a ceremony held at the Green Mountain Armory.
Brig. Gen. David Manfredi served for 34 years both on active duty, with the 10th Mountain Division, and in the Army National Guard in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and for the past 17 years in the VTNG.
“I had always been interested in the military as a kid, I read a lot of books about WWII and Vietnam, when I graduated from college, and started working in a corporate environment one of the things I missed was the comradery I experienced playing sports. I didn’t see that in the corporate world and thought perhaps the military, an interest I had throughout my life, might offer something to that effect, so that drove me to enlist. When I got to OCS, I learned a lot about what all that meant, it was a good decision,” Manfredi said.
Manfredi’s command assignments included Detachment Commander 173rd Long Range Surveillance Detachment, Rhode Island Army National Guard, Commander 3rd Battalion 172 Infantry, and Commander 124th Regiment (RTI).
Manfredi’s significant staff assignments in the VTNG included Training Division Chief Army Mountain Warfare School, Executive Officer 3-172 Infantry, S3, and Executive Officer, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and G1, G3, and Chief of Staff, VTNG.
During his career, Manfredi deployed to Afghanistan in Support of Operation Enduring Freedom twice.
“One thing that stands out to me has been deployments, wherever I’ve gone, a deployment for an exercise or a deployment overseas to Afghanistan, what I’ve seen our soldiers do and how NCOs and junior officers step up, if it is in time of crisis or just doing the right thing, I’ve always been amazed at the discipline, the will and the genuine desire to take care of people is something that stands out to me about my career,” Manfredi said.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with one oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters, the Ranger Tab, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and the Parachutist Badge and the Rams Head Device.
Before retiring, Manfredi offered some advice to new officers in the VTNG while reflecting on aspects of his tenure.
“I would give a new 2nd Lt the same advice that I got, that is when you get to your first assignment, listen to your NCOs, they offer some of the best foundational advice you can have. The opportunities I’ve had in the VTNG have been amazing, great people and great organizations, and I feel very fortunate to have served alongside the Soldiers and Airmen of the Vermont National Guard,” he said.