Lieutenant Colonel Edwin J. Cruz illustrious career key positions included: Platoon Leader, 92d Chemical Company, 3d Infantry Division, Germany; Company Commander, Company G, 244th Quartermaster Battalion, Instructor, Petroleum and Water Department, US Army Quartermaster School (QMS), and Assistant Operations Officer, 49th Quartermaster Group (Petroleum and Water), Fort Lee, Virginia; S-4, 2d Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; Protocol Officer, Joint Task Force-Bravo, Soto Cano, Honduras; Chief, Petroleum and Water Branch, G-4, Eighth Army, Seoul, Korea; Deputy Director, Petroleum and Water Department, QMS; and Chief, Operations and Supply, Defense Energy Support Center-Middle East, Naval Support Activity, Bahrain. His combat and contingency operations service includes: Platoon Leader, 92d Chemical Company, Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm; Assistant Operations Officer, 49th Quartermaster Group (Petroleum and Water), Operations Support Hope, Joint Endeavor and Joint Guard; and Chief, Operations and Supply, Defense Energy Support Center-Middle East, within the 27-country US Central Command, area of responsibility; that included Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Combined/Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa. He not only demonstrated abundant courage and competence throughout his career, he advised, mentored, and counseled in a positive manner the careers of hundreds of Soldiers and students along the way.