Jason Lopez promoted to Major

QUANTICO, VA - Jason Lopez, a former sports editor for the Rayne Acadian-Tribune and long-time resident of Rayne, earned promotion to Major in the United States Army during ceremonies held here at the Marine Corps University’s Warner Center on February 1, 2016.
Lopez, a 1997 graduate of Rayne High School, is the grandson of Willard and Janelle Pousson of Rayne, LA. He is the son of Ronald and Trish Lopez of Scott, LA and Bernard and Terry Richard of Richland, MS.
Major Lopez earned his commission upon completion of United States Army Officer Candidate School as a Distinguished Military Graduate in 2005.
He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from June 2007 to August 2008 as a Platoon Leader and Executive Officer in the hallowed 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Additionally, he deployed to Afghanistan with 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division as the Commander of Blackfoot Troop, 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment from October 2010 to October 2011. During this deployment, Lopez received a second Bronze Star medal and Blackfoot Troop earned both Meritorious and Valorous Unit Awards.
Major Lopez also served as an Observer, Coach and Trainer for Platoon’s and Company’s preparing to deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan and as the Commander of Delta Troop, 1st Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Fort Polk, Louisiana’s Joint Readiness Training Center from August 2009 to February 2010 and then again from April 2012 to August 2013.
He was selected for the prestigious Project Warrior Program in August 2013 and served two years instructing future Company Commanders at Fort Benning, GA’s Maneuver Center of Excellence from September 2013 to August 2015. As a testament to his initiative and competence, Lopez was honored with three consecutive “Instructor of the Cycle” awards by the student body during this time.
Lopez is currently attending Command and Staff College at Marine Corps University in Quantico, VA as a member of a select group of Army personnel.
Major Lopez is a 2001 graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He holds master’s degrees from Louisiana State University (2012) in Military History and Marine Corps University in Military Science and Operational Art (2016).
Major Lopez is a graduate of the United States Army’s Airborne, Ranger, Pathfinder, and Reconnaissance and Surveillance Schools. Upon completion of Command and Staff College, MAJ Lopez will be assigned to the United States Central Command in Tampa, FL where he will serve as an Army Strategist.
Lopez is married to the former Nicole Dabbs of Thibodaux, LA. The couple has five children, Kailie, 20; Gracie, 11;Jack 9; Drew 6; and Emma 3.