MSgt. David Larriva, an explosive ordnance division superintendent with the 95th Civil Engineering and Transportation Directorate at Edwards AFB, Calif., received his second Bronze Star medal during a ceremony at Edwards Aug. 27. Larriva served as chief of operations with the 447th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight during a deployment to Iraq from November 2007 to April 2008. He led five EOD teams, which conducted more than 100 combat missions, and relocated the teams from Sather AB to Camp Taji to maintain EOD coverage across the Iraqi theater. Larriva also received a Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Combat Action Medal during the same ceremony. He received his first Bronze Star in October 2007 for an earlier deployment to Iraq. (Edwards report by SrA. Julius Delos Reyes)
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.