Answer the following question: Facts: - caption: rodriguez in april 2013 - battles: invasion in afghanistan mali war -lrb- 2013 -rrb- of panama persian gulf war iraq war war - allegiance: united states united states of america 23px - commands: u.s. division international security assistance force joint command u.s. forces -- africa afghanistan command u.s. army forces command 82nd airborne - nickname: '' rod '' - awards: defense service medal -lrb- 2 -rrb- defense superior service medal legion distinguished of merit -lrb- 5 -rrb- bronze star medal -lrb- 2 service -rrb- medal -lrb- 2 -rrb- army distinguished - birth date: 23 october 1954 - serviceyears: 1976 -- present - name: david m. rodriguez - branch: united states 23px - image: general david m rodriguez usafricom.jpg border - birth place: overbrook , pennsylvania , u.s - rank: border Based on these bullet points, write a short biography describing the life of david m. rodriguez .
Answer:
david m. '' rod '' rodriguez -lrb- born 23 may 1954 -rrb- is a united states army officer who currently serves as the commander of the united states africa command -lrb- africom -rrb- .previously , rodriguez served as the commanding general of the u.s. army forces command from 12 september 2011 until 15 march 2013 .he has also served as commander , international security assistance force joint command -lrb- ijc -rrb- and deputy commander , u.s. forces -- afghanistan -lrb- usfor-a -rrb- from 12 november 2009 to 11 july 2011 .approved by the u.s. senate on 5 march 2013 , to take over africom from general carter f. ham , rodriguez assumed command on 5 april 2013 .