Montville Grad Promoted to Army Brigadier General

From a US Army press release: 

FORT BENNING, Ga. – The commandant of the U.S. Army Armor School and 47th Chief of Armor, Leopoldo A. Quintas, has been promoted to brigadier general and will pin on his new rank at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 24 in front of McGinnis-Wickam Hall. 

Quintas graduated from Montville Hgh School in 1982.

"Lee is a leader of great vision who has innovated to improve the combat effectiveness of our Armor and Cavalry forces,” said Maj. Gen. H. R. McMaster, commanding general of the Maneuver Center of Excellence, who served alongside then-Lt. Col. Quintas in South Baghdad in 2005. 

“[Quintas] is also a proven combat leader.  He led 2nd Battalion, 7th Armor Regiment, with great vision, determination, courage and compassion.  And, Lee recently returned from a one-year combat tour of duty in Afghanistan, where he served as the Chief of Staff of the 3rd Infantry Division,” McMaster said.

A 1986 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Quintas has served here since September.  As Armor School commandant, Quintas is responsible for all facets of Armor training, including doctrine, policies and responsibilities that relate to the Armor force.  He was nominated for promotion to brigadier general in July.  

Quintas is a graduate of the Armor Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College and the Naval War College.  He has also earned a Master’s Degree in Applied Mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

A veteran of Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield, Quintas has served in Iraq and Afghanistan.         

His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star with “V” device, Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Bade and Army Staff Identification Badge.

“As we congratulate Lee and thank him for his service,” McMaster said, “we also thank his wife, Lori, and their children, Sam and Emma, for their sacrifices and the support that allows Lee to continue to serve our nation, our Army and our fellow Soldiers."