Rick Noriega

Richard Joel Noriega (born January 8, 1958) is a former American politician and retired major general in the Texas Army National Guard who is the Texas Chair of the Employee Support of the Guard and Reserves; a Department of Defense position. Recently appointed by the City of Houston to the Harrisburg Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ), committed to the economic development of Houston’s East End. From 1998 to 2009, Noriega was a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives for District 145, representing eastern portions of Houston.

In 2008, Noriega was the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate seat held by Republican John Cornyn.Noriega avoids runoff in Senate bid; Cornyn wins easily Robert T. Garrett, Dallas Morning News, March 5, 2008 Cornyn would win reelection with 54.8% to Noriega's 42.8%.

Early life and education Noriega was born and raised in Houston.Rick Noriega Profile Houston Chronicle After graduating from Mount Carmel High School he attended Alvin Community College on a Rusk Athletic Scholarship where he played baseball. Noriega graduated from the University of Houston in 1984 with an ROTC Scholarship and was commissioned as a second lieutenant.

He graduated from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1990. He also earned a certificate in advanced international affairs from the George Bush School at Texas A&M University.Candidate profile, Rick Noriega, Democracy for America Noriega is also a graduate of the University of North Carolina's Certified Government Chief Information Officer Program. He graduated from the US Army War College where he completed his assignment as a Senior Fellow at the University of Texas. He also is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College,

Military service Noriega joined the United States Army in 1979 in the wake of the Iran hostage crisis. He became an officer in the Texas Army National Guard in 1984, and served in the Afghanistan War that followed the September 11, 2001 attacks.Capitol Annex blog, Wes Clark Endorses Rick Noriega, November 7, 2007

On his return from Afghanistan, Mayor Bill White requested that Noriega command the evacuee shelter operation at the George Brown Convention Center in Houston, where he oversaw thousands of Hurricane Katrina evacuees.Charles Kuffner, A Year Ago This Weekend, Off the Kuff, September 3, 2006 Noriega then commanded the Laredo Sector working with U.S. Border Patrol during Operation Jump Start.

Noriega's awards include: the Combat Infantryman Badge; Senior Parachutist Badge; Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.,;PR Newswire the Legion of Merit; and the German Armed Forces Gold Badge for Military Proficiency. Rick Noriega retired from the Army in 2018.

Public service Noriega was a project manager for Communities in Schools, and taught in the Houston Independent School District and in the Houston Community College System before becoming a staff member for the Texas State Senate. In 1993 he joined the Government Affairs Department of Houston Industries, Inc. (now CenterPoint Energy, Inc.). He became a manager in the company's Economic Development Department after winning the Democratic nomination for Texas State Representative.W. Gardner Selby, Corpus Christi Teacher is Candidate's Main Hurdle Before November, Austin American-Statesman, January 13, 2008

Noriega was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1998 and served five terms, 1999 to 2009. He acted as the Budget and Oversight Chair of the Defense Affairs and State-Federal Relations Committee, and also sat on the Appropriations Committee.Half Empty Blog, Rick Noriega Formally Announces Formation of Senatorial Exploratory Committee, July 11, 2007

Noriega's House district was mostly Hispanic and low income, and included many residents who never completed high school.Leung, Rebecca. "The 'Texas Miracle'." 60 Minutes. February 11, 2009. Retrieved on November 22, 2011.

He authored and sponsored more than 100 bills in the Texas Legislature. His major legislative accomplishment was authoring House Bill 1403, The Texas Dream Act, in 2001. The bill made Texas the first state to offer in-state tuition rates and financial assistance for certain immigrant students. It was a landmark policy. Over 22 states adopted similar laws, providing access to higher education to thousands.

2008 U.S. Senate campaign

Noriega narrowly avoided a runoff election by receiving 51 percent of the vote in the March 4, 2008Democratic primary. His opponents were Gene Kelly (a perennial candidate), Ray McMurrey, and Rhett Smith. Prior to the filing deadline, trial attorney Mikal Watts withdrew from his bid for the Democratic nomination on October 23, 2007.Statement from Mikal Watts October 23, 2007 Noriega faced Republican incumbent John Cornyn, who outraised him financially and who received 81 percent of the vote in the Republican primary, in the November 4 general election. Noriega was ultimately defeated by Cornyn in the general election.

Personal life Noriega is a Mexican American the father of two sons, and grandfather to 1 granddaughter, and 1 great granddaughter."Political People and their Moves." Texas Weekly. Retrieved on November 22, 2011. "In focus groups for his campaign, it wasn't uncommon to hear inquiries about how to pronounce "Noriega" and people saying they wouldn't be voting for him if he called himself "Mexican-American" instead of plain ol' American."

Election results

2008 United States Senate

2006 State House 145

2004 State House 145

2002 State House 145

2000 State House 145

1998 State House 145

Issues

Economy Noriega proposed a comprehensive plan to help struggling families keep their homes during the 2008 economic downturn, focusing on revamping bankruptcy law, increased funding of counseling for struggling homeowners, and a tax credit of $2000 for homeowners who refinance into a fixed-rate loan. He also proposed funding to allow homeowners to refinance into FHA (Federal Housing Administration) backed loans, which generally provide lower rates of interest than private commercial loans.

Domestic security and immigration Noriega served the National Guard as commander of the Laredo sector during Operation Jump Start, which deployed approximately 18,000 Guardsmen to the US/Mexico border in 2006 to provide increased border security until an improved immigration reform package could be approved on Capitol Hill. Noriega focused on curtailing human trafficking and drug smuggling at the border, and called for more advanced surveillance technology to be deployed at the border as well as for more Guardsmen to be deployed there. Noriega opposed the use of a border fence to curb illegal immigration and trafficking.Senate candidate Noriega lays out immigration plan Texarkana Gazette, August 7, 2008

Noriega also authored HB 2546, a bill passed by the Texas legislature that restricts the sale of ammonium nitrate in order to prevent its use in criminal or terrorist activity such as the Oklahoma City bombing.H.B. No. 2546 Texas State Legislature

Noriega was selected to serve on the Military Leadership Diversity Commission by the Obama Administration which authored its March 15, 2011 report, "From Representation to Inclusion: Diversity Leadership for the 20th Century Military."

Post-Senate race activities In 2011 Noriega, then a colonel, was named commander of the Texas National Guard's 71st Theater Information Operations Group.Mark Rockwell, New Texas Guard Brigade Commander Will Work on Homeland Security Issues, Government Security News, August 12, 2011

Noriega was selected for promotion to brigadier general in 2013 and assigned as Assistant Division Commander—Support for the 36th Infantry Division. He then served as the Assistant Adjutant General-Army for the Texas National Guard. Noriega retired effective January 31, 2018, and received an honorific promotion to major general on the state's retired list of National Guard officers.

In his civilian career Noriega was Chief Executive Officer of the Ronald McDonald House Houston, a non-profit organization that offers a home away from home for critically ill children receiving treatment and care in the Texas Medical Center. Effective September, 2020, Noriega became the Chief Information Officer for Harris County, Texas, the third most populous county in the United States., Harris County, Texas, Names Interim CIO to Succeed Bruce High, Government Technology, September 22, 2020

Rick Noriega

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