Steven Ferrari

Steven Ferrari was born in Camden, New Jersey on January 25, 1962, a son of Colonel Mario J. Ferrari and Barbara Jean (Bensinger) Ferrari. Mario Ferrari was a World War II veteran and longtime member of the United States Army Reserve and a career law enforcement officer with the Camden Police Department. Ferrari was raised and educated in the Camden area, including Stratford, and is a 1980 graduate of Somerdale's Sterling High School, where he played baseball and football. In 1986, Ferrari married Kimberly C. Konopka, with whom he is the father of two sons, Steven and Nicholas. He later married Tracy Kashulines, and is the stepfather of her children Will and Malyssa. Ferrari became a full-time member of the New Jersey Army National Guard in June 1986 and continued as a full-time member until August 2011. Ferrari's later civilian career included work in the Information Technology field for companies including General Dynamics. While residing in Winslow Township, he served as superintendent of Veterans Haven, a transition facility for homeless veterans in Winslow that is operated by the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. ==Start of military career==

In January 1981, Ferrari enlisted in the New Jersey Army National Guard. Assigned as a Field Artillery fire direction specialist at Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 112th Field Artillery Regiment, he completed basic training and advanced individual training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in July 1981. Ferrari's initial assignments were with 1-112th Field Artillery, including: fire support team chief, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion (March 1982–January 1983); fire direction officer, Battery C (February–September 1983); executive officer, Battery C (September 1983–August 1986); reconnaissance and survey officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion (August 1986–October 1987); intelligence staff officer (S-2), Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion (October 1987–January 1989); and commander of Battery B (January 1989–August 1990). He was promoted to first lieutenant in March 1985 and captain in March 1988. In addition, he continued his professional military education with completion of the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course and Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course. ==Continued military career==

Ferrari's continued assignments included: battalion fire direction officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 1st Battalion, 112th Field Artillery (August 1990–July 1994); battalion plans operations, and training officer (S-3), Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 1st Battalion, 112th Field Artillery (August 1994–May 1995); battalion executive officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 1st Battalion, 112th Field Artillery (June 1995–July 1997); and director of operations, New Jersey Army National Guard Training and Training Technology Battle Lab, (August 1997–July 1999). He also continued his professional military education with graduation from the United States Army Command and General Staff College. Ferrari was promoted to lieutenant colonel in April 2001. ==Later military career==

From January 2006 to May 2006 Ferrari was assigned as director of military support at the New Jersey National Guard's Joint Force Headquarters. Ferrari commanded the task force until November 2020. After returning to the United States, he continued to command the division until January 2021, when he retired and was succeeded by Thomas F. Spencer. ==Awards==

Ferrari's awards included: • Army Distinguished Service Medal • Legion of Merit (with 2 bronze oak leaf clusters) • Bronze Star Medal • Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 bronze oak leaf clusters) • Army Commendation Medal (with 4 bronze oak leaf clusters) • Army Achievement Medal • Joint Meritorious Unit Award • Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 1 silver oak leaf cluster and 3 bronze oak leaf clusters) • National Defense Service Medal (with 1 bronze service star) • Iraqi Campaign Medal (with 1 bronze service star) • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal • Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with gold hourglass, M device, and numeral 2) • Army Service Ribbon • Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 2 • New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal • New Jersey Ribbon of Honor (with 3 bronze oak leaf clusters) • New Jersey Merit Award • New Jersey Desert Storm Ribbon • New Jersey State Service Award (with 1 bronze oak leaf cluster) • New York Conspicuous Service Medal • New York Meritorious Service Medal • New Jersey Governors Unit Award ==Effective dates of promotion==

Ferrari's effective dates of promotion were: • Major General, 20 June 2017 • Brigadier General, 29 May 2012 • Colonel, 15 April 2006 • Lieutenant Colonel, 16 April 2001 • Major, 11 August 1994 • Captain, 7 March 1988 • First Lieutenant, 10 March 1985 • Second Lieutenant, 11 March 1982 ==References==