In his previous assignment, Brigadier General Garffer served as the Director Joint Operations (J3) Joint Forces Headquarters West Virginia National Guard. Prior to this Brigadier General Garffer served as the Commander, Special Operations Detachment-Europe.
A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States, Brigadier General Garffer is a graduate of the United States Army War College. He received his commission as an Infantry Officer from the United States Army Officer Candidate School in 1997, having enlisted in the Army in 1995. He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, the Infantry Officer Advance Course, the Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Command and General Staff College, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the Special Forces Detachment Officer Qualification Course, Long Range Surveillance Leader’s Course, Bradley Leader’s Course, Special Forces Combat Diver Qualification Course, Ranger School, Air Assault and Airborne Schools, in addition to a host of advanced Special Operations courses.
He commanded all levels of Special Forces, Detachment thru Brigade level, including multiple deployments in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF), IRAQI FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE (OIR), ATLANTIC RESOLVE, and OEF-CCA.
Previous non-command assignments include service as the Director for Joint Force Development (J7) Special Operations Joint Task Force-OIR, Operations Officer (S3) for 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Joint Operations Officer (J3) and Joint Future Plans Officer (J5) for the Special Operations Detachment-Europe, Senior Planning Assistance Training Team Chief- Colombia and Senior Planning Assistance Training Team Chief-Panama, and multiple staff positions within 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), and Special Operations Task Force’s 32 and 33.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (with 4th Oak leaf Cluster), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal (with 4 th Oak Leaf Cluster), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghan and Iraq Campaign Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, the NATO Medal, the Airborne and Air Assault Badges, the Combat Diver Qualification Badge, the Expert and Combat Infantryman’s Badges, and the Ranger and Special Forces Tabs, among others.
Brigadier General Garffer is a graduate of The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, where he obtained a BA in Intelligence and Security Studies. In addition, he possesses a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College, a Master in Law in International Finance and Banking Law from the University of Liverpool, a Master’s in Science in International Relations and National Security Policy from Troy University, and a Master’s in Business Administration in Finance from Inter American University of Puerto Rico.
He is the proud father of Andrea, currently a graduate student at the University of Florida.