MG Frank P. Ragano
A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, MG Frank P. Ragano became one of the Army's leading authorities on international cooperation in the development, production, and use of advanced weapons. General Ragano earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from Duquesne University and a master's degree in business administration from Syracuse University. He also completed course requirements at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College.
General Ragano later served on the faculties of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the Army War College. General Ragano enlisted in the Army in 1950, but served for only a short time before enrolling in Officer's Candidate School and receiving his commission a year later. During his career, General Ragano completed several overseas tours which included Korea, Germany, and Vietnam. From June 1971 until October 1972, he served as Director, Organization and Theory Studies, Department of Management, U.S. Army War College. He then completed more than 5 years of continuous service as an Army Project Manager.
General Ragano was initially assigned to Redstone Arsenal in 1973. He served as Project Manager for the 2.75-inch Rocket System from 30 September 1973 to 15 June 1975. Then, in August 1975, he left Redstone Arsenal to become Project Manager for the Cannon Artillery weapons System at the Armament Command. Less than a year later, he returned to Redstone Arsenal as the ROLAND Missile System's Project Manager. He served in this capacity from 10 March 1976 to 15 August 1978, at which time he was named Commander of the U.S. Army Missile Research and Development Command (MIRADCOM). He served in that position until 1 July 1979 when MIRADCOM, along with the U.S. Army Missile Materiel Readiness Command, was abolished and the U.S. Army Missile Command was reinstituted.
General Ragano was the recipient of a number of military decorations. They included the Legion of Merit (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Air Medal with "V" Device (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry (with Palm), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), and the Meritorious Service Medal. He was inducted into the Ordnance Corps Hall of Fame in 1998.