John V. Rios serves as the Director of Operations for Center for Joint & Strategic Logistics (CJSL), focusing on initiatives to enhance logistics readiness and professional development across the Department of War. In this position, he operates under the guidance of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War (Acquisition & Sustainment) and the Joint Staff J4, regarding education, training, and experience programs for the Joint Logistics Enterprise. Mr. Rios also collaborates with civilian institutions to integrate leading industry practices into DoW logistics.
As a former Army Lieutenant Colonel, John retired in 2021 with 25 years of service. Commissioned through ROTC at Southwest Texas State University in 1999, he served as a Transportation Corps Officer and Multi-Functional Logistician with significant leadership assignments.
John has multiple deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Inherent Resolve, and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. He has a vast amount of experience in working with Allies and Partners especially in Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Morocco.
His operational assignments include command and staff roles in the 403rd Cargo Transfer Company, the 7th Transportation Battalion, 530th Supply and Services Battalion, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), the 75th Ranger Regiment, the 4th Sustainment Brigade, 2-12 Calvary, 1st Calvary Division, the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Special Operations Central Command (SOCCENT), Army Sustainment University and Area Support Group – Qatar. His last assignment before retirement, John served as the Director for the Joint Logistics Course, Fort Lee, Virginia.
Mr. Rios is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and holds a Master of Science in Supply Chain Management from the University of Kansas.