Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York. It was with the 10th Mountain Division he deployed for the first time for 12 months to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan as a rifle platoon leader. As a result of his actions during this deployment he was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with "V" device for rescuing wounded soldiers while under enemy fire. When he returned from his deployment, he was reassigned as a company executive officer. Villanueva volunteered for the 75th Ranger Regiment's Ranger Orientation Program in 2013. He was assigned to the 1st Ranger Battalion. His roles within the Battalion have included plans officer, platoon leader, and company executive officer. He has deployed two more times to Afghanistan for a total of eight months between both deployments. In 2015, Villanueva left the army when downsizing efforts meant he would have to wait 18 months for a command position that would last less than 12 months. Commendations Personal life Villanueva has spoken publicly about the importance of his Catholic faith in his life and work. In November 2013, he married Madelyn Muldoon in a small ceremony in her parents' backyard. He met her through her brother, Joe Muldoon, with whom he played football at Army, and the two began dating in the spring of 2012. On May 9, 2015, Alejandro and Madelyn had a larger ceremony at the Jesus the Divine Word Catholic Church in Huntingtown, Maryland. In the fall of 2015, Villanueva enrolled in Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business to earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. After studying part-time for four years, one more than is typical for a student in Tepper's MBA program, Villanueva received his degree in 2019. During the 2017 season, Villanueva taught JuJu Smith-Schuster, his 20-year-old teammate, how to drive using Villanueva's own Ford F-150 Limited. Endorsements Villanueva began a partnership with USAA in 2016 and appeared in one of the company's member's voices commercials. His wife and son also appear in it. See also List of sportspeople educated at the United States Military Academy References External links Baltimore Ravens bio 1988 births Living people American football defensive ends American football offensive tackles Spanish emigrants to the United States Army Black Knights football players Philadelphia Eagles players Pittsburgh Steelers players Baltimore Ravens players Players of American football from Mississippi Spanish players of American football Sportspeople from Meridian, Mississippi