.

Col. Philibosian Confirmed As DCVA
By the Guardlife Staff

Col. Philibosian DCVACol. Emil H. Philibosian was confirmed on May 16 as the Deputy Commissioner for Veterans Affairs for New Jersey.

He will be responsible for providing support to New Jersey’s 650,000 veterans and their families, management of a $55 million budget, operation of three 300- bed nursing homes, and the nation’s busiest state veterans' cemetery.

Col. Philibosian was born on June 20, 1943, in Brosov, Romania. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Rutgers University, New Brunswick in 1967. He received his Juris Doctorat e from Fordham University Law School, New York City in 1975. His military education includes the Infantry School, Airborne Course, the J.F.K. Special Warfare Program, the Special Forces Officer Course, where he was on the Commandant’s List; MACV Recondo School, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Military Police Advanced Course, United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the United States Army War College.

Col. Philibosian enlisted in the United States Army in 1968 and rose to the rank of Specialist 5. He received his commission as a second lieutenant through Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga., in 1969. His first assignment was as Commander, 52nd Pathfinder Detachment, Republic of Vietnam, from 1969 to 1970. Upon his return to the United States Col. Philibosian served as the Assistant Operations and Training Officer at Fort Hamilton, N.Y. After being honorably discharged in 1971, Col. Philibosian served in the Army Reserve from 1971 to 1980. In 1980, he became the C Company Training Officer, 2- 78th Regiment, 78th Training and Support Division, headquartered at the Sergeant Joyce Kilmer United States Army Reserve Center, Edison, N.J. In 1982, he became the Headquarters Supply Officer, 2-78 Regiment, 78th Training and Support Division. In 1984, he became the C Company Commander, 78th Division. From 1986 through 1990, Col. Philibosian served as the Infantry Team Project Officer, 78th Maneuver Training Command, 78th Division. From 1993 to 1995, he served as the Battalion Commander, 1-309th, 2nd Brigade, 78th Division. In 1995, Col. Philibosian became the Deputy Brigade Operations and Training Officer, 78th Division. Col. Philibosian served from 1998 to 2002 as the commander, 1079th Garrison Support Unit, Fort Dix.

His awards and decorations include: the Silver Star, Soldiers Medal, Bronze Star with one V device and one Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with one V device, Army Commendation Medal with one V device and one Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with four awards, National Defense Service Medal with two devices, Vietnam Service Medal, Campaign Star, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Reserve Components Overseas Ribbon, Humanitarian Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Recondo Badge, Special Forces TAB, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Silver Star, Republic of Vietnam Honor Medal First Class, Republic of Vietnam Staff Service Medal First Class, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Airborne Badge.