ASUNCION, Paraguay - U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Gary W. Keefe, adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard, has been awarded the distinguished Order of Merit "Gral Div Bernardino Caballero" in the grade of "Gran Cross" by Paraguay President Santiago Pena.

The award was presented April 24 in the Government Palace's Independence Hall in Asuncion, Paraguay. It is the highest award the commander of the Paraguayan Armed Forces grants to civilians and military personnel for their distinctive, valuable service.

The award recognizes the strong alliance between Paraguay and the United States and the continued commitment to military-to-military cooperation. This engagement further enhanced the long-term, mutually beneficial security relationship between the Massachusetts National Guard and Paraguay, established through the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.

"This ceremony is not only a protocol act; it represents above all the reaffirmation of the historical ties of friendship, trust and cooperation that unite our sister nations," Pena said. "It is a tangible expression of a strategic alliance, sustained in solid principles such as democracy, freedom, institutionality and cooperative security."

The Massachusetts National Guard's partnership with Paraguay officially began in 2001. The partnership between Massachusetts and Paraguay was initiated under the leadership of Keefe's father, Maj. Gen George W. Keefe, who served as the 39th adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard. Like his father, Keefe recognizes the importance of military-to-military and civilian-to-civilian relationships, and both have been the foundation of the nearly 25-year mutually beneficial partnership.

"It's more than a partnership," Pena said. "It's the continuation of a proud legacy."

For more than two decades, this partnership has evolved from focusing on improving military skills to a broad collaboration that includes cybersecurity, humanitarian response, peacekeeping and leadership development, reflecting growing trust and shared strategic interests.

"Paraguay has a long, long history of being one of the most loyal allies and partners to the United States and it continues today," Keefe said. "The four aspects I value most about Paraguay are its commitment to family, friendship, faith and especially loyalty."

During his visit to Asuncion, Keefe met with senior leaders of the Paraguayan Armed Forces to discuss ongoing collaboration and support and to reaffirm the enduring partnership between Paraguay and the United States.

Following the ceremony, Paraguayan Vice Admiral Lucio Benitez Escalante, commander of the Paraguayan Navy, invited Keefe; U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Lisa Ahaesy, chief of staff, Massachusetts Air National Guard; and U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Richard Cipro, assistant adjutant general, Massachusetts Army National Guard to the Paraguayan Navy Headquarters to discuss collaboration and cooperation between the Paraguayan Navy and the Massachusetts National Guard.

Keefe and top leaders of the Massachusetts National Guard were welcomed to the Ministry of National Defense to meet with Gral EJ (R) Oscar Luis Gonzalez Canete, Paraguay's minister of national defense. The discussion centered on further developing programs for training, equipment supply and joint operational capabilities. Massachusetts National Guard leadership deliberated on the strengthening of military-to-military cooperation and further developed joint security and defense strategies with Paraguayan Gen. EJ Cesar Augusto Moreno Landaira, Paraguay's commander of the military forces, and Paraguayan Lt. Gen. Nery Torres Laconich, Paraguay's joint chief of staff.

Additionally, Chief Master Sgt. Kawailehua Vadnais, senior enlisted leader of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, met with Special Operations Command "Fuerzas Armadas de la Nacion" Operations Staff Commander Francisco Feliciano Benitez Florentin to collaborate on the continued exchange of non-commissioned officer and senior non-commissioned officer training and enlisted force development.

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Source: U.S.Army