Fredrick was born on June 24th, 1970, in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and was raised in Granbury Texas. Enlisted in the United States Army in 1990. Fred is a Persian Gulf War Veteran, Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran, Global War on Terrorism Veteran.

Fredrick Santiago graduated from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX., in 2002 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. He later earned a Master of Business Administration from University of Phoenix. His military education includes the Ordnance Officer Basic Course, Support Operations Course, Combined Logistics Captains Career Course CLC3, the Command and General Staff College and the Joint Planners Course (3H).

Fred’s first duty assignment was 3rd Battalion, 159th Aviation Support Brigade, Fort Irwin CA., serving as air crew member. His next assignment was 3rd Squadron, 2rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Polk LA., serving as squad leader in an anti-tank platoon and deployed to Haiti for Operation Uphold Democracy in 1995. His final enlisted assignment was 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg NC., and deployed to Operation Desert Focus in Kuwait in 1997, serving as Team Leader, Squad Leader, and Platoon Sergeant until Expiration, Term of Service in 2001.

Commissioned as an ordnance officer in 2002, he has served in a variety of command and staff positions. His first assignment was with 27th Main Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood TX., serving as maintenance platoon leader. His next assignment was with 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood TX., serving as Maintenance Control Officer (MCO). His next assignment was with the HHC, 115th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Fort Hood TX., serving as Brigade Maintenance Officer. Fred commanded the Headquarters Support Company, 615th Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood TX, and deployed to Taji, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After command, was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 360th Regiment, 5th Armor Brigade, 1st Army (Division West), Salt Lake City UT., serving as Observer Controller Trainer and Assistant Battalion Operations Officer (S3). Fred commanded the Validation Transition Team (RC West) deployed to Afghanistan for the162d Infantry Brigade, Fort Polk LA. Fred’s final assignment was with the188th Infantry Brigade, 1st Army (Division East), Fort Stewart GA., serving as Brigade S4. He retired on 1 July 2015.

Awards include: the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award), the Army Commendation Medal (5th Award), the Army Achievement Medal (7th Award), the Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd Award), the National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2nd Award), the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (2nd Award), the Global War on Terrorism Medal- Expeditionary, the Global War on Terrorism Medal-Service, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Service Ribbon (2nd Award), the Army Service Ribbon, the Oversees Service Ribbon (2nd Award), the United Nations Medal, the NATO Medal, the Army Valorous Unit Award, the Army Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Army Superior Unit Award, the Expert Infantry Badge, the Aircraft Crewmember Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Drivers Badge.

Fredrick has five children, Jordan (11), Hailey (12), Ryley (18), Tanner (25), and Kyler (28) and two grandchildren, Jesse (7 yrs.), Ella (6 yr.).