Rick Noriega

Rick Noriega
Brigadier General Richard J. "Rick" Noriega
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 145th district
In office 1999–2009
Personal details
Born	(1958-01-08) January 8, 1958 (age 59) Houston, Texas
Political party	Democratic
Residence	Houston, Texas
Alma mater	University of Houston, Harvard University, Texas A&M University
Religion	Episcopalian
Military service
Service/branch	United States Army, Texas Army National Guard
Years of service	1979-present
Rank	Brigadier General
Battles/wars	Enduring Freedom

Richard Joel "Rick" Noriega (born January 8, 1958) is a former member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 145 in eastern Houston, first elected in 1998. He was the 2008 Democratic nominee for the United States Senate against one-term Republican incumbent John Cornyn. Noriega is also an officer in the Texas Army National Guard. He was selected for promotion to Brigadier General in 2013 and assigned as Assistant Division Commander—Support for the 36th Infantry Division. Noriega is a Mexican American and the father of two sons.

Noriega was born and raised in Houston. After graduating from Mount Carmel High School he attended Alvin Community College on a Rusk Athletic Scholarship where he played baseball. Noriega graduated from the University of Houston in 1984 with an ROTC and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. He graduated from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1990. He also earned a certificate in advanced international affairs from the George Bush School at Texas A&M University. Noriega is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College as a Fellow at the University of Texas.

Noriega joined the United States Army in 1979 in the wake of the Iran hostage crisis. He became an officer in the Texas Army National Guard, and served in the Afghanistan War that followed the September 11, 2001 attacks.