Brig. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General and the previous State Army Aviation Officer, along with Joyce Ciervo - Col. Ciervo’s wife – pinned Col. Ciervo’s new rank in a ceremony that was attended by various New Jersey Army National Guard commanders, as well as pilots and troops from the Army Aviation Support Facility.  The colonel has more than 21 years of military service.

Col. Ciervo was born in Camden in 1957. He graduated from Morehead State University, Morehead, Ky., with a bachelor of science in environmental and military science in 1980. The colonel was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps in June 1980 and was a distinguished military graduate.  Col. Ciervo attended the Initial Entry Rotary Wing course at Fort Rucker, Ala., and the Maintenance Test Pilot Course at Fort Eustis, Va.  His military education also includes Air Assault School and Command and General Staff College.

Col. Ciervo spent six years on active duty with varying assignments and completed his active duty tour in 1986 as the Aviation Training Brigade assistant operations officer.  Col. Ciervo joined the New Jersey Army National Guard in June 1986 and has served in a variety of positions including: Company Commander, 1st Battalion, 150th Aviation, Air Operations Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Aviation Brigade, 50th Infantry Division; Operations Officer, 1st Battalion, 150th Aviation Battalion; Executive Officer, 1st Battalion, 150th Aviation Battalion; Logistics Officer, Headquarters State Area Command, Fort Dix; Battalion Commander, 1st Battalion, 150th Aviation Battalion; Logistics Officer, Headquarters State Area Command, General Safety Officer, Headquarters State Area Command, Fort Dix; Director Aviation, State Headquarters State Area Command, Fort Dix.

Col. Ciervo has been a maintenance test pilot and test pilot evaluator in all rotary wing aircraft.  He is fixed wing rated as well as rotary wing qualified in numerous aircraft to include the U-8, U-21 airplanes; the UH-1 Huey, the AH-1 Cobra, the OH-58 and OH-6 s helicopters. He is a Master Aviator with more than 3,000 flying hours and has received numerous flying safety awards as well as numerous military decorations including: Meritorious Service medal, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve medal, N.J. Ribbon of Honor, N.J. Merit Award, N.J. Desert Storm Ribbon, Air Assault Badge, Army Aviator Badge, and the Army Aviator Master Aviator Badge.