Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Roderick “Rico” Alvendia

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Roderick “Rico” Alvendia is an Iraq War veteran, an accomplished Louisiana Attorney, and recently served proudly on the Board of Visitors at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
 
Rico was born and raised in Louisiana and studied at Jesuit High School in the Philippines when his Father served abroad as a Diplomat. He is a 1998 graduate of Loyola Law School in New Orleans, where in 2008 he was named the Loyola Law Distinguished Alumni of the Year. He is the founding partner of the Alvendia, Kelly & Demarest Law Firm in New Orleans, which has successfully represented Louisiana Businesses, Clients and Municipalities for over 20 years.
 
Rico served honorably for 25 years as an Officer in the U.S. Army JAG Corps and deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in 2004 with the Louisiana 256th Infantry “Tiger” Brigade. In Baghdad, Rico led a multi-national team of lawyers that successfully prosecuted enemy combatants who conducted fatal attacks on U.S. Soldiers and civilians. Rico was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his meritorious service during Combat Operations.
 
Rico continued to serve our Nation as a U.S. Presidential Appointee on the West Point Academy Board of Visitors until his term expired in December 2024. Additionally, in 2012 together with other Combat veterans, Rico co-founded the “Legion of Mars Mardi Krewe”, the first New Orleans Carnival Organization dedicated to honoring and assisting veterans and first responders. Rico and the “Mars Hero Fund” (a Non-profit Organization) have helped thousands of military veterans and their families throughout Louisiana during their financial hardships and while deployed in service to our Country. Rico is married to Kristin Alvendia, a devout LSU Alumni and advocate for Mental Health awareness. Above all, Rico’s greatest accomplishment is being a Father to his son Noah Alvendia, who attends Jesuit High School in New Orleans.