Todd James Lobraico Jr. was born in 1991 and grew up deeply rooted in military tradition. A graduate of New Fairfield High School in 2008, he enlisted soon after in the United States Air Force with a profound sense of duty and commitment to serve his nation and protect others. He attended Air Force Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, graduating in November 2008, and then completed Security Forces Apprentice School in February 2009, preparing for a role that would demand both physical readiness and tactical proficiency.

He was assigned to the 105th Security Forces Squadron, 105th Airlift Wing, based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York, where he served with distinction. The Security Forces Squadron is trained to secure and defend air bases, perform law enforcement duties, and provide combat support — missions that require agility, discipline, and high-stakes decision-making.

Staff Sgt. Lobraico’s operational experience included deployment to Balad Air Base in Iraq from December 2010 to June 2011, where he served in support of ongoing operations, and later to Afghanistan in June 2013. During his second deployment, his unit was operating near Bagram Air Field, a key strategic base vital to coalition force logistics, security operations, and ongoing counter-insurgency missions.

On September 5, 2013, Staff Sgt. Lobraico volunteered to establish a listening and observation post eight miles outside the base perimeter in known hostile territory. While scouting ahead of his fire team, he encountered a large insurgent force preparing a complex ambush involving rocket-propelled grenades, improvised explosive devices, and direct small-arms fire. Despite the overwhelming threat, Lobraico placed himself directly between his fire team and the insurgents, exposing himself to intense enemy attack so others could take cover and respond effectively. In doing so, he sustained fatal wounds while directing his team’s maneuver to safety, preventing greater loss and allowing his squad to gain fire superiority.

For his extraordinary courage and selfless actions — marked by complete disregard for his own safety — Staff Sgt. Lobraico was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor. The citation specifically notes that his initiative and bravery were “instrumental in gaining fire superiority and the survival of his team,” reflecting the decisive and heroic nature of his sacrifice.

Todd Lobraico’s story reflects a family legacy of service. His mother, Lt. Col. Linda Rohatsch, commanded the 105th Medical Group, and his father, Master Sgt. Todd Lobraico Sr., served with the 105th Security Forces Squadron and is a Stamford police officer. His upbringing among service members instilled in him the values of duty and courage that he carried into combat.

Beyond his military career, Lobraico had aspirations of serving as a law enforcement officer. After his high school graduation, he enrolled at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, studying justice and law administration — a path aligned with his lifelong commitment to protect and serve.

Lobraico’s sacrifice deeply impacted his hometown communities of New Fairfield and Sherman, Connecticut, where friends, neighbors, and civic leaders held vigils, services, and remembrances in his honor. Flags were flown at half-staff, and community events reaffirmed his status as a local hero whose actions embodied “service before self.” His actions that day near Bagram Airfield thwarted a planned ambush and saved the lives of his fellow defenders, an outcome repeatedly emphasized by commanders and teammates alike.

To ensure his legacy continues, the T. J. Lobraico Foundation was established by family and friends. The foundation’s mission is to provide educational scholarships and support to individuals and organizations that exemplify service before self — a guiding principle that reflects how Staff Sgt. Lobraico lived and served. A documentary, Family Mission: The T.J. Lobraico Story, further chronicles his life and sacrifice.

Dates

Birth: 1991 — Connecticut ([turn0search24])
Angelversary: September 5, 2013 — Near Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan ([turn0search24])

Service & Achievements

United States Air Force Staff Sergeant
105th Security Forces Squadron, 105th Airlift Wing — Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, New York
Deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom — Iraq (Dec 2010–Jun 2011) and Afghanistan (Jun–Sep 2013)
Bronze Star Medal with Valor (posthumous)
Meritorious Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Air Force Training Ribbon, New York State Humane Service Medal, Operation Enduring Freedom Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Action Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with Valor

United States Air Force Staff Sergeant Todd J. “T.J.” Lobraico Jr. lived a life of profound service and sacrifice. His actions in defense of his team exemplify courage, leadership, and selfless devotion — qualities that are permanently honored by his family, community, and nation.

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