Col. Richard J. Bendelewski
Colonel Rich J. Bendelewski graduated as a Combat Engineer from Xavier University's ROTC program in May 2002. After completing the Engineer Officer Basic Course, he joined the 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, at Fort Riley, Kansas, where he led a Sapper Platoon and served as the Company Executive Officer during the Brigade's deployment to support OIF 1 and 2.
After completing the Military Intelligence (MI) Transition Course, MI Career Course, and the Counterintelligence (CI) Special Agent Course, he served as the Battalion S2 for the 525th Military Police Battalion supporting Joint Task Force Guantanamo, Cuba. In 2007, he commanded Alpha Company, 308th MI Battalion, overseeing CI programs in the Northeast Region of the United States. From 2012-2016, he served as the Battalion S3 and XO at the US Army Operations Security Detachment, providing tailored CI support to strategic organizations executing global missions. Later, he became the Deputy Commanding Officer of the 902d MI Group, where he led the Army's only strategic CI formation.
In September 2018, he assumed command of the 310th MI Battalion, directing the Army's Technical CI Services mission, managing the Army's Air and Ground discrete surveillance element, and handling the Army's CI Cyber initiatives. Following command, he served as the Chief of the Special Operations Command's CI Branch, developing and implementing Combatant Command CI policy and initiatives to support SOCOM's global mission.
Colonel Bendelewski is a 2024 graduate of the U.S. Army War College and took command of Fort Gregg-Adams (formerly Fort Lee) Garrison July 30, 2024.
Colonel Bendelewski holds a bachelors of Science from Xavier University (OH), masters of Justice Administration from Norwich University (VT), and a masters of Science in Strategic Intelligence from National Intelligence University (DC). He attended the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy (Session 244) in Quantico (VA).
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Joint Commendation Medal with oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Army Achievement Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Valorous Unit Award, the Parachutist Badge, the Combat Action Badge, and the MI Knowlton Award.