LTC Andrew Ballow commissioned as an infantry officer in the United States Army in 2005. He first served as an infantry platoon leader in 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis McCord, Washington. The entire unit moved to Vilseck, Germany in 2006, where LTC Ballow then served as a reconnaissance platoon leader in the newly reflagged 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. Following the move to Germany, he deployed with the unit for fifteen months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon returning from Iraq, LTC Ballow attended Special Forces (SF) assessment and selection, and the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.
After finishing the SF Qualification Course in 2011, LTC Ballow served in 4th Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Carson, Colorado, as the Detachment Commander of Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha 0414. While assigned to SFOD-A 0414, LTC Ballow deployed to North Africa to support the Department of State and interagency partners in 2013.
LTC Ballow also served in 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Stuttgart, Germany as the Alpha Company Commander, and Battalion XO from 2017-2019. While assigned to 1st Battalion, he participated in several bilateral and multi-lateral training events and special operations across the Baltics, Balkans, and the Black Sea to support Allies and build partner capacity. LTC Ballow then served in Task Force 10 as the J3 to enable Special Operations Command Europe’s operations, activities, and investments.
LTC Ballow deployed for fourteen months to Afghanistan in 2020 as the CJ35 Director for Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan/NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan. Following the withdrawal from Afghanistan, LTC Ballow was assigned to the United States Special Operations Command in Tampa, FL, where he served as the J37 Force Generation Branch Chief.
LTC Ballow earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Policy from Syracuse University, and a Master of Science in Defense Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Department of State Meritorious Honor Award, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal with “V” Device. LTC Ballow has also earned the Military Freefall Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, the Special Forces Tab, the Ranger Tab, and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge.
LTC Ballow married the former Joana Rodrigues of Long Island, New York in 2006. They have two children: Eva Rose (11), and Charlotte Grace (8).
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