Col. Richard A. Polen, 164th Theater Airfield Operations Group
COL Richard A. Polen from Leavenworth, Kansas enlisted in the military as an infantryman serving with the 3d Battalion, 504th Infantry Regiment as a squad leader where he deployed to Haiti in support of the United States Support Group Haiti. He was selected for the Green to Gold officer commissioning program and graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Central Missouri State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology.
His officer assignments include : Executive Officer for HHC, 1st Battalion, 58th Air Traffic Services Battalion and HHC, 1st Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment in Fort Bragg, NC; C Company, 1st Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment as platoon leader where he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III; Company Commander for F, 2d Battalion, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade and A, 2d Battalion, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade where he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraq Freedom 10-11; Battalion Operations Officer and Executive Officer for the 2916th Aviation Battalion in Fort Irwin, Ca.; Personnel Recovery Officer for U.S. Army Pacific; Chief of Operations for the USARPAC Coordination Element; Chief of Aviation Operations for 25th Infantry Division; Commander, Special Operations Advisory Team for the Afghan Special Mission Wing; Deputy Operations Officer with 1st Joint Special Operations Aviation Command; Battalion Commander for 404th Aviation Support Battalion, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade in Fort Carson, Co; and Unmanned Aircraft Systems Division Chief for DAMO-AV, HQDA G3/5/7. His military education includes: the Aviation Officer Basic Course, the UH-60 Aircraft Qualification Course, UH-72 Aircraft Qualification Course, the Aviation Officer Advanced Course, the Command and General Staff Course, the Army War College, and a Master’s degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in Defense Analysis with an emphasis in Terrorist Operations.
COL Polen’s awards and decorations include: the Bronze Star (1OLC), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (1 OLC), the Air Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (4 OLC), the Aviator Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Parachutist Badge and the British Parachutist Badge. COL Polen and his wife Rachel have two sons, Alex and Lukas.