Colonel Richard A. Polen, Air Traffic Services Command
Colonel Richard A. Polen 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 serving as a Platoon Leader in 1st Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment; Company Commander of two companies in 2d Battalion, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade; Battalion Operations Officer and Executive Officer for the 2916th Aviation Battalion; 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; Commander of 404th Aviation Support Battalion, and UAS Division Chief for DAMO-AV, HQDA G-3/5/7. He holds a Master’s degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in Defense Analysis with an emphasis in Terrorist Operations and a Master’s degree from the Army War College.
COL Polen’s awards and decorations include: the Bronze Star (1OLC), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (2 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 is married with two children.