Commander
COL Ethan J. Diven
Colonel Ethan J. Diven is from San Diego, California, and commissioned as an infantry officer through the early commissioning program at New Mexico Military Institute. Upon graduation from Texas Tech University, he completed the Armor Officer Basic Course and served as a tank platoon leader, battalion human resource officer, and assistant operations officer in the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, at Fort Hood, Texas.
Following the Infantry Captains Career Course, Col. Diven moved to Fort Riley, Kansas, where he served as the battalion assistant operation officer, air operations officer, and Bravo Company commander in the 1st Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, with deployments to Al Anbar Province and Baghdad, Iraq. After company command, he moved to Fort Benning, Georgia, and served as a small group instructor at the Infantry Captains Career Course. He then served as an assistant operations and training officer and then as a logistics planner in the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, with deployments in support of the Global War on Terror.
After graduating Intermediate Level Education, Col. Diven was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, as the battalion executive officer for 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, and then as the brigade’s top operations officer during a deployment to Nangarhar and Kunar, Afghanistan.
He then served in the operations group at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, Louisiana, as the Cavalry Squadron Task Force executive officer observer-controller-trainer, the Brigade Mission Command Task Force executive officer observer-controller-trainer, and the chief of the Live Fire Division.
Col. Diven commanded 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment (Airborne) in the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. Following a deployment to Paktiya and Logar, Afghanistan, Col. Diven moved to Fort Stewart, Georgia, and served as the assistant chief of staff in the division operations for the 3rd Infantry Division.
After completion of the Joint Advanced Warfighting School at the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia, Col. Diven served as the Chief of Land Operations at the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command (JECC) with deployments in support of the repositioning of U.S. forces out of Somalia and serving in Special Operations Command Africa during Operation Octave Quartz and the Non-Combatant Evacuation of U.S. personnel and At-Risk-Afghans out of Afghanistan as the chief of staff for Joint Task Force Crisis Response during Operation Allies Refuge.
Col. Diven holds a Bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University, a Masters in Administrative Science from Central Michigan University, a Masters of Military Arts and Sciences in Strategic Studies from the Command and General Staff College, and a Master of Science in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy from the Joint Advanced Warfighting School. He is a Ranger qualified, senior-rated parachutist and graduate of the Armor Officer Basic Course, the Infantry Captains Career Course, the Combined Arms Services Staff School, the Command and General Staff College, and the Joint Advanced Warfighting School.
Command Sergeant Major
CSM Jason Mikan
CSM Jason Mikan was born in Syracuse, New York and raised in St. Albans, Vermont. He entered the Army in August of 1996. He completed OSUT at Ft. Knox, KY. CSM Mikan has served in a variety of positions, including Dismounted Scout and Team Leader in 1-66 AR 4ID Fort Hood, TX, Section Leader in 2-69 AR 3ID Fort Benning, GA, Drill Sergeant, Platoon Sergeant in 3-61 CAV 4ID Fort Carson, CO, Scout/Mortar Team Chief and BDE Operations SGM in 188th BDE AC/RC Fort Stewart, GA, Motorized Reconnaissance Troop First Sergeant in 4-73 and 1-73 CAV 82nd ABN Fort Bragg, NC, Maneuver Test Directorate NCOIC in the Operational Test Command Fort Hood, TX, Operations Sergeant 3rd BEB 1CD Fort Hood, TX, Operations Sergeant Major 6-9 CAV 1CD Fort Hood, TX, CSM of 3-61 CAV, 2SBCT, 4ID Fort Carson, CO. His next assignment is as the CSM for 2nd BDE, 3ID Fort Stewart, GA.
CSM Mikan participated twice in Operation Intrinsic Action in Kuwait. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom twice, including the initial liberation, and Operation Enduring Freedom. His military education includes all noncommissioned officer education system courses to include the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy Class 68.
CSM Mikan awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal w/ V Device, Bronze Star Medal (1OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (6OLC), Army Commendation Medal (4OLC), Army Achievement Medal (5OLC), Good Conduct Medal (7th Award), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal (One Bronze Star), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 5, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the NATO Medal. He earned the Combat Action Badge, Drill Sergeant Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, as well as the Dutch and Spanish Parachute badges.
CSM Mikan has earned the U.S. Cavalry's Silver and Gold spurs and the Order of Saint George (Bronze). He has attended numerous military courses to include Airborne, Air Assault, Drill Sergeant, MRT, Combatives 1-4, Observer/Controller Academy, Small Arms Master Gunner, Digital Master Gunner, and the Advanced Airborne School (Jumpmaster).