Commander
Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin D. Roark
Commissioned into the Field Artillery in 2004, LTC Roark served in a wide variety of positions throughout the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific.
Assignments
He commanded Alpha Battery, 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division during its deployment to Afghanistan in 2011-2012. His other combat experiences include serving as a Battalion Targeting and Fire Support Officer (FSO) in Baghdad Province, Iraq during the 2007-09 Iraqi Surge, and as a J5 Planner, Combined Joint Land Component Command – Operation Inherent Resolve, Baghdad, Iraq during the Battle of Mosul in 2016-2017.
LTC Roark’s staff experience includes serving as Battalion Executive Officer for 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Operations Officer for the 1st Infantry Division Artillery (DIVARTY), and as Chief of the Joint Integrations Division, Joint Staff Targeting Directorate, Joint Staff J2 in the Pentagon. Most recently, he served as the Operations Officer and Deputy Chief of Staff for the US Army NATO Brigade in Sembach, Germany.
Education
He holds a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University in Boston, MA and a master’s degree from the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. His military schooling also includes the Field Artillery Basic and Advanced Courses and the United States Army Command and General Staff College.
Decorations and Badges
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (1 OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (1 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (1 OLC), NATO Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Valorous Unit Award, the Combat Action Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the Joint Staff Identification Badge.
Family
LTC Roark and his wife, Lauren Roark, a retired Army Logistics officer, have been married 5 years and have six children, Bryan (20), Landon (18), Aiden (13), Eli (11), Ellie (3), and Benny (1).