Department of Military Science - U.S. Army ROTC

Major (Ret.) Robert Riedel is a native of Virginia. He received his commission as an Infantry Second Lieutenant on May 7, 1990. MAJ (R) Riedel earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. Enroute to his first assignment, he completed the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Ranger School and the Bradley Leader's Course at Fort Benning, Ga.

His first assignment was in Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division where he served as both a Bradley Rifle Platoon Leader and Executive Officer in 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Battalion (Mechanized). MAJ (R)  Riedel then served two years in the 3rd United States Infantry (The Old Guard) as a Rifle Platoon Leader and Support Platoon Leader.  After graduation from the Infantry Officer Advance Course and Light Leader's Course in March 1995, MAJ (R) Riedel returned to the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea where he served as an S3 Air and Company Commander in the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Battalion (Air Assault).

In the summer of 1998, MAJ (R) Riedel was assigned to Middle Tennessee State University ROTC where he served as Operations and Training Officer and the MS III instructor. He separated from active duty in 2000, and joined the Tennessee Army National Guard where he served for five years as a TAC Officer and Company Commander. He then moved to Washington state where he joined the 205th Leadership Regiment, Camp Murray, within the Washington Army National Guard and held a temporary position at the University of Washington ROTC.

MAJ (R)  Riedel deployed to Afghanistan in 2006, as a member of the OEF Embedded Team Trainers to the Afghanistan National Army. He then served on active duty with 2nd Battalion, 357 Infantry Regiment at Fort Lewis, Wash., as part of the Operation Warrior Trainer Program where he was the Operations Officer for convoy post-mobilization training. MAJ (R) Riedel most recently served with Pacific Lutheran University's ROTC program, and served as an assistant operations officer within the 205th Leadership Regiment until his retirement in 2011.