Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Vestal, USA

Jeffery L. Vestal attended the University of Arkansas on a four-year

Army Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship.  He was a

distinguished military graduate and was commissioned as a Second

Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1987.

Upon completion of the Aviation Officer’s Basic Course and flight

school, LTC Vestal served in the 1st Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment

located in Ouijonbu, Republic of Korea.  He was then sent to the

Aviation Officer’s Advanced course and on to three consecutive

overseas assignments in Europe.  During those tours, LTC Vestal served

in a variety of aviation positions.  He deployed to Northern Iraq as a

detachment commander for Operation Provide Comfort, he served as the

Beirut Air Bridge Liaison Officer, and he deployed as a company

commander in support of the Implementation Force to Bosnia and

Herzegovina.

Upon completion of Foreign Area Officer training, LTC Vestal worked as

an international program manager in the Partnership for Peace Exercise

directorate of the International Operations Division in the G-3 office

of U.S. Army Europe.  From January 2004 until June 2006, LTC Vestal

served as the Assistant Army AttachÈ in Kiev Ukraine.  From July 06

until June 07, LTC Vestal served as the Russian Branch Chief at the

National Ground Intelligence Center in Charlottesville Virginia.

LTC Vestal served as the Defense and Army AttachÈ from July 07 until

July 09.  LTC Vestal assumed duty as the Foreign Area Officer Director

at the Defense Language Institute, Foreign Language Center on the

Presidio of Monterey in Aug 09.

LTC Vestal’s civilian education includes a Bachelor’s Degree in

Finance and Real Estate from the University of Arkansas in 1987, and a

Master’s Degree in International Relations from the Russia and East

European Studies Department of the University of Kansas in 2001.  His

military education includes the Aviation Officer Basic and Advanced

courses, the rotary wing aviation course, the defense language

institute for Russian language.

LTC Vestal’s military awards include the Defense Meritorious Service

Medal w/ OLC, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Army

Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense

Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Global War on

Terrorism Medal, the Korea Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces

Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Armed Forces

Reserve Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon,

the NATO Medal, the Airborne Badge and the Senior Army Aviator Badge.

LTC Vestal is married to the former Kristin Johnson of St. Louis

Missouri.  Kristin is a high school math teacher that currently stays

home with their three children: boy-girl twins Justin and Claudia

(10), and Nathan (8).

Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Vestal, USAJeffery L. Vestal attended the University of Arkansas on a four-yearArmy Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship.  He was adistinguished military graduate and was commissioned as a SecondLieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1987.
Upon completion of the Aviation Officer’s Basic Course and flightschool, LTC Vestal served in the 1st Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regimentlocated in Ouijonbu, Republic of Korea.  He was then sent to theAviation Officer’s Advanced course and on to three consecutiveoverseas assignments in Europe.  During those tours, LTC Vestal servedin a variety of aviation positions.  He deployed to Northern Iraq as adetachment commander for Operation Provide Comfort, he served as theBeirut Air Bridge Liaison Officer, and he deployed as a companycommander in support of the Implementation Force to Bosnia andHerzegovina.
Upon completion of Foreign Area Officer training, LTC Vestal worked asan international program manager in the Partnership for Peace Exercisedirectorate of the International Operations Division in the G-3 officeof U.S. Army Europe.  From January 2004 until June 2006, LTC Vestalserved as the Assistant Army AttachÈ in Kiev Ukraine.  From July 06until June 07, LTC Vestal served as the Russian Branch Chief at theNational Ground Intelligence Center in Charlottesville Virginia.
LTC Vestal served as the Defense and Army AttachÈ from July 07 untilJuly 09.  LTC Vestal assumed duty as the Foreign Area Officer Directorat the Defense Language Institute, Foreign Language Center on thePresidio of Monterey in Aug 09.
LTC Vestal’s civilian education includes a Bachelor’s Degree inFinance and Real Estate from the University of Arkansas in 1987, and aMaster’s Degree in International Relations from the Russia and EastEuropean Studies Department of the University of Kansas in 2001.  Hismilitary education includes the Aviation Officer Basic and Advancedcourses, the rotary wing aviation course, the defense languageinstitute for Russian language.
LTC Vestal’s military awards include the Defense Meritorious ServiceMedal w/ OLC, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the ArmyCommendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National DefenseService Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Global War onTerrorism Medal, the Korea Defense Service Medal, the Armed ForcesService Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Armed ForcesReserve Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon,the NATO Medal, the Airborne Badge and the Senior Army Aviator Badge.
LTC Vestal is married to the former Kristin Johnson of St. LouisMissouri.  Kristin is a high school math teacher that currently stayshome with their three children: boy-girl twins Justin and Claudia(10), and Nathan (8).