Lieutenant Colonel Charles Costello
About
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Costello hails from Dale City, Virginia. In 1994 he enlisted into the Army as a Combat Engineer serving in both the 17th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Armored Division and the 299th Engineer Battalion, 4th Infantry Division from 1994-1997. After being promoted to the rank of Specialist he earned a four year Green to Gold scholarship and was accepted into the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets in 1997. He graduated from Virginia Tech with a BS degree in Geophysics and was commissioned as a Transportation Officer with a branch detail to Armor in December 2001. Lieutenant Colonel Costello attended Armor Officer Basic Course at Ft. Knox, Kentucky in 2002, and upon graduation he was stationed at Fort Hood Texas where he was assigned to Bravo Company, 2-8 Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division as an Armor platoon leader and Company Executive Officer from 2002-2004. In 2004 he was reassigned to Bravo Company, 115th Forward Support Battalion where he deployed in support of Operational Iraqi Freedom II from 2004-2005 as the company Executive officer. Upon redeployment to Fort Hood Texas he was promoted to Captain and took command of Bravo Company, 115th Forward Support Battalion from June 2005 to December 2005 when he was selected to attend the Combined Logistics Captains Career Course at Fort Lee Virginia starting January 2006.
Assignments
Following the completion of the Combined Logistics Captain’s Career Course (May 2006) he was assigned to the 831st Transportation Battalion and deployed to Bahrain located in the Persia Gulf. While assigned to the 831st Transportation Battalion he was the Battalions Operations Officer and supported strategic level movements in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom from 2006-2007. Upon redeployment, Lieutenant Colonel Costello was selected to attend the Masters in Managerial Logistics Program located in Fargo, North Dakota from 2007-2008 where he earned his Masters degree in Managerial Logistics from North Dakota State University. Upon completing his degree he was stationed again at Fort Hood Texas from 2008-2010 and was assigned to the 15th Brigade Support Battalion Support Operations section and prepared for his third deployment in support of Iraqi Freedom 09-10 in Kirkuk, Iraq. While deployed, Lieutenant Colonel Costello took his second Company Command of Golf Forward Support Company, 3-82 Field Artillery from August 2009 – December 2010. After command he was stationed at Fort Lee, Virginia at the Army Logistics University from Jan 2011- June 2012 where he served as an Instructor and Course Manager for the Transportation Basic Officer Leaders Course. He was then selected to attend the Command General Staff College located at Fort Leavenworth, KS from July 2012-July 2013. After graduation, he was selected to be the Division Transportation Officer for the 3rd Infantry Division located at Fort Stewart, GA from July 2013-August 2014. Lieutenant Colonel Costello was then assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade from 2014-2016 where he served as the Distribution Integration Chief and a Battalion Executive Officer. From October 2014-June 2015, he deployed again to Kuwait and found himself in Iraq again but in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. There he ran all logistics coming into Iraq in support against the fight against ISIS. Upon redeployment he was assigned as the Special Troops Battalion Executive Officer from July 2015 to July 2016. He was then reassigned to the Joint Multination Readiness Center located in Hohenfels Germany as a Sustainment Observer Coach Trainer for U.S. and our multinational Allies and partners from July 2016 – July 2018 before coming to the Pittsburg State ROTC program.
Awards
Lieutenant Colonel Costello’s military awards and decorations include: Bronze Star (3 OLC), Meritorious Service Metal (4 OLC), Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC), Army Good Conduct medal and various other service awards. He is married to the former Julie Clubb and has three daughters.
