Memorial Day Program

By: Sandra Thompson

The Alabama Veterans Museum will again host a Memorial Day program on May 28. It will be at the Limestone County Event Center at 11:00 a.m. It is with great pleasure that I announce our special guest speaker for this event – Brigadier General Robert A. Rasch, Jr.

Brigadier General Robert (Rob) Rasch is the Deputy Program Executive Officer for Missiles and Space, Program Executive Office (PEO) Missiles and Space, Redstone Arsenal, AL. He is responsible for the development, production, fielding, and life cycle management of the Army’s missile and space related systems.

BG Rasch assumed his current duties in September 2016. Prior to this position, BG Rasch served as the Military Deputy to the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM), Redstone Arsenal. Prior to that he was Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA/ALT)), Washington D.C., where he served under Honorable Heidi Shyu within the Army Secretariat.

BG Rasch has served in a variety of Infantry, Systems Automation, and Acquisition assignments including 3/504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in the 82nd Airborne Division (Rifle Platoon Leader, Mortar Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer) and later commanding D Co/1-15 Infantry (Mechanized) in the 3rd Infantry Division. After graduate school, he served as a Senior Projects Officer at the Battle Command Battle Lab – Fort Leavenworth, and then in the 19th Theater Support Command, Republic of Korea as the Combat Service Support Automation Management Officer.

His previous Acquisition assignments include: Chief, Knowledge Base Engineer and later Assistant Program Manager for the DARPA Future Combat Systems Command and Control (FCS C2) program; Product Manager for the Army’s One Semi-Automated Forces (OneSAF) constructive simulation program at the Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI); and Project Manager for the Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense (AIAMD) Program, part of the Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space prior to moving to Washington DC to assume duties as the Chief of Staff for ASA(ALT).

BG Rasch entered the Army through the University of Georgia ROTC Program in 1989, where he was commissioned as an Infantry Second Lieutenant. He graduated Georgia with a Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA) in Management Information Systems. He later received a Master of Science in Computer Science from Northwestern University and a Masters of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.

His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with 1 oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with 2 Battle Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Kuwaiti Kuwait Liberation Medal, Saudi Arabian Kuwait Liberation Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab and Senior Parachutist Badge.

Brigadier General Rasch is married to the former Shawndell Mann from Sebring, Florida. They have two children — a daughter, Darby, and a son, Michael.

We are still seeking information on our veterans who have passed since last Memorial Day. Please contact Sandy at 256-771-7578 if you have any further information
By: Sandra Thompson – Director, Alabama Veterans’ Museum