Biographical Summary
Vincent J. Tedesco III
Colonel (Retired), United States Army
Vincent (V.J.)Tedesco was born at Fort Benning, Georgia to Colonel (Retired) and Mrs. Vincent J. Tedesco, Jr. He was commissioned a Regular Army Armor and Cavalry Officer upon graduation from the Pennsylvania State University in 1986. Colonel Tedesco earned his spurs as a tank and scout platoon leader, cavalry troop executive officer and squadron plans officer with 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Fulda, Germany. Following the Armor Officers’ Advanced Course, he served with 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized), as its S3 Air during OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. Colonel Tedesco subsequently commanded, Bravo Troop, 1-4 Cavalry, at Fort Riley, Kansas. Following troop command, he served as an assistant professor of military history at the United States Military Academy, and then attended the Command & General Staff Officer’s Course and the Advanced Military Studies Program at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Colonel Tedesco was the Operations Officer then Executive Officer of 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas before serving as the Executive Officer of the division’s 1st Brigade. From 2003-2005, he has served as the Chief of War Plans for U.S. Army Central Command supporting OPERATIONS IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. Thereafter, Colonel Tedesco commanded 1st Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment of the 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division in Germany and in Iraq during OIF 05-07. Task Force 1-37 earned a Naval Unit Commendation fighting in Al Anbar Province where they spearheaded coalition operations that ultimately reclaimed the city of Ramadi from Al Qaeda in Iraq. After battalion command, Colonel Tedesco served as the Assistant G3, Chief of Plans at U.S. Army Forces Command. After declining to attend the Army War College, Colonel Tedesco concluded his career with service as the Chief, Unit Equipping and Readiness Division, in Army G-8, Force Development.
Colonel Tedesco’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, the National Defense Service Medal with Service Star, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with three Service Stars, the Iraq Campaign Medal with two Service Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 3, the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), the Combat Action Badge, the Basic Parachutist Badge, the Valorous Unit Award, the Naval Unit Commendation and the Silver Medallion of the Order of Saint George.
Colonel Tedesco’s education includes both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in History from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Military Arts and Sciences from the School of Advanced Military Studies, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
Following retirement from the Army, Mr. Tedesco has continued to support national defense as a contractor engaged in strategic planning, wargaming and software development in positions supporting DoD, Joint Combatant Commands and the Army. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his bride of 36 years, the former Lianne Roberts of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. They live just 10 minutes away from their daughter and her growing family. Life is good.