Major Robert E. Ricks III will be the new Department Head and Assistant Professor of UTC Military Science in spring semester 2013. Ricks replaces Major John M. Brauneis, who served in that position since 2010. Brauneis has been reassigned to Fort Lewis, Washington.
Commissioned as an Armor officer from the Citadel in May 1990, Ricks was assigned as a Scout Platoon Leader in Buedingen, Germany, 1990-1992. From 1993 to 1999, Ricks served in the Individual Ready Reserves while earning a master’s degree in public administration from the University of South Carolina/University of Charleston.
Upon his return to active duty in November 2000, Ricks served in a variety of command and staff assignments: Reconnaissance Troop Commander, Fort Lewis, Washington; Observer/Controller (JRTC), Fort Polk, Louisiana; and Squadron Executive Officer and Battalion Operations Officer, Fort Riley, Kansas.
His deployments include Operation Desert Shield/Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom I and II, and Operation New Dawn.
Ricks is a graduate of Airborne School, the Armor Officer Basic Course, Scout Platoon Leader’s Course, the Armor Captain’s Career Course, CAS3, and the Cavalry Leader’s Course. In 2009, he attended the Australian Command and Staff College, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory and graduated Post Staff Course (Joint).
A self-described Army brat, Ricks considers himself a native of Charleston, South Carolina.
He is married to Alexandra Lennon. They have two children, Amelia and Christopher.