Dr. Anthony Cole promoted to Colonel

On August 25th, Dr. Anthony Cole, Stockton High School science teacher, was notified that he had been selected for promotion to Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.

The selection process starts with review of promotion eligible Lieutenant Colonels by a selection board made up of 13 Active Duty and Reserve Colonels and one General Officer. Only 6% of those Lieutenant Colonels from the U.S. Army Medical Department eligible for promotion were selected for promotion to Colonel. Once selected, the selectees must be vetted and then nominated and confirmed by the U.S. Senate for promotion before the selectees are notified.

Lieutenant Colonel Anthony enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1986 as a Defense Command Control Countermeasures Specialist. In 1988, he transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve as a Private First Class where he served as a Medical Supply Specialist while he finished his degree in Chemistry at Fort Hays State University. Sergeant Cole then transferred to the Kansas Army National Guard as an Armor Crewman and Armor Instructor. After completing his Master’s Degree in Biochemistry at Kansas State University, SGT Cole transferred back to the U.S. Army Reserve in Columbia, Missouri, serving as a Medical Supply Sergeant while completing his Doctorate Degree in Plant Pathology at the University of Missouri.

In 1997, SGT Cole received a direct commission to First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve as a biochemist.

LTC Cole’s assignments include 21st General Hospital Headquarters Company Commander, 1974th Infectious Disease Team Commander, 793rd Preventive Medicine Detachment Commander, 388th Multifunctional Medical Battalion Commander, 3rd Medical Command Operational Command Post Forward Operations Officer, 3rd Medical Command Operational Command Post Forward Executive Officer, Joint Task Force – Bravo Medical Element Deputy Commander, and most recently, as the Commander of the 388th Multifunctional Medical Battalion in Hays, Kansas.

Cole has served in Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Germany, Honduras, Morocco, and Afghanistan, He has deployed four times to the Middle East and once to Central America, serving in Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Germany, Honduras, Morocco, and Afghanistan.
Cole’s military awards include the Air Force Commendation Medal, six Army Achievement Medals, four Army Commendation Medals, four Meritorious Service Medals, two Outstanding Military Volunteer Service Medals, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, two National Defense Medals, and the Cold War Service Medal. He is also a member of the Order of the Spurs and the Order of the Stetson.

Anthony is the son of Venita and the late Charles Cole of Stockton. He is married to Jodie Barker and has two children, Marcus Cole of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Hope Cole of Groton, Connecticut. He has one grandson, Isaiah Cole, also of Groton, Connecticut.