Colonel (retired) Erich B. Schneider is a respected leader with a 23-year active-duty career in the U.S. Army, marked by extensive experience and service. A native of Milwaukie, Oregon, Colonel Schneider graduated from Texas A&M University in 2001 as a Distinguished Military Graduate and was commissioned as an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army. Throughout his career, he held a range of leadership positions, from Platoon Leader to Battalion Commander, with seven combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Colonel Schneider began his service with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served as a Rifle Platoon Leader and Support Platoon Leader in 2-325 AIR. His first deployment to Iraq was in 2003 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and laid the foundation for his leadership in challenging operational environments. After completing the Infantry Captains Career Course, he served as Brigade Assistant Operations Officer and later the Commander of C Company, 52nd Infantry Regiment, leading his company on a deployment to Iraq in 2006. His career continued to evolve through key roles, including with the 75th Ranger Regiment. As a Battle Captain for a Special Operations Joint Task Force in Iraq in 2008, and later as Commander of A Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Colonel Schneider led his Rangers on multiple deployments, including two to Afghanistan in 2010-2011, where he served as a Ground Force Commander. After a successful tenure in the 75th Ranger Regiment, Colonel Schneider transitioned to staff assignments, culminating in a position at the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, where he was responsible for managing critical special operations and counterterrorism initiatives. Following this assignment, he continued to build upon his leadership experience by serving as the Commander of 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, and later serving as the Security Forces Commander at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan in 2020. In addition to his combat leadership, Colonel Schneider made significant contributions to military education by serving as the Department Chair and Professor of Military Science for Army ROTC programs at Arizona State University and Grand Canyon University. Colonel Schneider's service has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman Badge, among others. Now in retirement, Colonel Schneider serves at Arizona State University as a Faculty Director and Clinical Professor for ASU's Center Intelligence and National Security, where he continues to mentor and develop the next generation of leaders.