COL (Ret) Bennie J. Pokemire II
COL (ret) Bennie J. Pokemire II
COL (Ret) Bennie J. Pokemire II began his military service upon graduation from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC with a Bachelors of Science degree in communications. He commisioned in the Signal Corps and entered active duty in 1988. He also holds a masters degree in telecommunications from Webster University.
His military education includes the Signal Officer Basic and Advanced courses, US Army Command and General Staff College and Airborne school.
COL (Ret) Pokemire served in multiple leadership and staff positions while assigned to the the 25th Signal Battalion, Fort Bragg, N.C. from 1988 to 1993. He later served as the squadron signal officer for the 5/17 Armored Cavalry Squadron at Fort Hood, TX and South Korea from 1993 to 1995. From 1995 to 1997, he served as company commander, Bravo Company, 51st Signal Battalion and later as the 229th Aviation Regiment signal officer at Fort Bragg, NC. From 1988 to 2001, he served as staff officer and 112th Signal Detachment commnader while assigned to Special Operations Command, Pacific on Camp Smith, Hawaii. From 2002 to 2004, he served as the 369th Signal Battalion executive officer and the 15th Signal Brigade S3 while stationed at Fort Gordon, GA. From 2004 to 2011 he served in multiple staff and leadership positions in various commands throughout Europe to include, 1st NATO Signal Battalion executive officer in Maastricht, the Netherlands, 2nd NATO Signal Battalion commander, Naples, Italy and Special Operations Command, Europe, J6 contingency plans and operations officer in Stuttgart, Germany. His last assignment was as the US Army Space and Missle Defense Command and Army Strategic Command G6 on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL. He retired on 1 October 2014 after 26 years of active service.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit medal, Defense Meritorious Service medal (2nd oak leaf cluster), Meritorious Service medal (2nd oak leaf cluster), Army Commendation medal (2nd oak leaf cluster), Joint Service Achievement medal, Army Achievement medal (2nd oak leaf cluster), Joint Meritorious Unit medal, Korean Defense Service medal (1 oak leaf cluster), Global War on Terrorism medal, Humanitarian Service medal (1 oak leaf cluster), NATO medal, Overseas Service ribbon (numeral 5), the Signal Corps Bronze Order of Mercury and the Noble Patron of Space medals. He is also authorized to wear the US Army Parachutist badge, Austalian Parachutist badge and the German Proficiency badge (Silver).
He is married to the former Ms. Katherine A. Blue and has two children, Andrew (and his wife Nina) and Moira.