Colonel Ciro Claudio Stefano was commissioned as an Aviation Officer upon graduation from Infantry Officer Candidate School, class 1-93 at Fort Benning, Georgia on 28 January, 1993. His first duty assignment was as Executive Officer, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment, Camp Humphreys, Korea.

His notable duty assignments include: Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Commander, Olympia Recruiting Company, Seattle Recruiting Battalion; Battalion Executive Officer, 82nd Aviation Support Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, Iraq; Battalion S3, 414th Brigade Support Battalion, Hanau, Germany; Battalion Executive Officer, 104th Air Staff Board, Hanau, Germany; Germany; Senior Combat Maneuver Advisor, 33rd Brigade Military Transition Team, Karbala, Iraq; G3 Chief of Plans, United States Army Europe, Heidelberg, Germany; Executive Officer, V Corps, Heidelberg, Germany; Professor of Military Science, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts; Chief of Military Science, United States Military Academy, West, Point, New York; and the First-ever American Colonel to serve as the Division G3, 10th Panzer Division, German Army, Wuerzburg, Germany. He currently serves as the Senior Army Advisor to the New York National Guard.

His military education includes: CH-47D and UH-60 Aircraft Qualification Courses, Ranger School, Combined Armed Services Staff School, and Command and General Staff College, Advanced Military Transition Team Course.

His highest military awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (3rd Award), Meritorious Service Medal (7th Award), Air Medal (2nd Award), Army Commendation Medal (8th Award), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation Award, Army Superior Unit Award, Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (2nd Award), Recruiting Badge - Silver, Senior Aviator Badge, Ranger Tab, and the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge.