Colonel Timothy John Sanken was commissioned an Engineer Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Reserve Component 2-72, 14 August 1972. His first duty assignment was as a Reconnaissance Officer, Intelligence Section, Headquarters and Headquarters Company 682nd Engineer Battalion, Minneapolis, Minnesota. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Platoon Leader, Executive Officer and Commander Company A, 682nd Engineer Battalion, Hutchinson, Minnesota; Commander, Company E, 682nd Engineer Battalion, Hutchinson, Minnesota; S-4, S-2 and Assistant S-3, Headquarters, 682nd Engineer Battalion, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Assistant Division Engineer, 47th Infantry Division, St. Paul, Minnesota; S-3, Executive Officer and Commander, 682nd Engineer Battalion, Minneapolis, Minnesota; G-1, 47th Infantry Division, St. Paul, Minnesota; G-1, 34th Infantry Division, St. Paul, Minnesota; Director of Engineering and Housing, Installation Unit Support- Minnesota, State Area Command Minnesota, Camp Ripley, Minnesota; Chief of Training Management, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, State Area Command Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota; Chief of Mobilization and Readiness, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, State Area Command Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota; Commander, 175th Regiment, Minnesota Army National Guard, Camp Ripley, Minnesota.