William E. Aldridge

Colonel William E. Aldridge was commissioned as an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Infantry Officer Candidate School class 49-67, 28 August 1967. His first duty assignment was as the Executive Officer for Operational Detachment A-616, Company B, 6th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina. | His subsequent duty assignments were as the Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Officer, Operational Detachment A-416, Company D, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Republic of South Vietnam; Assistant Operations Officer, B-41, Company D, 5th SFG(A), Republic of Vietnam; Executive Officer and Detachment Commander of an Operational Detachment A, Company F, 2/19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), WVARNG; Commanding Officer, Company D, 1/150th Armored Cavalry Squadron (ACS), WVARNG; Commanding Officer, Troop C, 1/150th ACS, WVARNG; S-2 Intelligence Officer 1/150th ACS, WVARNG; S-3 Operations Officer, 1/150th ACS, WVARNG; Executive Officer, 1/150th ACS, WVARNG; S-3, Troop Command, State Area Headquarters, WVARNG; Commanding Officer, 2nd GSB, 197 Regional Training Institute, WVARNG; Commanding Officer 1/150 Armor Battalion, 28th Infantry Division (Mechanized), WVARNG; Deputy Chief of Staff – Operations, WVARNG; Chief of Staff, WVARNG. | Colonel Aldridge's military education and training includes: Infantry Officer Candidate School, Airborne Course, Jumpmaster Course, Special Forces Officer Course, Jungle Operations Course, Armor Commanders Course, WVARNG Pre-Command Course, Nuclear-Biological-Chemical Defense Course, Armor Officer Advance Course, Cavalry Leaders Course, Reserve Component Tank Commanders Course, Armor Pre-Command Course, Battle Focus Instructor Training Course, Small Arms Instructor – Range Operations Course, M1 Tank Transition Course, Military History Instructor Course, Dynamics of International Terrorism, Command and General Staff Course, and the Air War College. | His military awards and decorations include: the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal w/5 Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Achievement Medal w/2Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal w/4 Bronze Stars, Humanitarian Service Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Medal w/Palm, Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal First Class, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Special Forces Tab, Parachute Badge and Vietnam Parachute Badge. He received the Draper Armor Leadership Award in 1988. He received the Silver Medallion of the Order of Saint George in 2000. | In 2007 Colonel Aldridge retired from Bluefield State College, Bluefield, West Virginia, as an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Administration and as the President, Bluefield (WV) Police Civil Service Commission.