Colonel Roger Waleski Jr.

Commander US Army Special Operations Aviation Command

Colonel Roger P. Waleski Jr. was born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. After completing Initial Entry Rotary Wing Training (Flight School) at Fort Rucker, Alabama in 2000, he was assigned to 9th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. In 9-101, he served as a Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, and Aviation Liaison officer (Iraq).

After serving in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), COL Waleski attended the Aviation Captains Career Course at Fort Rucker, Alabama. He was then assigned to 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment, where he served as a Company Commander at both K-16, Korea, and Fort Wainwright, Alaska. His final assignment prior to serving in the 106th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) was as an Operations Officer, Executive Officer, and Troop Commander in the Flight Concepts Division at Fort Eustis, Virginia. In his initial assignment as a Night Stalker, COL Waleski served as the Commander of Charlie Company, 4/10th SOAR(Abn), at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and as the Battalion S3. He return to Fort Campbell to serve as the Regiment S3, after which he served as the J5 for the Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. From 2017-2019, COL Waleski served as the Commander of 3/160th SOAR(Abn) at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. From 2019-2021, he commanded Task Force 1-160th SOAR(Abn) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. COL Waleski then attended the Senior Service College in Montgomery, Alabama. From June 2022-June 2024, he commanded the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne).

COL Waleski takes command of the U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command (Airborne) at Fort Liberty, North Carolina on 10 October 2024. COL Waleski has deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan, and has operated in numerous other countries around the world. He has been awarded two Legions of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, three Bronze Stars, four Meritorious Service Medals, and an Air Medal and is a Master Army Aviator, authorized to wear the Combat Action Badge, Airborne Badge, Air Assault Badge, Military Free Fall Badge, and Pathfinder Badge. He holds Masters degrees in Security Studies from the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base and Kansas State University.