Fort Benning welcomes new chief of Armor School

Fort Benning welcomes a new chief of the Armor School almost a month after the former chief was reassigned, officials said.

Brig. Gen. John Kolasheski assumes duties as the 50th chief of armor at the Maneuver Center of Excellence during a 3:30 p.m. ceremony today in the Regimental Room of the Benning Club. He is currently serving as deputy commanding general for the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kan.

Kolasheski takes over the position formerly held by Brig. Gen. Scott McKean, who served about 20 months as the 49th chief of armor. McKean was reassigned as chief, Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq.

During his career, Kolasheski has served in a variety of command and staff positions in the United States and abroad. He was deployed three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served as deputy chief of staff in Operation Enduring Freedom in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2014 and as brigade commander with the 4th Infantry Division in support of International Security Assistance Force in Kandahar City, Afghanistan, in 2011.

This is not his first assignment at Fort Benning. Before a deployment to Iraq in 2007, he served with the 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning on Kelley Hill.

Other assignments have included stops in Kuwait, Heidelburg, Germany, Mardin, Turkey, and other locations in Germany.

He received a bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University, a master’s degree from the University of Central Florida and a master’s in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

Some of his awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legion of Merits, three Bronze Star Medals, the Ranger Tab, Combat Action Badge and U.S. Army Airborne wings.

This story was originally published June 2, 2016 at 7:51 PM with the headline "Fort Benning welcomes new chief of Armor School."