Tuesday, January 11, 2022
COL. Michael T. Ripley,
Army Special Operations Command Liaison Officer, US Army Futures Command
COL. Michael T. (Rip) Ripley, ‘94
COL Michael T. Ripley graduated from Texas A&M University in 1994 as a Distinguished Military Graduate and was commissioned as an Infantry Second Lieutenant.
As an Infantry Officer, he served as a Rifle Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Support Platoon Leader in the Republic of Korea with the 9th and 20th Infantry Regiments. He later served as a Company Executive Officer and Support Platoon Leader with the 87th Infantry Regiment in the Republic of Panama. COL Ripley graduated the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1999, and was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). As a Detachment Commander, he participated in the Colombian Counternarcotics Initiative and deployed to Colombia, Dominican Republic, and Paraguay. In 2001, he was assigned to Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th SFG(A) in Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. He served as a Detachment Commander in Operations SILENT JEOPARDY and SECURE TOMORROW in Haiti. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th SFG(A) in 2004, where he commanded the CENTCOM Crisis Response Element during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM VIII. COL Ripley deployed in 2007 and 2008 with 7th Group Headquarters as the CJSOTF‐A J35 for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM X and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM XII. In 2008, he assumed command of Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th SFG(A) and deployed to Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, and Trinidad and Tobago.
From 2010 to 2013, COL Ripley served in Joint Special Operations Command as Aide‐de‐Camp to Commander JSOC, J5 Strategic Plans Officer, and J35 Future Operations Officer. COL Ripley assumed command of the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) Brigade Special Troops Battalion in June 2013 in Bamberg, Germany and later that year moved the Battalion to Vicenza, Italy where he led the unit through multiple international exercises. COL Ripley was assigned to NATO SOF Headquarters as Military Assistant to Commander NSHQ in August 2015, and assumed the Chief of Staff position from June 2016 – July 2018.
Most recently COL Ripley served for two tears as the Deputy Commander, 7th Special Forces Group at Camp Bull Simons, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. He now serves as the United States Army Special Operations Command to Army Futures Command in Austin, Texas.
COL Ripley’s military and civilian education include: the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Airborne School, Ranger School, Special Forces Qualification Course, SERE School, Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance and Target Exploitation Techniques Course, Joint Targeting Course, Command and General Staff College, and the School of Advanced Military Studies. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance from Texas A&M University and a Masters of Military Arts and Science from the School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.