Military Service
U.S. Army Colonel
Experience
36 years served
Future
Seeking a career in financial services
Location
Albany, NY
About Ciro
Colonel Ciro C. Stefano is the first-ever American Colonel to serve in the Bundeswehr /German Army, as the Chief Operating Officer (COO), for the Germany’s largest Division consisting of over 19,000 members. He skillfully provided leadership and guidance to his 131 personnel. Prior to this assignment, he served as the Chief of Military Science for the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. He was responsible for the Military Science Curriculum and academic year education of over 4,600 cadets in the fundamentals of Army operations, military decision making, tactics and the Profession of Arms.
Colonel Stefano is an expert trainer and leader. He joined West Point with a combined thirty-two years of military experience, having served as a Non-Commissioned Officer, Chief Warrant Officer and Commissioned Officer at every level of command and staff assignments in the United Stated Army. Prior to West Point, he served as the Director of an Army ROTC program responsible for the supervision and mission accomplishment of 130+ personnel. The organization supported students at over 20 colleges and universities in central Massachusetts with an operating budget and resources in excess of $2.2 million.
Colonel Stefano’s command assignments include, Commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company in the 101st Airborne Division; the Olympia Recruiting Company, part of the United States Army Recruiting Command and the Bay State ROTC Battalion, part of the United States Army Cadet Command.
Colonel Stefano’s key staff assignments include serving as the Operations Officer in El Salvador; Division Planner and Executive Officer in the 82nd Airborne Division; Senior Logistics Officer responsible for planning and coordinating all logistical requirements for the sustainment of over 3,000 Soldiers, 110 helicopters, and 750 pieces of rolling stock valued at over $330 Million. Managed a budget of over $9 million; Senior Maneuver Trainer/Advisor to the Iraqi Army, and as Director, Regional Talent Acquisition, where he earned the title of # 1 in the nation, earning him the prestigious MacArthur award.
Major deployment and operational history includes Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, 1990-1991; Central America, 1999; Operation Enduring Freedom, the Consolidation Phase I, 2002-2003; Operation Iraqi Freedom I, the Liberation of Iraq, 2003; Operation Iraqi Freedom V-VI, the Iraqi Surge and Iraqi Sovereignty 2008-2009.
Colonel Stefano received a Bachelor of Science in Advanced Management from Texas A&M University and was commissioned as an Aviation Officer in 1993. He also holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration. Colonel Stefano is also a graduate of the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
His overseas assignments include Germany, the Republic of Korea, Central America, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a Senior Aviator and an Airborne Ranger, graduating both with honors. The loves of his life are his wife Katie and daughters Anna and Frances. His volunteer work is impressive and extensive. He enjoys travel, European automobiles, his dogs, antiques, good beer and coffee and of course, spending time with family and friends.