Wakefield resident promoted to Colonel

CARLISLE BARRACKS, Pa. - Lieutenant Colonel Michael E. Zarbo, a long time resident of Wakefield, was recently selected for promotion to the grade of Colonel in the United States Army.
A graduate of Malden Catholic High School, Lieutenant Colonel Zarbo began his Army career in 1983 when he attended Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. In May of 1985, through the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) Reserve Officer Training Corps Program, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers. In February 1987 he entered Active Duty as a Tactical Intelligence Officer.
He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and three master's degrees: One in Strategic Intelligence from the Defense Intelligence Agency at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C.; one in Business Management from Western International University, Phoenix, Ariz., and one in National Security and Strategic Policy from the Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
He is currently working on his fourth master's degree in Strategic Studies at the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pa. and will graduate in June 2008.
His military education includes various courses at the Intelligence Center and School, Fort Huachuca, Ariz.; the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; the Naval Command and General Staff College at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I., and multiple certification courses in Program Management from the Defense Acquisition University at Fort Belvoir, Va.
His previous assignments include various staff positions in the Second Infantry Division, Korea, the Seventh Infantry Division (Light) at Fort Ord, Calif., and at the Military Intelligence Center and School, Fort Huachuca, Ariz. As a Captain, he commanded the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), at Fort Devens.
Since becoming an Acquisition Corps Officer in 1995, he has held the following positions: Assistant Product Manager in the Office for Training Devices, Live Training Systems at the Simulation, Training and Instrumentation Command (STRICOM), Orlando, Fla.; Assistant Product Manager for Cargo and Personnel Aerial Delivery Equipment in the Program Executive Office (PEO), for Soldiers.
While in PEO Soldier, he was the first military parachutist to live jump an experimental parachute designed to replace the current T-10 mass tactical system.
Also, while assigned to PEO Soldier, then Major Zarbo deployed to Kuwait and Iraq to manage and address soldier equipment-related issues for the Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Operational Cell Forward during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
His Lieutenant Colonel assignments include serving as the Executive Officer for the Deputy Commanding General for Research, Development and Acquisition, United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command in Huntsville, Ala., and his last assignment was as a Centralized Command Selected Product Manager for all of the Army's Combat Training Instrumentation Systems worldwide.
His awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with silver oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster, the Global War on Terrorism Service and Expeditionary Medals, the Army Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge and the Ranger Tab.

Congrats, Colonel Zarbo! Gotta love the troops.