Cadre and Staff

Lieutenant Colonel Laura Hamilton is a US Army logistics officer with nearly two decades of leadership and operational experience. She commissioned into the Army in May 2007 through Penn State University, where she earned a bachelor of arts in psychology.

Throughout her career, LTC Hamilton has served in a variety of leadership, logistics, planning, and staff positions in the United States and Europe. Her assignments have included service with the 2nd Infantry Division and I Corps at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; 10th Army Air and Missile Command and the 21st Theater Sustainment Command in Kaiserslautern, Germany; Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas; and US Army South. She also commanded Service Battery, 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment in Germany. Her most recent assignment was as the battalion commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, US Army South.

LTC Hamilton deployed to Iraq with the 2nd Infantry Division in 2009. Her professional military education includes the Basic Officer Leader Course, Quartermaster Officer Basic Course, Combined Logistics Captains Career Course, Command and General Staff College, and the School of Advanced Military Studies. She holds a master of arts in military operations from SAMS through its Advanced Military Studies Program.

Her career has focused on organizational leadership, logistics, strategic and operational planning, and building effective teams in complex environments. Her military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, and Meritorious Unit Citation, among others.

LTC Hamilton is married to LTC Cale Hamilton, an Army Medical Service officer. They are the proud parents of triplets, James, Lily, and Aeris.

SFC Vowell enlisted in the United States Navy in October 1999, where he served as a Damage Controlman and Seabee before transitioning to the United States Army in June 2009. Throughout his Army career, SFC Vowell has served in leadership positions through First Sergeant and in multiple staff positions from battalion through division levels.

SFC Vowell served with 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, where he held positions from Team Leader through Squad Leader. He later served as an Air Operations NCO for 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.

SFC Vowell subsequently served as a Senior Small Group Leader and Instructor/Writer with the 8th Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy and the KATUSA Training Academy. He later served as the Operations Sergeant Major for 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, and as a Platoon Sergeant with Chosen Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment.

SFC Vowell assumed responsibility for Arrowhead Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment. As First Sergeant, he led the company through a rigorous training cycle culminating in National Training Center Rotation.

SFC Vowell has deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, and Poland in support of U.S. Army Europe and Africa's European Assure, Deter, and Reinforce mission.

His military education includes all levels of the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development System through the Maneuver Senior Leader Course. His additional military education and qualifications include Airborne School, Pathfinder School, Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer Course, Equal Opportunity Leader Course, Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Victim Advocate Course, Master Driver, and Common Faculty Development–Instructor Course.

SFC Vowell's awards and decorations include the Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, and Basic Army Instructor Badge. His personal and service awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with nine Oak Leaf Clusters, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy "E" Ribbon, NATO Medal (ISAF), Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Armed Forces Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (6th Award), Korea Defense Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 3, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with Bronze Service Star.