Colonel James P. Drago

Biography

Commander

USAG Benelux

Europe Region

 

Colonel James P. Drago, Jr. graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1983. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery and attended the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

He began his active duty career with the 9th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington and served in a variety of jobs in the 1st Battalion, 84th Field Artillery from 1984-1987, with duty in both cannon and rocket artillery units. After attending the Infantry Officer Advanced Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, Colonel Drago was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 3rd Armored Division at Kirchgoens, Germany where he served as a Task Force Fire Support Officer and Battery Commander in the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery. Following Battery Command where he deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm, Colonel Drago became the Aide de Camp for the 3rd Armored Division Commander until 1992. He then returned to the United States and attended Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, where he earned his Masters in Business Administration. He was subsequently assigned to the United States Military Academy and worked in the Directorate of Admissions from 1993-1996. After completion of the Command and General Staff College in 1997, Colonel Drago was assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington and served as the Executive Officer for 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery until 1999. Colonel Drago returned to West Point in 1999 and served for two years in the Department of Military Instruction as the Field Artillery Branch Representative and Chief of Military Training. In the summer of 2001, Colonel Drago returned to Europe and assumed command of the 409th Base Support Battalion in Vilseck, Germany, where he was overall responsible for the quality of life for the residents of Vilseck, Grafenwoehr, and Amberg. Upon completion of command, he returned to West Point and served as the Director of Operations and Plans for the United States Military Academy until 2005 when he and his family relocated to Carlisle, Pennsylvania to attend the U.S. Army War College. Colonel Drago’s last assignment was with United States Army Central/Coalition Forces Land Component Command in Kuwait where he served as the Deputy C3, Operations Directorate from July 2006-May 2007.

Colonel Drago’s decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster), the Meritorious Service Medal (w/5 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster), and the Army Achievement Medal.

His badges include the Parachutist Badge and Ranger Tab.