Col Michael Roach, commander of the 12th Marine Regiment, Okinawa Japan discusses current operations.

A native of Brooklyn NY was commissioned in May 1996. Col Roach has commanded at the battery, battalion, and brigade levels over the course of his career.

He has deployed in support of Exercise Native Fury in Kuwait, Operation Enduring Freedom in Southwest Asia, Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan, Operation Iraqi Freedom I, Operation Iraqi and Freedom II. He also supported combat operations in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. He participated in Humanitarian Relief Operations in Mississippi and Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Col Roach's awards include the Bronze Star, the Combat Action Ribbon, and 7 sea service deployment ribbons. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tulane University, a Master of Science Degree from Kansas State University, and a Masters in National Security from the US Army War College.