Colonel Stephen A. Polacek is a native of North Bend, Oregon. He graduated from New Mexico Military Institute in 1999 and was commissioned into the Army Reserve. While completing his bachelor’s degree at Oregon State University, he served in the 141 Support Battalion in the Oregon Army National Guard and was assessed into the Quartermaster Corps on active duty in 2003. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University and a master’s degree in management from Southern Oregon University.
Polacek’s first active-duty assignment was at Conn Barracks in Schweinfurt, Germany, where he served as a Class III/V and SSA platoon leader, battalion S3, and as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company commander in the 299th Forward Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. He deployed to Iraq as a platoon leader and later as a company commander. After company command, he completed the Captain’s Career Course at Fort Lee, Virginia, and was then assigned to the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) at Joint Base Hickam-Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. While at JPAC, he served as a recovery team leader conducting missions in Laos, Vietnam, and Tarawa, Kiribati, and as the aide-de-camp/executive officer to the JPAC commanding general.
Following that assignment, Polacek moved to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, completed the resident Intermediate Level Education Course, and was subsequently assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. While there, he served as the brigade S4 for the 4-2 Stryker Brigade and deployed to Afghanistan. Upon redeployment, he served as the 702d Brigade Support Battalion executive officer and as the Material Readiness Branch chief in the 593d Expeditionary Sustainment Command Support Operations Section.
Polacek then completed his master’s degree through the Advanced Civil Schooling program and served his utilization tour as a doctrine developer at the Combined Arms Support Command at Fort Lee, Virginia. He was then selected for battalion command and commanded the 296th Brigade Support Battalion, 1-2 Stryker Brigade at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. Following battalion command, he was assigned to the United States Army Human Resources Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and served as the chief of transition policy.
Polacek was most recently assigned to the United States Army Sustainment Command on Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, where he served as the chief of operations, G3/5/7, and as the director of the Mobilization, Power Projection Operations Directorate, Support Operations Directorate. He is currently serving as the deputy joint base commander for Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
EDUCATION
- Quartermaster Officer’s Basic Course (QBOLC)
- Combined Logistics Captain’s Career Course (CLCCC)
- Intermediate Level Education Course (ILE)
ASSIGNMENTS
- Platoon Leader, 299th Forward Support Battalion, Schweinfurt, Germany
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander, 299th Forward Support Battalion, Schweinfurt, Germany
- Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, Recovery Team Leader, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
- Aide-de-Camp/Executive Officer, JPAC Commanding General
- Brigade S4, 4-2 Stryker Brigade, JBLM, Washington (deployed to Afghanistan)
- Executive Officer, 702d Brigade Support Battalion, JBLM, Washington
- Material Readiness Branch Chief, 593d Expeditionary Sustainment Command, JBLM, Washington
- Doctrine Developer, Combined Arms Support Command, Fort Lee, Virginia
- Commander, 296th Brigade Support Battalion, 1-2 Stryker Brigade, JBLM, Washington
- Chief, Transition Policy, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky
- Chief of Operations, G3/5/7, Army Sustainment Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois
- Director, Mobilization and Power Projection Operations Directorate, ASC, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois
- Deputy Joint Base Commander, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal (2 OLC)
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (5 OLC)
Army Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC)
Combat Action Badge