Dave Palazzo

COL Dave Palazzo is a 24 year veteran of the US Army, commissioned from the United States Military Academy in 1996 as an Armor officer. Dave is retiring effective 31 October 2020 from the Aberdeen Proving Grounds where he last served as the Chief of Staff for the 20th CBRNE Command.

Dave’s operational assignments include 7 years at Fort Carson assigned to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, and deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom in command of Eagle Troop, 2/3 ACR in March 2003. Eagle Troop redployed in April 2004 after a year in Anbar Province, to include cavalry operations in Ramadi and Fallujah, Iraq, and along the Saudi and Jordanian borders. Dave was awarded an Army commendation with Valor for combat actions in Fallujah.

Dave was an Assistant Professor at the United States Military Academy following a Master’s Degree in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2006. Dave led the Physics Department’s laboratory program for two years, mentoring and educating over 1,000 cadets during his three year tour.

Dave spent almost nine years assigned to the Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, NC, from 2009-2019. His duties included assignments in the Directorate of Plans, the Directorate of Operations, and culminated as the Director of a Joint Special Operations Task Force, 2018-2020.

After his transition from the Army, Dave is looking forward to settling his family in Colorado Springs, and beginning a new chapter as the Director of Corporate Strategy for LinQuest Corporation. Dave is married to Leila Louise Palazzo, and they have three children: Santino, 15, Pasco, 13, and Josie, 11. Dave is passionate about space exploration, building furniture, and Olympic weightlifting. Dave began work with the Station Foundation earlier this year to help support their donor program, and is looking forward to other opportunities to connect with Veteran Service Organizations.