Col. Kirk A. Duncan, a native of Pittsburg, Kansas, enlisted in the Kansas Army National Guard in 1998 as a 13B, Field Artilleryman. He later joined the ROTC program at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas and was commissioned as an Infantry officer in 2001.
After completing the Infantry Officer Basic Course and Ranger School, Duncan was assigned to the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) at Fort Lewis, Washington. He deployed to Mosul, Iraq with 3rd SBCT from November 2003 to November 2004. Upon return from Iraq, he successfully completed the Special Forces Qualification Course, earning his Green Beret. Kirk was then assigned to 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He deployed numerous times to the Middle East while assigned to 5th SFG (A). These overseas missions included three combat rotations into Iraq, as well as training missions in Jordan, Yemen, and Israel.
Duncan then attended the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, California for his Intermediate Level Education. After graduation, he returned to 5th SFG (A) and served as a Battalion Executive Officer and Company Commander. He deployed while in command to northern Afghanistan, his fifth combat deployment. Upon redeployment, Duncan was assigned to the Special Forces Branch at Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky where he served as both a Career Manager and as the Branch Chief.
Duncan was then selected to command the Mission Support Battalion, part of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. The MSB supported the Command by providing national assets to local recruiters to generate recruiting leads across the country. These national assets included a fleet of mobile exhibits in expandable semi-trailers, the U.S. Army E-Sports Team, the U.S. Army Warrior Fitness Team, the As You Were musical outreach rock band, and the U.S. Army Outdoors Team. Following battalion command, Duncan returned to his previous assignment as the Special Forces Branch Chief at HRC. He then completed Senior Service College by serving as the War College Fellow for the University of Louisville. Next, Duncan served as the J3 Director of Operations for the Combined Special Operations Joint Task Force – Levant where he managed special operations missions in Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon from May 2024 – April 2025.
Duncan’s military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic and Advance Courses, Airborne School, the Special Forces Qualification Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape (SERE - High Risk), the Military Free Fall course, and Ranger School. His civilian education includes an undergraduate degree from Benedictine College in finance, an MBA from American Public University, and a Master of Science in Defense Analysis from NPS.
Duncan earned military awards and decorations that include: the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal (1 OLC), the Meritorious Service Medal (3rd OLC), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (1OLC), the Joint Service Achievement Medal (1OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (1OLC), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Citation (2nd OLC), the Army Superior Unit Award, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Military Free Fall Badge, the Italian Military Free Fall Badge, The Recruiter Badge, the Ranger Tab, and the Special Forces Tab.