Colonel Neal J. Lape was born and raised in Syracuse, New York. In 2001, he graduated from the United States Military Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree, with majors in Chemistry and Biology and a minor in Nuclear Engineering. He holds a Masters of Military Art and Science (MMAS) degree, concentrating in Joint Operational Planning from the US Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) and a Masters of Science (MS) degree in National Security Strategy, concentrating in Weapons of Mass Destruction from the National War College in Washington, DC.
Colonel Lape’s operational commands include: Alpha Battery, 5-52 ADA (Patriot) at Fort Bliss, TX, Alpha Battery, 4th ADA Regiment (THAAD) at Fort Bliss, TX, 1-1 ADA (Patriot) in Okinawa, Japan, and 38th ADA Brigade, in Tokyo, Japan.
During Colonel Lape’s last assignment, he served on the Joint Staff (J5) as the Missile Defense Policy Division Chief, Directorate of Strategic Stability and went on to serve as the Military Deputy of DAMO-FIRES.
Colonel Lape currently serves as the Deputy Commanding Officer-Operations, United States Army Recruiting Division.