Col. Rick Frank enlisted into the Wyoming National Guard in 1996, attending Basic Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He received an Army ROTC Scholarship to Florida Southern College. Upon graduation in 2001 he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and detailed to the Field Artillery Branch and later transitioned to the Adjutant General Corps.
Frank served in numerous command and staff positions within Garrison and deployment locations to include: Reconnaissance Platoon Leader B Troop, 9th Cavalry Regiment, Assistant Brigade S1 for 3rd Brigade Combat Team, Dallas Recruiting Battalion S-1 and S-3, Commander of the Lewisville Recruiting Company. Battalion S-1, 602nd Aviation Support Battalion, Brigade S-1, 2nd Combat Aviation. He has also served as the Deputy Director of Manpower for Eighth Army Headquarters, Chief of Readiness in the Army Central Command G-1 and Commander of the Nashville Army Recruiting Battalion.
While deployed to Kuwait as the Chief of Manpower he stood up the Combined Joint Task for Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR). He has also served as a Strategic Planner in the US European Command (EUCOM) J1 and as Executive Officer to the EUCOM Chief of Staff. Prior to accepting this assignment he served as the Professor of Military Science for the University of Arkansas.
Frank’s military education includes the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, Adjutant General Captains Career Course, the Recruiting Company Commander’s Course, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the US Army Strategic Broadening Seminar at the University of Louisville, Naval Command and Staff College and the USAREC Pre-Command Course. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Florida Southern College, Master of Science in Management from Liberty University, and Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.
Frank ’s military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star; the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; the Joint Commendation Medal; the Army Commendation Medal; the Joint Service Achievement Medal; the Army Achievement Medal; the Joint Meritorious Unit Award; the National Defense Service Medals; the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; the Korea Defense Service Medal; the Combat Action Badge and the Recruiter Badge.