Lt. Col. John R. Grabowski’s last assignment (2023-2025) was as an Army Watch Team Chief assigned at the Pentagon ensuring the Army Chief of Staff, the Secretary of the Army, and other Army Senior Leaders were instantly informed of current events with strategic implications.
From 1995 to 1999, Lt. Col Grabowski served as a Platoon Leader, Battalion Adjutant, Battalion Signal Officer, and Group Signal Officer at Ft. Lewis, WA for 1-33 Armor, 29th Signal Battalion, 14th Combat Engineer Battalion (wheeled), and the 555th Engineer Group.
After joining the Army Reserve in 2002 and serving until 2011, he completed the following assignments: Logistics Officer, Company Commander, and Battalion Executive Officer for 3-334 Infantry Battalion, a Basic Combat Training Battalion in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Joint Operations Center Watch Officer at Yokota Air Base, Japan. In 2010, he mobilized to Ft. Benning, Georgia, where he served as the Executive Officer for 1-50 Infantry Battalion.
In May 2011, Grabowski transferred back to Active Duty, branched to the Corps of Engineers, and was assigned to 4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division at Ft. Bliss, Texas. He immediately deployed to Iraq followed by Afghanistan in 2012. Upon return in early 2013, he served as the Brigade Engineer and as a Battalion Executive Officer. In August 2017, Grabowski’s first assignment to the Corps of Engineers was to Mobile District where he served as the 565th Forward Engineer Support Team—Advance (FEST-A) Commander. He deployed five times: Honduras, Thailand, South Korea, Iraq, and back to Honduras. In September 2017, he was selected as the Deputy Commander for Cyber Transformation, Savannah District.
From 2021-2023, Lt. Col Grabowski Commanded the 31st Engineer Battalion One Station Unit Training (OSUT). He was responsible for Basic Combat Training (BCT) and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) to over 3,200 IET Soldiers, consisting of Combat Engineers and Bridge crew-members.
Lt. Col Grabowski holds a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Computer Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ (1995) and a Masters Degree in Business Administration - Project Management from Florida Institute of Technology (2015).
His Military Education includes: the Armor Officer Basic Course, Signal Officer Transition Course, Signal Officer Advanced Course (Honor Graduate), Combined Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College, Joint Engineer Operations Course, and the Army Action Officer Integration Course.
Lt. Col Grabowski's awards and decorations include the Bronze star, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal x5, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal x5, the Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal x3, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon x2, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon x4, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, US Army Staff Badge, Army Recruiting Badge, and Parachutist Badge.