LTC Aaron Schwengler
LTC Schwengler’s military career began when he enlisted in the North Dakota Army National Guard as a combat engineer in 1996. He joined the Active Army as a cannon crew member in 1997 and was stationed at Fort Benning, GA, with 1-10 FA, 3rd BDE, 3rd Infantry Division. He deployed to Kuwait in support of OPN Desert Thunder in 1998 and OPN Desert Fox in 1999.
LTC Schwengler left the active Army in 2000 as a Sergeant to attend North Dakota State University, where he majored in Political Science. He received a commission as an Infantry Officer in the United States Army from the NDSU ROTC program in 2003. His first assignment as an officer was at Fort Benning as a Platoon Leader in the United States Army Experimental Force Company (EXFOR). LTC Schwengler’s platoon tested the Stryker concept as well as the systems and equipment being employed on today’s battlefield. Later he served as the XO for the US Army Sniper School.
In early 2007, LTC Schwengler deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, in support of OPN Iraqi Freedom as the executive officer for Headquarters, Headquarters Troop (HHT), 3rd BDE (Hammer), 3rd Infantry Division. Later he served as the Chief of Operations for the BDE TOC.
After graduating from the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course, LTC Schwengler was assigned to 3rd BDE (Rakkasan), 101stAirborne DIV (AASLT) at Fort Campbell, KY, where he commanded Bravo (Battlehard) Company, 3rd BN, 187th IN Regiment. In early 2010, Battlehard Company deployed to Afghanistan in support of OPN Enduring Freedom.
Upon returning from Afghanistan, LTC Schwengler was selected for the Army Congressional Fellowship Program in Washington, DC. He earned his master’s degree in Legislative Affairs from The George Washington University and served as a defense fellow in the office of SEN Kirsten Gillibrand (NY).
Following completion of the Congressional Fellowship, LTC Schwengler deployed with the 10th Mountain Division in January 2014. He was later assigned to 2-14 IN, 2nd BDE, 10th MTN DIV (Light) where he served as the Operations Officer and the Executive Officer for the battalion and deployed for a third time to Afghanistan (2015) – this time in support of Operation Resolute Support.
His next assignment was with Headquarters, US Army Europe (USAREUR) in Wiesbaden, Germany. LTC Schwengler served as a strategic planner with the command team and as the Chief of Operations in the G-37 (Training and Exercise Division).
LTC Schwengler deployed to Israel in 2019 and served as the Aide de Camp to LTG Mark Schwartz in the office of the United States Security Coordinator (USSC) for Israel and the Palestinian Authority operating out of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.
LTC Aaron Schwengler commanded 1st Battalion, 196th Infantry Brigade – Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center, Fort Shafter, HI, from May 2021 through May 2023. Following battalion command, LTC Schwengler was selected for the U.S. Army War College Fellowship Program as a fellow at Reichman University’s International Institute for Counter-terrorism in Herzliya, Israel.
LTC Aaron Schwengler is married to Alixandria Nunley. Together they share three children: Emily – 23; Zachary – 20; and Lyla – 8
