A native of Central Texas, COL Brennan Speakes was commissioned as an Armor Officer in 2004 upon graduation from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. As a company grade officer, he served as a Scout Platoon Leader and Troop Executive Officer in 1-71 Cavalry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, deploying to Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 05-06. He subsequently served as the Deputy Commanding General/Commanding General’s Aide-de-Camp and Assistant S-3 in 3-71 Cavalry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.
Following completion of the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course, COL Speakes was assigned to 1-5 Cavalry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, where he commanded C/1-5 Cavalry and HHC/1-5 Cavalry, deploying again to Baghdad, Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom 09-10. He later served as a Small Group Instructor at the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course.
As a field grade officer, COL Speakes served as an Interagency Fellow in the Intelligence Community. He was subsequently assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia, deploying to Bagram, Afghanistan as the USFOR-A J35. He served as Operations Officer for 5-7 Cavalry Squadron and as Executive Officer for 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, deploying twice in support of the European Regionally Aligned Forces Mission.
COL Speakes later served as Brigade Operations Officer for the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade, deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom/Freedom’s Sentinel. He then led the Commandant’s Action Group at the U.S. Army Armor School, Fort Benning, Georgia, and subsequently deployed to Iraq as the Commanding General’s Executive Officer in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. COL Speakes commanded 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry “GARRY OWEN,” 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, and deployed to Europe as the Division Cavalry Squadron. His most recent operational assignment was as Assistant Chief of Staff, C3, 2nd Infantry Division, Republic of Korea/US Combined Division, Camp Humphreys, South Korea. COL Speakes then served as the Chief of Collective Training on the Army Staff at the Pentagon.
COL Speakes is a Distinguished Military Graduate of Texas A&M University. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Columbus State University and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.
His awards and decorations reflect a career leading in Armored and Cavalry organizations.
He is married to Melissa Speakes, and they share a daughter, Clara Grace.
Command Sergeant Major Christopher Shaiko hails from Springfield, VA. He entered the United States Army in February 1998 as a Patriot System C2 Operator and later reclassified to an Armored Reconnaissance Specialist in 2000. CSM Shaiko has served in heavy and light units throughout his career and has held every leadership position including Squad Leader, Section Leader, Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, Operations Sergeant Major and Command Sergeant Major. He arrives from Fort Riley, Kansas where he served as the Brigade Command Sergeant Major for 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.
His assignments include the 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Fort Bliss, TX., 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson CO., 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, Camp Garry Owen, Korea, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, Fort Stewart, GA., 1st Squadron, 11th ACR, Fort Irwin, CA., 1st Squadron, 38th Armor Regiment, 525th BfSB, Fort Bragg, GA., 1st Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment, Fort Benning GA. His broadening assignments include positions as a Senior Observer Controller/Trainer in 1st Squadron, 409th Regiment (CAV) (TS), Fort Knox, KY., and as the Senior Military Science Instructor at Iowa State University Army ROTC. CSM Shaiko has two combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and a peace keeping mission in Kosovo.
CSM Shaiko’s education includes all levels of NCOPDS culminating with United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Class 68. He holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from Excelsior College, Albany, NY. and is currently working towards a Master’s degree in Defense and Strategic Studies from University Texas at El Paso.
CSM Shaiko’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, one oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, three oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medals, three oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal, silver leaf cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal, 7th Award, National Defense Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral Five, NATO Medal (Kosovo), Iraqi Campaign Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, bronze star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. CSM Shaiko is also a recipient of the Order of Saint George Medal (Silver).