COL Ken R. Bernier currently serves as the Military Deputy to the Director of the Ground Vehicle Systems Center in Warren, Michigan. He commissioned in 2001 as a Distinguished Military Graduate in the Armor Corps from the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at the University of Maine. He is a graduate of the Armor Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Airborne School, Command and General Staff College, Product Managers Course, Training with Industry with Cisco Systems Inc., and Army War College.
COL Bernier entered military service in 1996 and has served in a wide range of command and staff positions. Prior to his arrival in Warren, he served as the Executive Officer to the Director of Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office. Previous assignments include Product Manager for Abrams Main Battle Tank; Executive Officer for the Deputy Acquisition and Systems Management; Department of the Army Systems Coordinator for Soldier Weapons, Pentagon; Assistant Product Manager for Crew Served Weapons; Military Lead for the Combating Terrorism Technology Team at the Armament Research Development and Engineering Center, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey; Assistant Operations Officer, Commander, and Squadron Maintenance Officer for the Headquarters Troop 5th Squadron, 14th U.S. Cavalry, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team (which later became the 2nd Squadron, 14th U.S. Cavalry), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Operations Officer for U.S. Army Pacific and Joint Task Force Homeland Defense Pacific, U.S. Army Pacific Command, Ft. Shafter, Hawaii; Troop Executive Officer, Scout Platoon leader, and Tank Platoon leader for Comanche Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st U.S. Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Buedingen, Germany; and Motor Transport Operator in the 401st Engineer Company U.S. Army Reserves, Dexter, Maine.
COL Bernier holds a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the U.S. Army War College, a Master of Engineering in Systems Engineering degree from Steven Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor of Mathematics degree from the University of Maine. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with one oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Meritorious Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, the Combat Action Badge, the Army Staff Badge, the German Armed Forces Efficiency Badge (Silver), and the Army Parachutist Badge.