Biography: Colonel John Stahl, '90

Biography: Colonel (Retired) John C. Stahl

John C. Stahl was born in Columbus, Ohio and grew up in central Ohio graduating from Dublin Coffman High School in 1986. Just past his 17th birthday, he enlisted in May 1985 and served over five years in the 1st Battalion, 166th Infantry, Ohio Army National Guard as an enlisted Infantryman. Over the winter of 1987, Colonel Stahl was recruited into The Ohio State University Army ROTC program. He tried out and was accepted into the Buckeye Brigade Ranger Company, where he served for over 3 ½ years with three years of Ranger Challenge Team participation and leadership. During his sophomore year (1988), the Buckeye Ranger Challenge Team won State and then won Regional with composite scores that were the highest in the nation. During his junior year, he was Cadre selected to be the Ranger Company First Sergeant, followed by his senior year Cadre selection to the Ranger Company Commander position where he led the Ranger Challenge Team to the State Championship. He graduated from The Ohio State University, Distinguished Military Graduate, and was commissioned in the Infantry. His first active duty assignment was with the 7th Infantry Division at Ft Ord, California; where he served as a Rifle Platoon Leader and an Anti Tank (TOW) Platoon Leader. His next assignment was with 9th Infantry Regiment (Manchu), 7th ID at Ft Lewis, Washington where he served as the Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Company Executive Officer. 

Colonel Stahl attended and completed the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course in March 1996. Following the Infantry Officer Career Course and the Special Forces Qualification Course, he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), where he Commanded Operational Detachment-Alpha 143 (Mountain) from April 1998-May 2000. Colonel Stahl served as the S-1, 2nd Battalion, from June 2000-May 2001; followed by the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) Deputy Operations Officer from June- October 2001. Following the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon, Colonel Stahl was assigned to the Headquarters Department of the Army as the Executive Officer to the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3, LTG Kensinger followed by LTG Lovelace, from November 2001- January 2003, where he replaced the XO killed in the attack. He later deployed forward and served as a Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command (SOCCENT FWD) planner in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Colonel Stahl returned to the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) from June 2004-May 2007 serving as the Group Global War on Terrorism planner; Commander Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion; and Operations Officer, 3rd Battalion. He deployed forward in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, leading a Special Operations Advanced Operating Base in western Iraq and later serving as a Special Operations Task Force Operations Officer spanning both western and northern Iraq. He was later assigned to the Deputy Directorate for Special Operations, Joint Staff Pentagon, from June 2007 through February 2010; serving as the PACOM Division Chief, DDSO Director General Scott Miller’s Executive Officer, and DDSO Chief of Staff. Colonel Stahl deployed March 2010 through July 2011 serving as the Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command (CFSOCC)-Afghanistan Commanding General Scott Miller’s Executive Officer followed by Director, Village Stability Coordination Center, Regional Command-South. Asked to extend his rotation by the CG, Colonel Stahl returned again to the CG’s XO position to complete the rotation.

Colonel Stahl arrived at the Asymmetric Warfare Group in September 2011. He served as the Group future operations and plans officer. He took Command of AWG’s Charlie Squadron in May 2012 for 25 months; leading two Squadron deployments to Afghanistan with further deployments into both Lebanon and Jordan.

Colonel Stahl deployed to Special Operations Joint Task Force Afghanistan in May 2015 –June 2016 and served as the Commander and Senior Advisor of the Afghan Local Police Special Operations Advisory Group. Following his Afghanistan deployment, COL Stahl served (2016-2018) as the Deputy Commander, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) where he deployed forward three times in support of SOJTF-Operation Inherit Resolve as the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Syria Commander.

COL Stahl returned home to Ohio and served as the Senior Active Army Advisor to The Adjutant General and the 16,000 member Ohio National Guard. COL Stahl retired with five years of operational, combat zone, deployments within the CENTCOM area of responsibility. His key awards and decorations include three Legion(s) of Merit, three Bronze Stars, Combat Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab, Special Forces Tab, and the Army and Joint Staff identification badges. In recognition of his service, the Ohio Adjutant General awarded COL Stahl with the Ohio Distinguished Service Medal.

Colonel (Retired) Stahl is a serving board member of The Ohio State University Army ROTC Alumni Society, member of the Perry County (PA) Historians, Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, Ohio Valley Military Society, Asymmetric Warrior Association, and the Special Forces Association.