COL Stephen W. Ladd began his military career on July 26, 1987, when he enlisted in the United States Army to attend the United States Military Academy Preparatory School. Upon completion of USMAPs and matriculation at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, NY, he was commissioned as a U.S. Army Aviation Officer in May 1992. Following graduation from Initial Entry Rotary Wing and the Aviation Officers Basic Courses at Ft. Rucker, AL, he was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment where he served as a Scout Platoon Leader and Squadron Training Officer. After completing Aviation Officers Advanced Course, he was assigned to HHT 6th Cavalry Brigade, Camp Humphries Republic of Korea where he served in the Brigade S3 office as the Brigade Plans and Exercises officer. Following his assignment in Korea, he was assigned to HHC, 4th BDE, 1st Cavalry Division where he served as; S3 Planner and Battle Captain during a 12 month deployment to Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of NATO Operation Joint Forge. Upon completion of 8 and half years of Active Duty as a Regular Army officer, COL Ladd left active duty.
COL Ladd entered the Army Reserve in 2004. COL Ladd’s Reserve Troop Program Unit (TPU) Assignments include: Commander, D Troop 7-6 Cavalry Regiment; Commander, C Troop, 7-6 Cavalry; Squadron S3 Special Projects Officer; and G35 & CCMRF Project Officer at the 11th Theater Aviation Command. During his tenure as Commander, C/7-6 CAV, COL Ladd mobilized the troop and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom VII (2006-2007) where the troop completed an extremely successful rotation, flying over 4000 hours of accident/incident free combat flying in the most challenging environmental conditions.
Since returning to active duty in the Active Guard Reserve (AGR) program in 2010, COL Ladd has served as the: Asst. S3 for 2nd Mission Command Training Group, 1st Brigade 75th Mission Command Training Division at Joint Reserve Base Ellington; Battalion Operations Officer (S3) of 1-158th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion (ARB), in Conroe, TX; Commander of F Co (AA) 7-158th GSAB in Kingsville, TX and Ft. Carson CO; Aviation Force Integrator, assigned to the Army Staff, serving at the Office of the Chief, Army Reserve, G-3/5/7 Force Management Directorate at Ft. Belvoir, VA; and Commander, 5th Battalion 159th Aviation Regiment (GSAB) at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA. In November of 2016, COL Ladd was selected to attend the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, PA and in 2018, COL Ladd graduated from the USAWC with a Masters of Strategic Studies. From July of 2018 to May of 2021, COL Ladd served as the G-3/5/7 of the Army Reserve Aviation Command (ARAC). In June of 2021, COL Ladd assumed the role of the Deputy Commanding Officer of the ARAC.
COL Ladd’s aircraft qualifications include the UH-1H, OH-58A/C, UH-60A/L & M, AH-64A/D and the C-12. COL Ladd also holds the following FAA ratings: Commercial Pilot: Airplane Single & Multiengine Land; Rotorcraft-helicopter; Instrument, Airplane and Helicopter. Flight Instructor: Airplane Single and Multiengine; Instrument Airplane. COL Ladd has logged over 2900 hours of military and civil flight time, including 456.1 Combat and 101.1 Imminent Danger hours.
COL Ladd’s Awards and Decorations include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with Valor device and Numeral 2, Army Commendation with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal with Star Device, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 2 Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device and Bronze Hourglass, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 3, NATO Medal, Non-Article 5 NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Master Army Aviator Badge, Army Staff Identification Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.
COL Ladd is a resident of Spring, Texas, and is married to the former Michele Lee Brewster and has one daughter, Kaitlyn.