COL David Neary, Deputy Commander, 85th United States Army Reserve Support Command, began his military service in 1991 and has served in a wide variety of positions as an Infantry officer in the Regular Army, Army National Guard, and U.S. Army Reserve.
COL Neary’s first assignment was with the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Fort Bragg where he served as a Rifle Platoon Leader, Anti-tank Platoon Leader, Rifle Company Executive Officer, and Anti-tank Company Executive Officer. He deployed to Panama in 1994 with the battalion in support of Operation Safe Haven. COL Neary’s next assignment was with the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment at Fort Drum where he served as the Battalion Air Operations Officer and as a Company Commander. He deployed to Panama with the battalion in 1996 in support of Operation Jungle Warrior. COL Neary ended his military service in 1999. After a four-year break in service, he joined the Rhode Island Army National Guard in 2003 and was assigned to the 56th Troop Command. COL Neary served in nearly every staff position in the Troop Command culminating in Deputy Commanding Officer and Acting Brigade Commander. COL Neary mobilized and deployed to Afghanistan in 2007-2008 with the Rhode Island Light Infantry Embedded Training Team where he served as an embedded Battalion Team Chief with the Afghan Border Police in southeastern Afghanistan.
COL Neary transferred to the United States Army Reserve in December 2018 and served as a Branch Chief and Chief Observer Controller/Trainer in the 2d Brigade, 78th Training Division, 84th Training Command until 2020. He commanded the Mission Command Support Group, 81st Readiness Division from June 01, 2020, until July 27, 2022. COL Neary served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/7, 85th United States Army Reserve Support Command from July 2022 until reassignment as the Deputy Commander in the same command in March 2023.
COL Neary has earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy, a Master of Business Administration degree from Bryant University, and a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the U.S. Army War College. He is also a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, and the Command and General Staff Officers’ Course.
COL Neary’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Army Commendation Medal (6 awards), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award (2 awards), the Ranger Tab, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.
COL Neary resides with his family in Massachusetts; and he works as a Director of Business Development at Leonardo DRS, a defense company outside of Boston.