Colonel Thomas Bartow was commissioned in December of 1991 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps Program at Norfolk State University, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science. Currently serving as Commander of the Army Reserve Careers Division (ARCD), Colonel Thomas Bartow headlines the mission of ARCD and its 13 Battalions to sustain the strength of the Army Reserve through retention, accessions programs and Troop Program Unit (TPU) career management. Prior to becoming the ARCD Commander, Colonel Bartow was the lead for ARCD’s top producing 5th battalion 2011-2013 grounding him in the core competencies of ARCD and he brings that experience to his new position. His previous military assignments include Air Defense Platoon Leader and Operations Officer in the 82nd Airborne Division; Battalion Assistant S3 and later Troop Commander in 4th Squadron 7th Cavalry, Republic of Korea; Operations Research Analyst at the United States Army Accessions Command; and several key positions at Headquarters, Department of the Army Staff and the Office of the Chief, Army Reserve (OCAR), culminating as the Chief of Manning Branch, OCAR, Programs, Analysis and Evaluation Division. Colonel Bartow assumed command of 5th Battalion Army Reserve Careers Division on July 15th, 2011. He is a graduate of the Air Defense Officer Basic Course, the Initial Entry Rotary Wing Course, the Aviation Advance Course, the Command and General Staff College, and the Defense Strategy Course. He holds a Masters Degree in Operations Research from the Florida Institute of Technology and was a RAND Fellow from 2007-2008. He is a 2013 graduate of the Army War College. Colonel Bartow’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters; the Joint Commendation Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; the National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star; Korean Defense Service Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; the Army Service Ribbon; the Overseas Service Ribbon; the Army Staff Identification Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge, and the Army Aviation Badge. He deployed to Afghanistan as part of Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) 82 and later, CJTF-101 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism. Colonel Bartow and his wife Felicia make their home in Manassas, Virginia and they have two children.