COL John A. Peeler

Colonel John A. Peeler attended the Officer Candidate School and was commissioned in 1986 after nearly three years of service as an enlisted Soldier.

He has served in a variety of command, leadership, and staff assignments in Armor and Cavalry units. His assignments include Assistant S-3, in 1st Squadron, 10th U.S. Cavalry, and Tank, Scout, and Support Platoon Leader in 2nd Squadron, 7th U.S. Cavalry, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, CO.

After attendance at the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, he served as a Battalion S-4 in 3rd Battalion, 77th Armor and as C Co Commander and HQ & HQ Company Commander; first in HHC, 5th Battalion, 77th Armor, Mannheim, Germany, then later in HHC, 1st Battalion, 32nd Armor, Fort Lewis, WA. He also served as the S-3 Air in 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division.

Following assignment as an Assistant Professor of Military Science at Pacific Lutheran University, and attendance at the Command and General Staff College, COL Peeler served as the G3 (Training), the 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR) Executive Officer and later the 11th ACR Executive Officer at the National Training Center. COL Peeler then served as an Executive Officer in the Department of the Army Inspector General's Office.

He deployed as the Deputy Brigade Commander for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom. COL Peeler then served in Germany as the Commander, 1st Squadron, 1st U.S. Cavalry, in Buedingen, Germany, and as the Division G-3 for 1st Armored Division, Wiesbaden, Germany.

He has attended Regis, Chapman and Harvard Universities. COL Peeler most recently served as the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center G-3, Fort Leavenworth, KS.

CSM Emmett Maunakea

CSM Emmett M. Maunakea hails from Hawaii. He enlisted in the United States Army on February 22, 1982 and was awarded the MOS of 11B Infantryman upon completion of OSUT at Ft. Benning, GA.

CSM Maunakea's military education includes all four levels of NCOES, the First Sergeants Course, Airborne school, Military Free Fall Parachutist course, Ranger school, Jumpmaster course, Military Free Fall Parachutist Jumpmaster course, and Pathfinder school. He currently holds an Associate’s Degree in General Education from Troy State University.

CSM Maunakea's assignments include Ft. Lewis, WA; Ft. Benning, GA; Schofield Barracks, HI; Ft. Campbell, KY; and Ft. Polk, LA. His former duty positions include Rifleman, Team Leader, Squad Leader, Ranger Instructor, Battalion S3 Air NCO, Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, Observer Controller, Brigade and Battalion Operations Sergeant Major, Command Sergeant Major for the 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, Ft. Polk, LA, Live Fire Division Command Sergeant Major Operations Group, his current assignment is as the 2nd BDE, 1st Cavalry DIV, BDE CSM.

CSM Maunakea's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (3 OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal (8th Award), National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ Combat Star, Iraq Campaign Medal w/ Combat Star, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, and Pathfinder Badge.