Col. Thomas P. Ockenfels

Chief of Staff, Army and Air Force Exchange Service

Profile

The Chief of Staff

The Chief of Staff is the Director/CEO’s principal staff officer.  The Chief of Staff monitors and maintains HQ AAFES operating expense budget and buildings.  The Chief of Staff also oversees the Military personnel Office (MPO) for AAFES.  The position is also responsible for HR protocol, conference services and transportation, staff planning, correspondence management, congressional responses, staff synchronization / administrative information flow and Force Protection.

Colonel Thomas P. Ockenfels is the Chief of Staff at the Army & Air Force Exchange Service Headquarters in Dallas, Texas.

He serves as coordinating agent and advisor to the Exchange Commander and Deputy Commander, ensuring effective liaison with higher, collateral and subordinate headquarters and organizations. Col. Ockenfels is responsible for the budgeting, personnel administration and morale, welfare and recreation for 3,200 military and civilians at the headquarters and Stoneridge locations.

Colonel Ockenfels grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, and was commissioned upon graduation into the Infantry.

In 1990 he transferred to the Quartermaster Corps. He holds a Master's Degree in Logistics Policy from Florida Institute of Technology and a Master's Degree in Strategic Logistics from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Colonel Ockenfels' military schooling includes the Infantry Basic and Advanced courses, Command and General Staff College.

As a lieutenant, Colonel Ockenfels served as a Platoon Leader and as company Executive Officer in Company B, 6-327th Infantry Regiment and as the Support Platoon leader in5-9th Infantry Regiment, 6th Infantry Division at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. He commanded Company B, 105th Forward Support Battalion, 5th Infantry Division at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Later he was assigned as the Support Operations Officer and Battalion Executive Officer of the 215th Forward Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. His assignments overseas include the Chief of the Troop Branch, 3rd Corps Support Command, Wiesbaden, Germany and Deputy Commander, 7th Corps Support Group in Bamberg, Germany. Colonel Ockenfels served with the Army Materiel Command while commanding the Combat Equipment Battalion at Camp As Salayah in Qatar. His most recent position was Logistics Advisor to the US mission to NATO in Brussels, Belgium.

Colonel Ockenfels deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in 2003, serving in Kuwait and Iraq with the 7th Corps Support Group.

Colonel Ockenfels' awards and decorations include:

  • The Bronze Star Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster
  • The Defense Meritorious Service Medal
  • The Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters
  • The Army Commendation Medal
  • The Army Achievement Medal
  • The Air Assault Badge
  • The Parachutist Badge

(Current as of September 2011)