Maj. Antony “Tony” Palocaren is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He commissioned from Pennsylvania State University into the U.S. Army as an engineer officer in 2011.
Maj. Palocaren's previous assignments include service as the brigade operations officer for the 7th Engineer Brigade in Ansbach, Germany, as well as battalion executive officer and battalion operations officer for the 15th Engineer Battalion in Grafenwöhr, Germany. In these assignments, he coordinated multinational exercises with NATO allies, including Saber Guardian and Resolute Castles in Europe.
Earlier in his career, he served as a platoon leader and company executive officer with the 52nd Engineer Battalion at Fort Carson, Colorado, and as aide-de-camp to the commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Northwestern Division. He also commanded the 642nd Engineer Support Company at Fort Drum, New York; served as a project engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ New York District; and taught at the United States Military Academy at West Point as an assistant professor for International Affairs and course director for Politics of Europe in the Department of Social Sciences.
Maj. Palocaren graduated from Harvard University as a Harvard Presidential Scholar and earned a Master of Public Administration in International Development, with a focus on development economics. While at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, he served as a research assistant at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.
Maj. Palocaren's military education includes Command and General Staff College, Engineer Captain's Career Course, Engineer Basic Officer Leadership Course, Sapper Leader Course and Air Assault School. He is a licensed professional engineer (mechanical) in the states of Texas and Colorado and is certified as a project management professional by the Project Management Institute.
Maj. Palocaren's achievement awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (2 oak leaf clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (2 oak leaf clusters) and the Army Achievement Medal (2 oak leaf clusters).