Thomas A. Heaney, Jr., COL
Senior Army Advisor
USA
Special Advisor - USA | Joint Military Operations
Profile
Colonel Heaney's a RI native; graduated Middletown HS (77) and the University of Rhode Island in 1981, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History (81), and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry, U.S. Army.
In over 29 years of active duty service in the U.S. Army Colonel Heaney served in a variety of leadership and staff assignments from Platoon Leader to Brigade Commander in the 2d Battalion, 32d Infantry, 7th Infantry Division at Fort Ord, Calif., to the 1st Basic Combat Training Brigade, at Fort Jackson, S.C. Colonel Heaney's operational assignemets focused on light Infantry Infantry training and operational units. These assignments were highlighed by his commands at the company, battalion and brigade levels.
After brigade command, Colonel Heaney was assigned as the Deputy Commander Operations of U.S. Army South from August 2004 to June 2007. Before coming to the Naval War College in Aug 2008, Colonel Heaney served as Deputy Commander-West for the United States Army Recruiting Command at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Colonel Heaney's staff expercience focused on operations. He was assigned several times in operations functions on battalion through corps level staffs. During these staff assignments he was a battalion or brigade operations officer multiple times, division current operations officer, and corps G3, Exercise Officer. The highlight of these duties was his assignment to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., where he served as the Battalion Liaison Officer, Battalion Operations Officer, and Battalion Executive Officer.
Colonel Heaney's noteable non-Infantry assignments were as a Small Group-Tactic Instructor for the Infantry Officer Advance Course, as the Live-Fire Senior Observer/Controller at the Joint Readiness Training Center and (present duty) as a military instructor for the Joint Military Operations Department at the U.S. Naval War College.
Colonel Heaney has completed the Army’s Airborne and Ranger courses. He is a Master Parachutist and has earned the Expert Infantryman Badge. He has two Master’s Degrees: one in Business Administration and the other in National Security and Strategic Studies.
Colonel Heaney’s awards include the Legion of Merit (2 awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (8 awards), the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (3 awards).