COL Kenneth Tauke is a native of Worthington, Iowa. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1982, serving tours in Fort Riley, Kansas, Germany, and Fort Hood, Texas. In 1987, he entered the University of South Dakota ROTC program at Vermillion, South Dakota and commissioned in 1989 as a Second Lieutenant.
COL Tauke served in various command and staff positions to include Commander, 300th Military Police Company; Commander, 463rd Military Police Company; Assistant Professor, United States Military Academy; S-3, 1st/1st Infantry Battalion; Deputy Division Provost Marshal, 2nd Infantry Division; Director of Operations, United States Disciplinary Barracks. He also served as the Battalion Executive Officer of 705th Military Police Battalion, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
In 2009, COL Tauke assumed command of the 1001st Military Police Battalion (Criminal Investigation Division), Fort Riley, Kansas. After 24 months, he relinquished this position to become the Deputy Commanding Officer of the 42nd Military Police Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. In 2012, COL Tauke assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, 535th Military Police Battalion, in Afghanistan.
Prior to graduation from the United States Army War College, COL Tauke deployed to Qatar, as the CENTCOM Joint Security Officer Forward. After the United States Army War College, COL Tauke was the I Corps Provost Marshal, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
His awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medals, and the Combat Action Badge among others.
His military education includes a Masters of Strategic Studies, Army War College, Command General Staff College and Special Reaction Team Training.
His civilian education is a Bachelors of Arts in Criminal Justice, Masters in Political Science and Masters in Communications from the University of South Dakota at Vermillion, South Dakota.
June 2016
