Commander
Col. (P) John C. Ulrich
Col. (P) John C. Ulrich is the Commander, U.S. Army Operational Test Command (OTC), at Fort Hood, Texas, a subordinate command of the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command.
Col. (P) John Ulrich graduated from Gonzaga University in 1989 and started his career in Air Defense Artillery as an Assault Fire Platoon Leader and HAWK Tactical Control Officer in Fulda, Germany. In 1992, he deployed to Saudi Arabia and served as the Intelligence Officer for a deployed PATRIOT Air Defense Battalion. He then moved to Fort Polk, Louisiana, and served as a Battery Executive Officer and Battalion Assistant S3, deploying again to Saudi Arabia as an operations and plans officer.
After transitioning to Military Intelligence in 1995, Col. (P) Ulrich served as a Targeting Intelligence Officer and commanded the III Corps Military Intelligence Support Company at Fort Hood, Texas. In 1999, he became an Operations Research and Systems Analyst assigned to the Army’s Personnel Command in Alexandria, Virginia.
As a Congressional Fellow in 2004, Col. (P) Ulrich advised a United States Senator in national defense, foreign policy, and intelligence and veterans’ affairs issues. He leveraged this experience while serving in the Army’s Senate Liaison Division, escorting Senators and their staff on official worldwide travel to meet with heads of state and military commanders. From 2006 to 2008, Col. (P) Ulrich served as the Legislative Assistant to two Army Chiefs of Staff, preparing them for all interactions with the United States Congress.
From 2008 to 2009, Col. (P) Ulrich served as a Program Examiner in the White House Office of Management and Budget, responsible for Defense-Wide Appropriations and working with National Security Staff on emergent global issues and resourcing efforts to build the Iraq and Afghanistan Security Forces. From 2009 to 2011, he served as Strategist in the Army’s Programs Analysis and Evaluation Directorate, helping Army leaders develop, communicate, and defend Army resource requirements.
Following his Army War College graduation, Col. (P) Ulrich first served as Director of the Combined/Joint Force Land Component Commander Course. Then from 2013 to 2014, he deployed to Afghanistan and served as Chief of Staff in Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, managing the international donations and direct financial assistance to train, advise, and assist the Afghan National Security Force. Col. (P) Ulrich most recently served as Chief, Army Congressional Budget Liaison, in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management & Comptroller.
Awards and Honors:
- Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster
- Bronze Star Medal
- Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters
- Presidential Service Badge
- Army Staff Identification Badge
- Ranger Tab
- Parachutist Badge
BACKGROUND
Col. (P) John C. Ulrich assumed command of the U.S. Army Operational Test Command on July 12, 2016.
Education:
Army War College
Naval War College
Colorado School of Mines
Gonzaga University
