Lt. Col. Anthony Wertz, Soldier Recovery Unit – Hawaii
Lt. Col. Anthony Michael Wertz was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He earned his commission in September 2004 from The Johns Hopkins University Army ROTC. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.
Lt. Col. Wertz reported to HHB, 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment (3-4 ADAR), Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to serve as the Early Warning Platoon Leader. He deployed in April 2006 in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM IV with C Batt., 3-4 ADAR as a Counter Rocket Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) Platoon Leader. Upon redeployment he served as the HHB XO and Battalion S-4 OIC in 3-4 ADAR. Lt. Col. Wertz’s next assignment was in the 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne), where he served as an Operational Detachment Commander in B Co., 6th Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne) (6th POB(A)). In August 2010, Lt. Col. Wertz deployed to Nigeria in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM – TRANS SAHARA and served as both the MIST OIC and the Special Operations Forces Liaison Element Commander in support of the Joint Special Operations Task Force – Trans Sahara. He redeployed to serve as the 6th Military Information Support Battalion's S-4 OIC, and later as Commander of the MISOC’s HHC. Following command, Lt. Col. Wertz was both an instructor and the director of the SOF Captain’s Career Course in the Special Warfare Education Group. After ILE, Lt. Col. Wertz returned to 6th POB(A). He immediately deployed in February 2017 to U.S. Embassy, Baghdad, to serve as the Tribal Engagement Coordination Cell’s Deputy Chief and Psychological Operations Representative. Upon redeployment, Lt. Col. Wertz transferred to 8th POB(A) and immediately reactivated Charlie Company in September 2017. In July 2018, Lt. Col. Wertz led the Copperhead Company on deployment in support of Special Operations Joint Task Force – Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. Upon redeployment, Lt. Col. Wertz served as the Operations Officer for 8th POB(A). Transferring to the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School from 2020-2023, Lt. Col. Wertz served as a member and director of the Commander’s Initiatives Group, and lastly as the G-35 Chief of Plans, Analysis and Futures.
Lt. Col. Wertz's military education includes Basic Airborne Course (Officer Honor Graduate), Air Defense Officer Basic Course (Distinguished Honor Graduate), Combative Level One, the Jumpmaster Course, Maneuver Captains Career Course (Commandant's List), Special Operations Language Training (Russian), Psychological Operations Officer Qualification Course, Regional Studies Course (Africa Seminar), Mobile Force Protection Course, and the Naval War College Command and Staff Course.
Lt. Col. Wertz's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award (1 OLC), Meritorious Unit Citation (1 OLC), and the Army Superior Unit Award. (Additionally, the Department of State’s Meritorious Honor Award, the Combat Action Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold), the German Parachutist Badge, and the Chilean Parachutist Badge.