LTC Michael Podojil

Title: Professor of Military Science
Dept/Program: Army ROTC
Phone: 330-972-7959
Email: mpodojil@uakron.edu

Biography

Lieutenant Colonel Podojil

Hometown: Hiram, Ohio

Commission: 2006 (United States Military Academy)

Branch: Field Artillery

As a company grade officer, LTC Podojil served in Iraq for 15 months during Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Company Fire Support Officer with Bravo Company, 1-187th Infantry Regiment, and as a Platoon Leader for Bulldog Battery, 3-320th Field Artillery. Following the Field Artillery Captains Career Course (FACCC), he served as the Battalion S2 for 1-38th Field Artillery in South Korea. He then PCSed to Germany, serving as the Assistant Brigade Fire Support Officer for the 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) and Assistant S3 for 1-84th Field Artillery. During this tour, he deployed for 12 months to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon completion of his tour, he moved to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to assume command of Charlie Target Acquisition Battery, 75th Fires Brigade. His broadening assignment includes serving as an Assistant Professor of Military Science with Dickinson College ROTC.

Field Grade Assignments

As a field grade officer, LTC Podojil spent four years in Germany serving as the 2nd Cavalry Regiment Regimental Planner, Field Artillery Squadron Operations Officer, Field Artillery Squadron Executive Officer, and Brigade Operations Officer for the 41st Field Artillery Brigade. He then transferred to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for a Joint billet with II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF). There, he served as the Targeting Officer for II MEF and for the 2d Marine Division Fire Support Coordination Center, deploying for six months to Naples, Italy, in support of 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2d MEB).Following his Joint tour with the Marine Corps, LTC Podojil moved to Fort Riley, Kansas, where he served as the Deputy Fire Support Officer for the 1st Infantry Division and briefly commanded 1-5 Field Artillery during a deployment to Poland and Germany in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

Education & Professional Qualifications

Lieutenant Colonel Podojil’s civilian and military education include US Army Field Artillery Officer Basic Course (with honors), US Army Airborne School, US Army Air Assault School, US Army Field Artillery Career Course (with honors), MS in Emergency Management from Millersville University, US Army Joint Operational Fires and Effects Course, Joint Targeting Staff course, and Joint Firepower course.

Personal

LTC Podojil is married to the former Elizabeth Fraley of Kampsville, Illinois.