Colonel (Retired) Martin L. Badegian

Special Projects Officer, Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes

Colonel Martin L. Badegian retired from the Army in September of 2014 with over 30 years of service. As the former IMG_1524Commander of the U.S. Army’s 358th Civil Affairs Brigade, the largest such brigade in the Army, he was an active paratrooper responsible for the Brigade’s headquarters in Riverside, CA and four battalions performing missions worldwide. Additionally, COL Badegian had oversight for all USACAPOC Airborne operations on the West Coast. Prior to retirement COL Badegian served as an Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer (EPLO) where he played a key liaison role to coordinate military resources in response to national level emergencies or disasters. He most recently was selected by the Chief, Army Reserve to serve as the Army Reserve Ambassador for the state of Arizona.

A native of Illinois, COL Badegian entered active duty in 1984 with the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps upon earning his law degree from the Indiana University School of Law. After assignments at Fort Huachuca, Arizona and Fort Sam Houston, Texas, he transferred to the Reserves in 1988 and over the next 26 years held numerous senior leadership assignments. These included serving as principal legal advisor to the Commanding General orchestrating military support to New York civilian authorities in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Assistant Division Commander, Division Chief of Staff and Division Staff Judge Advocate.

In 2003, COL Badegian returned to active duty in the Combatant Command Headquarters of USNORTHCOM and served as MCCC Staff Judge Advocate and a Deputy Legal Advisor in the NORAD/NORTHCOM Office of the Staff Judge Advocate. In 2009, he was selected for special duty with the Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General and deployed to Afghanistan, where he traveled extensively to assess the capabilities and training needs of the Afghan police.

A recipient of many military awards and decorations, COL Badegian serves in his civilian employment as a Senior Special Agent with the U.S. Department of Justice in Tucson, Arizona. In addition to his law degree, he holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Illinois State University and two Master’s Degrees – one in Public Administration from Golden Gate University and a second in Strategic Studies from the Army War College.

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