Colonel Andrew J. DeForest is the commander of The Army Aviation Brigade, Davison Army Airfield, Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. A native of Walpole, Massachusetts, he earned his commission as an Aviation Officer and Bachelor of Science degree from Boston University in 2002. He holds master’s degrees in Security Studies from Kansas State University and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.
Following commissioning, he was assigned to 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion, Camp Humphreys, Korea, serving as Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer.
After attending the Military Intelligence Officer Advanced Course at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, in 2006, he was then assigned to the 204th Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Bliss, Texas, serving as Assistant Operations Officer and Company Commander. From 2010-2012 he served as Assistant Professor of Military Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as Battalion Executive Officer, Recruiting Officer and MSI instructor.
Upon successful completion of the Command and General Staff College and training course in 2013, he was later assigned to the Office of Military Support in Washington, D.C., serving in several leadership and staff positions. He then served as an Air Planner for the 1st Joint Special Operations Air Component located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. From 2019-2021 he served as battalion commander of the United States Army Priority Air Transport Command.
Following graduation from the U.S. Army War College in 2022, Col. DeForest was assigned as the Enablers Branch Chief and later Chief of Staff for the Aviation Force Development Hardware Division for Headquarters Department of the Army, G-8 in the Pentagon. Col. DeForest assumed command of The Army Aviation Brigade in August 2024.
Col. DeForest’s permanent awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, and Army Superior Unit Award. He is a Knowlton, Order of St. Michael, and MIT Department of Undergraduate Education award recipient. His badges include the Master Aviator Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge. In addition, Col. DeForest earned qualification ratings in the UH-60, C-37, UC-35, RC-12, and EO-5C aircraft.