Hometown Hero: The Inspiring Journey of United States Army Lieutenant Colonel David Sly

United States Army Lieutenant Colonel David Sly is originally from Rutland, Vermont, and he graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. David was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Military Intelligence Corps.

David earned his Master of Arts in Anthropology in 2019 and an Executive Master of Public Administration in 2021 both from Syracuse University.

Lieutenant Colonel David Sly, originally from Rutland, Vermont, graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. He also holds a Master of Arts in Anthropology and an Executive Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University.

After completing the Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, Sly was assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He served as the Battlefield Intelligence Collection Controller for 1st Squadron, 33d Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). He deployed with 3rd Brigade in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2007 to 2008, serving in Baghdad and Hillah Provinces.

Sly remained in the cavalry squadron and deployed again in 2010 to Afghanistan as the Squadron’s Intelligence Officer in Charge. Following his honorable discharge from active duty in 2010, Sly joined the Vermont Army National Guard and led intelligence efforts at the Battalion and Brigade levels for the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain).

David was selected as one of six National Guard officers to receive the 2012 General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award. During this period, Sly also took command of A Troop, 1-172 Cavalry Squadron, leading the Troop through its train up and ready year. Sly transferred to the United States Army Reserves in 2018 and is currently the Intelligence Officer in Charge for the 353d Civil Affairs Command in Staten Island, NY.

LTC Sly’s awards and decorations include: The Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation (5th Award), the Army Achievement Medal (2nd Award), the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Military Mountaineer Badge, German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold), and gold and silver spurs from the cavalry.

LTC Sly currently resides in Marcellus, NY with his wife, Bethany (Agricola) Sly, daughter Juliette, and son Henry. On the civilian side, Sly is the Associate Director of Career Services for Syracuse University’s Falk College, where he seeks to inspire and enable future graduates to serve communities at all levels with the skills they’ve developed at Falk.