Stephen Twitty - United States Army

Parents - Bobby & Belinder Twitty
Wife - Karen
Daughter - Ashley
1981 Graduate of Chesnee High School

Colonel Twitty has earned numerous achievements throughout his career in the United States Army. He received a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice at South Carolina State University, where he also was a member of the South Carolina State R.O.T.C. Battalion, and received a Master's degree in Public Administration at Central Michigan University. The following is a list of just some of Colonel Twitty’s accomplishments while in service between 1985 and 1995. He was a rifle platoon leader, scout platoon leader and battalion leader of the S-3 Air 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1012st Airborne (Air Assault) Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He served as the leader of the S-3 Air 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, as Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General for the 24th Infantry Division, and as Company Commander of B Company, 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment at Fort Stewart, Georgia. Colonel Twitty also served as a Joint Chief of Staff Intern in the Directorate of Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5) in the Pentagon, and he served as the Speechwriter to the Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans (DCSOPS) in both 1994 and 1995.

After completing Command and General Staff College, Colonel Twitty served in Heidelberg, Germany, as a G3 Operations Officer (S3) for the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division through June 1999. He also served in Mons, Belgium at the Supreme Headquarter Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) as the aide-de-camp to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and as Commander in Chief US European Command. Colonel Twitty fought in Operation Desert Storm and most recently in Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he led the initial attack into the city of Baghdad. In addition to commanding 1,000 soldiers in Iraq, he is the only African-American to bring home the Silver Star Medal, our Nation's third highest military award for valor, during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Colonel Twitty has received numerous other awards and decorations throughout his military career, including: the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Medal (1OLC), the Meritorious Service Medal (4OLC), the Joint Commendation Medals, the Army Commendation Medal (2OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (1OLC), the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Southwest Asia Campaign Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Kosovo Medal, the NATO Medal, the Saudi Arabia Liberation Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge with Star, the Expert Infantry Badge, the Ranger Tab, the Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Joint Chief of Staff Identification Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.

Colonel Stephen Twitty is a man of strong faith. A verse he learned years ago sustains him still today: Fear thou not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed for I am thy God. These are "Words that in war bring peace," says Colonel Twitty. Colonel Twitty is currently serving his country at the Pentagon. Chesnee salutes Colonel Stephen Twitty and all his accomplishments, and is extremely proud that he is a member of our community.