Peter K. Goebel

Peter K. Goebel, a retired Colonel in the United States Army, grew up in Rensselaer County and graduated from Averill Park High School in 1977. He was commissioned into Air Defense Artillery in 1981 upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

completing the Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic Course and Improved HAWK Officer training at Fort Bliss, Texas, and Airborne and Ranger Schools at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was assigned to the Federal Republic of Germany, as an IHAWK Platoon Leader.

He graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1999. He served with the First Marine Division, First Division (United Kingdom), and the 82nd Airborne Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom I from March of 2003 until March of 2004. After 27 months of successful Battalion Command, he assumed duties as Chief of Training, Readiness, Operational Exercises, and Support for U.S. Army South (ARSOUTH) at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom in October 2009. After one year in Afghanistan, he returned to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, to become the Chief of Strategic Synchronization and Engagement for U.S. Army North/Fifth Army (ARNORTH), before retiring as a Colonel in February 2012.

Among his awards are the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Citation, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars), and the Iraq Campaign Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars). He earned the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and the Ranger Tab during his service.

In addition to serving as the Director of the Rensselaer County Veterans Service Agency, Mr. Goebel serves in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the AMVETS, the Disabled American Veterans, the Friends of the New York State Military Museum, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Dutch Settlers Society of Albany, and the West Point Society of the Capital District of New York.