Military Science Hall of Fame

EWU Military Science Hall of Fame: Brigadier General Nikki L. Griffin Olive

09/24/202006/13/2020 by jstafford3

Brigadier General Nikki L. Griffin Olive

U.S. Army Retired

EWU ROTC Class of 1990

Commanding General, 335th Signal Command (Theater), Operational Command Post (Forward), Kuwait

Brigadier General Nikki L. Griffin Olive is a native of Spokane, Washington and was commissioned a Signal Officer upon graduation from Eastern Washington University (EWU) as an ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate.

In her initial assignment to Vicenza, Italy, she served as a signal platoon leader and company executive officer in the 559th Field Artillery Group. She was subsequently assigned as a Mobile Subscriber Equipment Platoon Leader and the Communications-Electronics Officer/Assistant S3 Plans Officer in the 3-58th Aviation Battalion (Air Traffic Control). Following graduation from the Signal Officer’s Advance course, she was assigned as the Communications-Electronics Officer in the 1-5th Air Defense Artillery Battalion (Stinger Missile), and the Headquarters Battery Commander, 1-3rd Air Defense Artillery Battalion (Stinger Missile), 3rd Infantry Division, Ft. Stewart, Georgia. In 1998, she was assigned as a Plans and Operations Officer, 335th Theater Signal Command, at East Point, Georgia, and she continued to serve in critical billets to include Force Management and Battalion Command. After attending Resident War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, she was assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 for 335th Signal Command (Theater). Brigadier General Griffin Olive most recently relinquished command of the 359th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade in September 2016 before assignment as the Deputy Commanding General, Sustainment for 335th Signal Command (Theater). In 2018 she was assigned as Commanding General (Troop Program Unit), 335th Signal Command (Theater), Operational Command Post (Forward), Kuwait. BG Griffin-Olive retired from the U.S. Army in November 2019.

BG Nikki Griffin-Olive is inducted into the EWU Military Science Hall of Fame during the 2020 EWU Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony.

Brigadier General Griffin Olive’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (with four oak leaf clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with three oak leaf clusters), Army Achievement Medal (with five oak leaf clusters), Armed Forces Reserve Medal (M Device), Army Reserve Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal (with one oak leaf cluster), Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Military Outstanding Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (second award), and the Parachute Badge.She holds a Bachelors Degree from Eastern Washington University, Masters Degree from American Military University and the United States Army War College. Her military education includes the Signal Officer Basic Course, Signal Officer Advanced Course, Brigade/Battalion Signal Officer Course, Airborne School, Combined Arms, and Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College, and the United States Army War College.

Brigadier General Griffin Olive is married to Colonel Jeffrey Olive, G-6, Georgia Army National Guard. They have two daughters – Darby Isabelle Olive and Kendall Grace Olive.

EWU Military Science Hall of Fame: Major General Kenneth L. Privratsky

08/03/2019 by jstafford3

Major General Kenneth L. Privratsky

U.S. Army Retired

EWU Class of 1969

DLA Hall of Fame 2018

Major General Kenneth L. Privratsky received his Regular Army commission in the Transportation Corps from ROTC at Eastern Washington State College (EWSC) on December 11, 1969. His initial assignments were as an Infantry Officer and included tours as a company executive officer in the l-508th Infantry, and Commander, HHC, 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division. He served as a Rifle Platoon Leader and S3 Air in l-502nd Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), in the Republic of Vietnam.

Assignments following his return in 1972 included Plans Officer, Directorate of Inland Traffic, Eastern Area Military Traffic Management Command in Brooklyn, and Assistant Professor of English, United States Military Academy. In 1982 he was assigned to the 193rd Infantry Brigade (Separate) in Panama where he served as Secretary General Staff; Executive Officer, 193rd Combat Support Battalion; and Commander, 193rd Logistics Battalion.

In 1986, MG Privratsky moved to Fort Hood, Texas and served as Chief, Plans Division, 13th COSCOM and Commander, 48th Forward Support Battalion, 2nd Armored Division. In 1990 he was reassigned to the National Training Center, Fort Irwin as the Senior Forward Support Battalion Trainer and then in 1992 to Alaska, where he served as Director of Logistics and Commander, Division Support Command, 6th Infantry Division (Light). In October 1994, he assumed duties as Chief, Strategic Mobility Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Department of the Army. In February 1996, he became Commander of Defense Distribution Region East, Defense Logistics Agency and then, in October 1997, the first Commander of the Defense Distribution Center, responsible for 22 distribution depots in CONUS and Europe. Major General Privratsky was Director of Transportation and Troop Support, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics. On July 9, 1999, Major General Privratsky assumed command of the Military Traffic Management Command. Major General Privratsky retired from the Army in 2002.

MG Privratsky is a graduate of the Airborne, Ranger, and Jungle Schools, and the School of Advanced Military Studies. He was a Senior Service College Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University and has earned graduate degrees in English, Business and Military Science.

MG Privratsky’s awards and decorations include the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, two Legions of Merit, two Bronze Stars, four Meritorious Service medals, two Air Medals, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star.

After retiring from the military Major General Privratsky worked for the largest domestic ocean shipping company in the U.S. He was responsible for terminal operations in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and along the west coast of the U.S. He retired from private industry in 2010. After retirement Major General Privratsky received the 2013 Exceptional Military Service Award from Eastern Washington University. He was also inducted into the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Hall of Fame in 2018. He is also an author having published book the book, Logistics in the Falklands: A Case Study in Expeditionary Warfare. The EWU Army ROTC indoor shooting range at Cadet Hall is named in honor of Major General Privratsky. He and his wife, Kathy, have two daughters, Erika and Kylie and currently live in Anchorage, Alaska.

Major General Privratsky is inducted into the DLA Hall of Fame.

You can see the rest of the members of our EWU Military Science Hall of Fame at the below link:

EWU Military Science Hall of Fame

EWU Military Science Hall of Fame: Major General Roger K. Bean

08/03/2019 by jstafford3

Major General Roger K. Bean

U.S. Army Retired

EWU ROTC Class of 1962

Major General Roger K. Bean was born July 17, 1940 in Yakima, Washington. He was a 1958 graduate of Cheney High School before enrolling into Eastern Washington State College (EWSC) which is now called Eastern Washington University (EWU). He was awarded a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Business from EWSC in 1962. After graduation he commissioned as an officer through the university’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program. He earned a Masters of Art degree in International Relations from the University of Alabama in November 1973. His military education includes completion of the Field Artillery Basic and Advanced Officer Courses at Ft. Sill Oklahoma; United States Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia; and the United States Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

Major General Bean’s early assignments included duty as a Forward Observer at Fort Lewis, Washington; Battalion Fire Direction Officer and Executive Officer in the Republic of Korea. As Platoon Leader he served as a Rotary Wing Aviator and Airlift Section Commander with the 1st Cavalry Division in the Republic of Vietnam on his first tour, then commanded a Field Artillery Battery with the 101st Airborne Division on his second tour to the Republic of Vietnam. He served with distinction as the S3 Operations and Executive Officer of the Field Artillery Group at Fort Lewis ,Washington; staff officer and Assistant to the Coordinator for Army Security Assistance, Office of the Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

Major General Bean served from 1976 until 1980 with the 2nd Armed Division at Fort Hood, Texas where he commanded the 1st Battalion, 78th Field Artillery; was the S3 Operations and Executive Officer of the 2nd Armored Division Artillery; and served as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G5 Civil Affairs; later Chief, REFORGER Planning Group.

He served in Europe from 1981 to 1985. His assignments include Deputy Commander, Corps Artillery, VII Corps; Commander Division Artillery, 3rd Infantry Division; and Chief of Staff; 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized).

He served as the Assistant Division Commander, 9th Infantry Division (Motorized) at Fort Lewis, Washington. Major General Bean served as the Deputy Inspector General, Officer of the Secretary of the Army.

Prior to his retirement, Major General Bean served as the Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific Command.

Major General Bean’s awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with “V” device, Air Medals, Army Commendation Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, Master Army Aviator Badge, and the Parachutists Badge.

Major General Bean passed away on June 13, 2009 in Tomah, Wis. after a 30-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

You can see the rest of the members of our EWU Military Science Hall of Fame at the below link: