John P. Costello

Born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, Costello was commissioned in 1969 as a Field Artillery Officer from the Army ROTC unit at The Citadel where he earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science. As a junior officer he served in South Vietnam as an advisor to the 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, then as a Battery Commander with Air Defense units under the 82d Airborne Division at Fort Bragg and the 8th Infantry Division in Germany. Later assignments included Battalion Commander with the 1st Armored Division in Germany and Commander of the 35th Air Defense Brigade at Fort Lewis, Washington. His General Officer billets were as Commanding General, 32d Army Air Defense Command, Assistant Commander of the 1st Armored Division, Commanding General of the Army Air Defense Artillery School and Center at Fort Bliss, Texas and Commanding General of the Army Space and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.
He retired in 2001 after 32 years of service, his major awards included the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal. He earned a master's degree from The University of Virginia and a master's degree from the United States Army Command and General Staff College, he was also a graduate of the Senior Executives Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. After retirement he served as Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Planning for the Raytheon Centric Systems Group where he led research efforts on defeating Improvised Explosive Devices.[1][4]