Lieutenant Colonel Ottenwalter is from Orland, CA. He is Married to Shannon Ottenwalter, and they have one daughter, Ariana.

LTC Ottenwalter enlisted in the California National Guard in 2000. He then attended the United States Military Academy, earning a baccalaureate of science in Military Science in 2005. His military education includes: Armor Officers’ Basic Course, Scout Leaders Course, Armor Captain’s Career Course, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the Joint and Combined Warfighting School. He has also earned a master’s degree in Security Studies from Kansas State University. 

LTC Ottenwalter’s previous assignments include Tank and Scout Platoon Leader, 2-9 IN, Camp Casey, Korea; Police Mentor Team Leader, ARSIC-S in Kandahar, AFG; Tank and HHC Company Commander; 1-63AR, FT Riley, KS with deployment to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn; Small Group Leader, Maneuver Captain’s Career Course, FT Benning, GA; J35 FUOPS Planner, USFOR-A, Bagram, AFG; Squadron S3, 4/3CR, FT Hood, TX; Regimental XO, 3CR, FT Hood, TX with Deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Plans Observer/Trainer, JS J7, Suffolk, VA

LTC Ottenwalter’s awards include two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, three Defense Meritorious Service Ribbons, three awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, two awards of the Army Commendation Medal, one awards of the Joint Service Achievement Medal, one awards of the Army Achievement Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, National Defense Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 4, the NATO medal, and the Combat Action Badge. He has also been awarded the U.S. Army Armor Branch’s Order of Saint George.