Biography

Col. Andrew D. Preston is the commander of the 214th Fires Brigade. He was born in Edmond, Okla. In 1990, he enlisted as an infantryman and was stationed at Fort Benning, Ga. He remained at Fort Benning until 1992, when he graduated from the Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the field artillery. Preston's first commissioned duty assignment was Fort Bragg, N.C., with Battery B, 1st Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, where he served as a company fire support officer, battery fire direction officer, and battery executive officer.

He was then reassigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 18th Airborne Corps Artillery as aide-de-camp to the commanding general. After moving to Fort Sill, Okla., in 1996 he was assigned to the 214th Field Artillery Brigade as the brigade operations officer, commander of Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery Regiment, and commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 214th Field Artillery Brigade. He then served in the Pentagon as a strategic plans officer in the War Plans Division on the Army staff. Preston arrived at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii in 2004, was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division as a G3 plans officer and deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan.

Upon return he was reassigned as the battalion executive officer for the 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery. After eight months he was reassigned as the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team executive officer and deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon return from Iraq in 2007 he served in J35, United States Pacific Command, as a crisis action planner in the Contingencies Branch, where he remained until assuming command of 2-11 FA in June 2009. After redeploying the battalion from a one year tour in Iraq, Preston relinquished command and was assigned as the 25th Infantry Division G3(Rear). Preston holds masters degrees from Harvard University and the Command and General Staff College, as well as a bachelor's degree from the University of Oklahoma. His military education includes a senior service college fellowship at Texas A&M University, the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies, the Command and General Staff Officer's Course, the Field Artillery Officer's Basic and Advanced Courses, and the Combined Arms and Services Staff School.

Preston's awards and decorations include three awards of the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, four awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Joint Service Commendation Medal. He has earned the Combat Action Badge, the Ranger Tab, the Expert Infantryman's Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, the German Parachutist Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.