Colonel Shawn L. Kadlec is from Delano, Minnesota. He enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard in 1993 as a TOW/Dragon Missile Systems Repairer. He is a 1998 graduate of St. John’s University (Collegeville, MN) with a degree in Economics and was commissioned as a Field Artillery Second Lieutenant. He is currently serving as the third EOD Commandant on Fort Gregg-Adams, VA responsible advising the Chief of Ordnance and Army Senior Leaders on all aspects of EOD DOTMLPF-P.

COL Kadlec's key leadership and command assignments include Company Commander of the 754th ORD CO (EOD) (Ft, Monmouth, NJ), where his company deployed to Baghdad, Iraq. When not deployed, the 754th ORD CO (EOD) was responsible for EOD support to federal, state, and local authorities throughout the Northeastern US. Following company command, he served as the J4 Logistics Officer for Combined, Joint, Inter-agency Task Force TROY (Counter-IED) in Baghdad, Iraq; battalion XO for the 192nd ORD BN (EOD) (Ft. Bragg, NC); and as the J3 Operations Officer for Combined Joint Task Force PALADIN-South (Counter-IED) (Kandahar, Afghanistan). Following an assignment to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, he was selected to command the 303rd ORD BN (EOD) at Schofield Barracks, HI. While in command, his battalion provided EOD support to civil authorities throughout Hawaii, Alaska, and US Territories in the Pacific. The 303rd ORD BN (EOD) and its subordinate companies also provided EOD and CBRN support throughout the Indo-Pacific region in support of U.S. Army Pacific’s Theater Security Cooperation campaign plan. Afterwards, he served as the Deputy Commanding Officer for the 52nd ORD GRP (EOD) and as Plans Officer the 20th CBRNE Command. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Director, TRADOC Proponent Office - Explosive Ordnance Disposal (TPO-EOD) at with responsibility to develop doctrine, training, materiel fielding and sustainment, and other activities needed to sustain, train, and modernize Army EOD forces.

He is a graduate of the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, the Combined Logistics Captains Career Course, Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal, the Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. He has master's degrees in Emergency Management and Strategic Studies.

COL Kadlec's awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal (2/OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (w/2OLCs), Army Commendation Medal (w/3OLCs), Army Achievement Medal (3OLC), the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Master Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Combat Action Badge.