Veterans Day: Military Intel Club welcomes Army leader as guest speaker

As Mercyhurst marks Veterans Day, the Military and Operational Intel Club welcomes Army LTC (P) Richard J. Bendelewski, who will discuss his military experience and leadership on Thursday, Nov. 9, at 5:30 p.m. in CAE 300. Club members and interested persons are invited to attend.

Currently assigned as a Resident Student at the US Army War College, Bendelewski assumes the rank of colonel on Nov. 1 and will take command of Fort Gregg-Adams (formerly Fort Lee) Garrison in 2024.

His military career began in May 2002 when he was commissioned through the Xavier University ROTC program as a combat engineer; his first assignment was with the 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, at Fort Riley, Kansas.

Over the years, Bendelewski served in many Army CI (counterintelligence) operations, including at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and later in his command of Alpha Company overseeing CI programs in the northeast United States. From 2012-2016, he was assigned to the Army Operations Security Detachment, providing CI support to strategic organizations executing global missions.

Later, Bendelewski was selected as the Deputy Commanding Officer of 902d MI (military intelligence) Group, leading the Army's only strategic CI formation. In 2016, he was named Branch Chief within the Special Management Division. In 2018, he assumed command of the 310th MI Battalion, where he led the Army's Technical CI services mission, the Army's air and ground discrete surveillance element, and the Army's CI Cyber initiatives. 

Following battalion command, Bendelewski was the Special Operations Command CI Branch Chief, designing and implementing Combatant Command CI policy and initiatives supporting SOCOM's global mission. 

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Joint Commendation Medal with oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Army Achievement Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Valorous Unit Award, the Parachutist Badge, the Combat Action Badge, and the Knowlton Award.

For more information on Bendelewski’s visit, contact ROTC senior Ryan Davey at rdavey70@lakers.mercyhurst.edu.