Douglas V. Mastriano

Colonel
Douglas V. Mastriano
Ph.D.

Colonel Mastriano at Gettysburg Battlefield, Pennsylvania in 2014
Born (1964-01-02) January 2, 1964
Nationality American
Education History
Alma mater University of New Brunswick (Ph.D.)
Notable works Alvin York: A New Biography of the Hero of the Argonne
Notable awards

William E. Colby Award (2015), Crader Family Book Prize in American Values (2015), Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Award for Biography (2015),

Winner of the 2014 Madigan Award given by the US Army War College (2015)
Spouse Rebecca Stewart
Children 1 son, Josiah
Website
www.sgtyorkdiscovery.com/Home_Page.php

Colonel Douglas V. Mastriano (born January 2, 1964) is an American military historian, strategist and Eagle Scout. His 2014 biography of Sergeant Alvin York won the 2015 Colby Award.

Education

Mastriano has a bachelors history degree from Eastern University and has four master's degrees, which include; Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Master of Science of Strategic Intelligence, Master of Air Power Theory and Studies, and a Master of Strategic Studies. Mastriano is a graduate of the USAF School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. In 2013, he earned his Ph.D. in history at the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada.[1]

Career

Military

Mastriano in Afghanistan with orphans

In 1986, Mastriano was commissioned in the United States Army. He started his military career in Nuremberg, Germany with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment along the West German Iron Curtain border of East Germany and Czechoslovakia. Mastriano took part in the end of the Cold War and in 1990 deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Shield/Storm to force Iraqi out of Kuwait. His regiment fought against Saddam Hussein's Republican Guards. He also held military assignments in The Pentagon, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) "Rock of the Marne," NATO, US Army Europe (USAREUR) and many other assignments. He has served in tactical, operational, and strategic assignments.[1][2]

Mastriano also served four years in NATO Land Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany.[1][3] While in this unit, he deployed to Afghanistan three times, where he was director of the ISAF Joint Intelligence Center.[1][2] In June 2012, Mastriano became a part of the US Army War College faculty as a professor in the Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations.[1][2]

Historian and writer

Mastriano published his first book Alvin York: A New Biography of the Hero of the Argonne in 2014.[2] He conducted twelve years of research for the biography, gathering data in both American and German archives.[4] In all, Mastriano spent 1,000 hours doing research on Alvin York, and combed through archives in various parts of Germany including, Stuttgart, Freiburg, Potsdam, Rottweil, and Ulm.[5] Mastriano then did another 1,000 hours of field research in the Argonne Forest of France to locate where Alvin York fought. Using terrain analysis, geo-spatial data, and field archaeology, his research team uncovered thousand of artifacts related to the Sgt York battle of October 8, 1918. He said that his interest in Alvin York began when he was a child, after having seen the 1941 film Sergeant York. After he joined the Army, his interest in York "deepened."[3] Along with research, the books incorporates forensic study and military terrain analysis.[2]

The book has won the 2015 William E. Colby Award,[1] the Army Historical Foundation Award, the US Army War College Madigan Award and the 2015 Crader Family Book Prize in American Values.[6][7] In 2015, Mastriano was inducted into the elite "Colby Circle." Other writers associated with this group include: H.R. McMaster, Tom Clancy, W.E.B. Griffin, James Webb, and Mark Bowden. This group of writers is recognized for their contributions "to public understanding of military and political affairs."[8]

Mastriano is the co-founder of the Sgt. York Discovery Expedition. The purpose of this group was to pinpoint the exact location where Alvin York captured 132 German soldiers and removed a machine-gun nest, for which York was awarded the Medal of Honor.[2] On October 14, 2006,[5] Mastriano, along with his team, recovered several .45 caliber bullets, connecting back to York. This was followed by the discovery of twenty-four Colt .45 ACP cartridges and forty-six M1917 Eddystone rifle cartridges in the locations where German and American eyewitnesses indicated York fired his weapons. Subsequent forensic ballistic analysis of the pistol and rifle cartridges by Dr. Doug Scott proved that these matched York's rifle and side arm. The details of this ballistic forensic analysis are described in Mastriano's book.[4] His group of searchers included family members, soldiers from across NATO, historians, and colleagues, who dedicated 1,000 hours studying the battlefield with metal detectors.[4] He organized the construction of a five kilometer trail in the Forest of Argonne in France, that includes nine historic signs and two stone monuments with all text in German, English and French. Mastriano says, "on the 'Circuit du Sergeant York' visitors can walk where York fought."[1]

Strategist

Mastriano has written extensively on the threat that Putin's Russia poses for the United States and its European Allies, particularly Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. He has led several studies on this subject, making recommendations on how to best deter Russian aggression and assure our Baltic Allies. The most significant study was "Project 1704." Mastriano's introduction of Project 1704 states:

The strategic calculus changed in Europe with the 2014 Russian seizure of Crimea and its ongoing war against Ukraine. Compounding the dilemma of an aggressive Russia, is the application of ambiguity to create a cloak of uncertainty that prevents a decisive response to counter its destabilizing activities. However, this application of ambiguity is easily defeated, if nations are willing to take concerted efforts now to preempt and deter further Russian aggression. Project 1704 provides an honest assessment of the tenuous strategic environment that now envelopes Eastern Europe and offers specific recommendations on how to continue the 70 years of unparalleled peace that most of Europe has enjoyed.[9]

Personal life

Mastriano's spouse is Rebecca Stewart. They have one son named Josiah.[1] Mastriano is a devout Christian.[3] His father was in the Navy.[1] Mastriano is originally from New Jersey.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "COL Douglas V. Mastriano, PhD". William E. Colby Military Writers' Symposium. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Biographer of WWI hero Sergeant York named Winner of 2015 Colby Award". The Northfield News. 5 February 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Montgomery, Nancy (26 September 2008). "Officer says he's pinpointed York's stand". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Smith, Craig S. (26 October 2006). "Proof offered of Sgt. York's war exploits". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Army Officer: Sgt. York battle site located". CBN News. 25 March 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  6. ↑ "Author Douglas V. Mastriano Wins Crader Book Prize". Broadway Books. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  7. ↑ "Author Douglas V. Mastriano Wins Fourth Book Award". AUSA. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  8. ↑ "Colby Circle".
  9. ↑ Mastriano, Douglas V; O'Malley, Derek (2015). Project 1704: A U.S. Army War College Analysis of Russian Strategy in Eastern Europe, an Appropriate U.S. Response, and the Implications for U.S. Landpower. Army War College (U.S.). Strategic Studies Institute. OCLC 905906958.

External links

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