Colonel Douglas M. Gabram
Deputy Commander/Assistant Commandant
Col. Douglas M. Gabram received an ROTC commission as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Bowling Green State University, Ohio, in 1984. His command and staff positions include OH-58C cavalry scout platoon leader, and cavalry troop commander in the 5th Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 6th Cavalry Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. He then served as the assistant battalion S-3 in 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas. From July 1989 to May 1992, he served as an AH-64 company commander with 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky., during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
From June 1993 to October 1995, Gabram served as the deputy chief, Aviation planning group for the commanding general, Fort Rucker, Ala. From November 1995 to January 1998 he served with 4th Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Germany, as the assistant brigade S-3, and then with 1st Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 4th Aviation Brigade during Operation Joint Guard in Bosnia as the battalion S-3 and battalion executive officer. From June 1999 to February 2003 he served with the 21st Cavalry Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas, as the brigade S-3 and deputy brigade commander. From May 2003 to September 2006 he served as the battalion commander of 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and deployed as the battalion commander during two Operation Iraqi Freedom deployments.
Gabram served as the brigade commander of the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, from April 2008 to July 2012 and deployed the brigade to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2009-2010. After redeploying he was assigned to the Pentagon at the executive officer to the commanding general of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization. Gabram returned to the First Team in January 2011 to serve as the division chief of staff and deployed to Afghanistan where they assumed the mission in Regional Command (East) as Combined Joint Task Force 1 from May 2011 to April 2012.
Gabram holds an undergraduate degree from Bowling Green State University and a master’s degree from Central Michigan University in business administration. His military education includes: the Armor Cavalry Officer Basic Course, Initial Rotary Wing Course, Aviation Officer Advanced Course, Army Command and General Staff College, Joint Forces Staff College and Senior Service College Fellowship from the University of Texas, Austin.
Some of his decorations include: the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star (fifth award), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (sixth award), Air Medal with Valor and Air Medal (fifth award). He has also been awarded the Air Assault Badge and Airborne Badge. He is a Master Aviator with over 2,500 flight hours and has commanded a company, battalion and a brigade in combat. He is qualified in the UH-1H, OH-58A/C, AH-1, AH-64A and the AH-64D Longbow Apache.
