Colonel Peter W. Ahern

Commanding Officer, CBIRF

Colonel Ahern was born in Chicago, IL in 1964 and is a 1986 graduate of St. Ambrose University with a BA in Business Administration. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1986 and assigned for duty as an artillery Officer. In 1990 he participated in Operation Desert Storm with 2nd Bn, 7th Marines as the Artillery Liaison Officer. Upon completion of Desert Storm, he was transferred to MCRD San Diego as a Series Officer and Company Commander. In 1993 he completed the Advanced Artillery Officers course and Battery Commanders course and was assigned as the S-4 to 1st Marine Regiment in Camp Pendleton, CA with subsequent assignments in California including battery command and as the S-4 for 1st Bn, 11th Marines. He was assigned in 1996 as Inspector – Instructor HQ Battery, 2nd Bn, 14th Marines in Ft Worth, TX. In 1999 he was transferred to HQMC for duty as a Programs Coordinator, Programs and Resources. In 2001 he was selected for the School of Advanced Warfighting and after graduation in 2002 was assigned to Marine Forces Pacific as the Force Future Operations Officer. In 2004 he was assigned to CJTF-7 in Baghdad where he conducted operational assessments in the CJ-3 Effects Branch until his transfer for command as the Inspector – Instructor for 4th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO) in West Palm Beach, FL. In 2006 he attended the National War College in Washington, D.C. and upon completion in 2007 was assigned to newly created US Africa Command where he was the Future Operations Division Chief and led the planning and transfer of missions in the new AFRICOM Area of Responsibility (AOR) from European, Central and Pacific Commands upon the creation of the command on 1 October, 2008.

Colonel Ahern’s awards include: the Defense Superior Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three stars, the Navy Commendation Medal with star, the Navy achievement Medal (with combat V), and the combat action ribbon. In addition Colonel Ahern possesses the Navy-Marine Corps Expert Parachute wings.