By Steve Svetovich
Robert W. McAllister, formerly of Dunmore, was promoted recently to the rank of Colonel and assumed duties as faculty instructor assigned to U.S. Army War College at the Carlisle Barracks.
Son of Rosemary Lewis, Throop, and the late Robert J. McAllister, Dunmore, Colonel McAllister is a 1987 graduate of Dunmore High School.
Major General John J. Gronski, former Deputy Commanding General, United States Army, Europe, and former Commander, 28, Infantry Division, hosted the promotion ceremony that took place at the Scranton Armed Forces Reserve Center this past September.
“I was very honored with this promotion,” McAllister said. “I came into this 32 years ago as a private. I never thought I would see this day. It means so much to me.”
McAllister, 54, commanded the Scranton-based 1-109 Infantry Regiment from 2018 through 2020. He enlisted in the PA National Guard in 1991 and served as a citizen soldier in the 1-109 Infantry through 1997.
Colonel McAllister will be guest speaker at the I-109 Infantry Regiment Dining Out on Saturday, January 6, at the Hilton Conference Center, Scranton.
“I’m very excited about that,” he said. “I will be back in my hometown of Dunmore. I should be in town the entire weekend. My sister Erin (Klatt) lives on Butler Street in Dunmore, so I will get to see her. My dad (Robert McAllister) lived with my stepmother Sharon McAllister on Fourth Street in Dunmore, but he passed away last year.”
Colonel McAllister received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in 1998 through the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s Officer Candidate School at Fort Indiantown Gap.
A 32-year veteran of the PA Army National Guard, McAllister served on multiple overseas deployments, including Bosnia-Herzegovina and Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he commanded A Company, 1-175 Infantry, (Maryland Army National Guard) in Qayyarah, Iraq.
In addition to deployment overseas, Colonel McAllister served in numerous Homeland Operation missions such as Hurricane Katrina and Operation Jump Start, assisting the U.S. Border Patrol Agency and Department of Homeland Security with securing the United States’ southwest border.
“I was in Bosnia in 2002 and 2003 during a peacekeeping operation,” he said. “I was in Iraq in 2007 and 2008 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. I was company commander of a light infantry unit.”
McAllister served in numerous staff assignments at National Guard Bureau Headquarters in Arlington, VA and at Headquarters TRADOC in Fort Eustis, VA.
He is a graduate of numerous military schools, including the U.S. Army War College and Command and General Staff College.
He earned his associate degree from Keystone Junior College and a bachelor of science degree In engineering from Wilkes University. He earned a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College as well as a master of science degree in engineering management from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in operations and national security from the University of Maryland.
Prior to his current assignment at Army War College, he served as Chief Collective Training for the Army National Guard in Arlington, VA.
He resides in Burke, VA, with his wife, the former Glenda Sanchez, and his 13-year-old twins, daughter Kelly and son Ryan, and dog Teddy.
Colonel McAllister and his wife Glenda have been married 15 years. The couple met in northern Virginia. His wife is from Puerto Rico.
“I was a student at Wilkes University when I joined the Pennsylvania National Guard,” said Colonel McAllister. “I joined for both the benefits and the adventure. I knew it would help pay for my education. Pennsylvania National Guard Sergeant first class Billy Hartshorn of Dunmore was one of my recruiters. His son wasalso in my unit.
“I never dreamed I would be spending my entire adult life wearing this uniform. I’ve been wearing this uniform from age 21 to 54 now. It’s an honor and I’m very proud of it. It’s very rewarding.”