Lieutenant Colonel Tilman’s Reflections on War and Leadership (via The Debrief Project)

A combat commander reflects on leadership and ethics from Iraq to West Point

We are proud and honored to partner with The Debrief Project, an organization dedicated to providing U.S. veterans a platform to share their wartime experiences. We are committed to amplifying the work of this Project, and of the often unheard voices of heroes who bravely served their nation.

“Today, we’re sharing a Debrief Project interview with Lieutenant Colonel Travis S. Tilman, an Academy Professor, also serving as deputy director of the Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic. While at West Point, he has taught leadership and psychology classes in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership and served as a Regimental Tactical Officer. Prior to returning to West Point, Travis commanded the 70th Brigade Engineer Battalion “Kodiaks” in Alaska and in Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. From 2013 to 2015, he served as the executive officer and operations officer of the 2d Engineer Battalion at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. Prior to that, he served as assistant professor and executive officer of West Point’s Center for Enhanced Performance. Lieutenant Colonel Tilman commanded E Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment from 2006 to 2008, which included a 15-month deployment to Baqubah, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also deployed to Baghdad, Iraq with the 1st Cavalry Division’s Engineer Brigade from 2004 to 2005 where he served as the brigade plans officer and as a project management officer for the Government Support Team. Prior to that, he served in Honduras with Joint Task Force-Bravo and as a platoon leader and company executive officer in the 1st Cavalry Division’s 20th Engineer Battalion. Lieutenant Colonel Tilman holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Education (Higher Education & Organizational Change) from UCLA; a Master of Arts in Education from UCLA; a Master of Science in Kinesiology (Sport & Performance Psychology) from California State University, Fullerton; and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management from the U.S. Military Academy. Lieutenant Colonel Tilman is originally from Henderson, NV and graduated from West Point in 2000. He and his wife, Marygrace, have two children, Samuel and Anna.”