LOUISVILLE, Ky. –
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Terry Durham was promoted to the rank of colonel during a ceremony at the Bowman Field Readiness Center Aug. 6.
Durham was surrounded by family, friends and fellow Soldiers as he was pinned by his wife, Penny; daughter, Taylor; and son, Luke.
Maj. Gen. Haldane B. Lamberton, Kentucky’s adjutant general, presided over the ceremony and offered remarks highlighting the significance of the milestone. According to Lamberton, not all officers rise to the rank of colonel.
“When I was a brand-new second lieutenant and I went to the Officer Basic Course, we had roughly 200 folks in that class,” said Lamberton. “I always recall one of the instructors saying, out of that 200, only maybe six would become a full colonel. What your husband—what your dad—has already achieved in the military is exceptional.”
Durham currently serves as the chief of staff for Kentucky National Guard’s (KYNG) Joint Force Headquarters in Frankfort and has served in a variety of leadership roles in the KYNG. Previous assignments include executive officer and commander of the 201st Engineer Battalion, executive officer of the 206th Engineer Battalion, operations officer and executive officer for the 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, deputy G4 for JFHQ, and most recently, plans officer for the adaptive battle staff in the KYNG Joint Operations Center.
“We don’t necessarily promote somebody because of what they’ve done,” said Lamberton. “More so, we promote them due to their potential for future responsibilities.”
Durham provided brief remarks after being pinned, and thanked those who had challenged him to become a better officer and civilian throughout the course of his careers.
“I’m truly honored by this promotion and the trust placed in me,” said Durham. “I look forward to continuing to serve alongside the incredible Soldiers and leaders who inspire me every day. This milestone is a reflection of their support and the unwavering encouragement of my family throughout my military career.”