General Petty graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1987. During his 31 years in uniform, he commanded troops at the company, battalion, brigade, and joint/multi-national levels for over 11 years.
He commanded an aviation battalion (the 2-135th Aviation) during the “Surge” in Iraq, where the unit distinguished itself by performing a record-setting 100 large-scale, nighttime, air-assault operations in support of the Theater Special Operations Task Force.
Despite numerous enemy engagements, aircraft shoot downs, and losses to enemy mortar fire, he brought everyone home. This exemplary service would earn the unit the Meritorious Unit Citation, along with the national level “Outstanding National Guard Aviation Unit of the Year Award” presented by the Chief of Staff of the Army.
His general-officer assignments included command of the NATO Headquarters in Bosnia, Special Assistant to the Director of the Army National Guard, and Deputy Director of Operations for Headquarters Department of the Army (DA G-3/5/7) in the Pentagon, where he personally briefed the Secretary of the Army and members of the House Armed Service Committee on various operational and readiness issues.
In his final assignment, he served as the Deputy Director of Operations for United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) where he managed Ballistic Missile Defense, Information Operations, Intelligence and Reconnaissance Operations, and various contingency operations for the command.
General Petty holds Masters degrees from both the US Army War College and Colorado State University.
He is a graduate of the National Defense University’s Joint and Combined Warfighting School and the Chairman’s Capstone and Advanced General Officer Education Programs.
He has completed senior-executive training at both Harvard’s Kennedy School and Wharton, and is a National Security Fellow at Syracuse University.
General Petty has lectured at the Army War College’s Center for Strategic Leadership, the United States Coast Guard Academy, and various national-level forums and conferences.
General Petty is an airborne, ranger, instructor pilot, master aviator. His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star, and the Air Medal. He has flown over 2600 hours in Army helicopters, 356 of which were in combat.
Upon retirement he founded Battle Digest; a military history publication using battles as case studies to understand the timeless lessons of leadership and war.
He and his wife, Beth, have four sons and seven grandchildren and live in Parker Colorado.