Daniel T. Trost

Class of 2003: Logistics, supply chain management

After commissioning at Ripon through the ROTC program, Daniel T. Trost served 21 years in the U.S. Army, last serving as the 262nd Quartermaster Battalion commander and retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

He was born in June 1981 in Minnesota and raised in western Wisconsin. After applying for several four-year Army, Navy, and Air Force national ROTC scholarships, he interviewed with Navy, Air Force, and Army ROTC programs at three other schools prior to Ripon.

He was contacted by Captain Todd Gentry, an assistant professor of military science at Ripon. After touring the campus, Trost said he felt an immediate connection with Ripon.

Trost majored in politics and government, was a member of Sigma Chi, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant through ROTC.

Over the course of his military career, he earned three master’s degrees: a Master of Science in Human Resource Development from Villanova University; a Master of Business Administration from The College of William and Mary; and a Master of Military Operations from the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies.

He worked in logistics, supply chain management, training, and management focused on building and developing teams and resilient supply chains and operations.

He was stationed at Fort Eustis, Virginia, Fort Knox, Kentucky, Fort Riley, Kansas, Defense Logistics Agency Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Fort Drum, New York, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Fort Polk, Louisiana, and Fort Lee, Virginia.

He deployed five times: twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004 and 2005, executing theater convoy operations; and in 2008-2009 as an imbedded Iraqi Army logistics advisor for 1st Battalion 9th Iraqi Armored Division in Sadr City-Baghdad, Iraq.

He deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2013 as the battalion executive officer with the 210th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division; and from 2019-2020 to Kabul, Afghanistan, he served as the CJ-5 Chief of Plans for the Combined Security Transition Command–Afghanistan, Resolute Support supporting the security assistance mission while planning U.S. and NATO force retrograde.

In 2021, he took command of 262nd Quartermaster Battalion at Fort Lee, Virginia, and retired from the U.S. Army in 2024.

His awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal, with two oak leaf clusters; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal, with two oak leaf clusters; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Combat Action Badge; Parachute Rigger Badge; and the Parachutist Badge.

He said Ripon’s liberal arts multidisciplinary approach exposed him to ideas, experiences, and people that provided a great start to learning how to think, research, and collaborate, and it prepared him to serve and learn.

“Service to our nation comes in many forms and does not necessarily mean serving in the military,” Trost said. “Service in the military, volunteer service organizations, or in our local communities exposes you to new experiences, people, and ideas that you may otherwise never encounter.

“Service challenges our assumptions and grounds us. I was lucky to exercise my service in the United States Army and serve this great nation. Ripon College laid the foundation preparing me to serve, teach, and learn across the globe and in the many communities we lived in over last 23 years.”