Rep. Greg Steube Announces Veterans History Project Interview Featuring Colonel Robert J.M. Gaddis, United States Army

Watch the Video Here.

SARASOTA - U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today released the latest installment in his ongoing Veterans History Project Series, honoring the military service of constituents from Florida's 17th District. This interview features Colonel Robert J.M. Gaddis, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces officer who served more than 26 years in uniform and continued supporting U.S. Special Operations efforts following his military retirement.

Born and raised in Indian Hill, Ohio, Gaddis graduated from The Ohio State University in 1986 as a Distinguished Military Graduate through the ROTC program before commissioning as an Infantry officer in the United States Army. Following graduation, he completed Airborne School, Ranger School, and Pathfinder training before reporting to Panama with the 193d Infantry Brigade (Light). During his military career, Gaddis deployed throughout Central and South America, including missions to El Salvador, Peru, and Honduras, and led infantry assaults during Operation Just Cause, the U.S. invasion of Panama.

Colonel Gaddis then later served with the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and held leadership assignments with U.S. Southern Command, the U.S. Embassy in Senegal, and U.S. Military Groups in Nicaragua and Ecuador, overseeing security cooperation and counter-drug operations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Following his retirement from the Army in 2012, he continued serving in civilian leadership roles at Special Operations Command South.

Colonel Gaddis also received numerous military honors and decorations for his service to the United States, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, and Pathfinder Badge.

"I'm grateful to Colonel Robert Gaddis for his decades of service to our country in the United States Army," said Rep. Greg Steube. "As a fellow Army veteran, I appreciate Colonel Gaddis' leadership in combat operations and his continued commitment to protecting American interests abroad. His leadership and sacrifice should be an inspiring example for the future generations of Americans."

Please click here to watch the full interview.

Be sure to check Congressman Steube's YouTube channel in the future for upcoming interviews.

The Office of Congressman Greg Steube will submit the interview to the Veterans History Project, an initiative of the Library of Congress's American Folklife Center to collect and retain the oral histories of our nation's veterans.

Initially started in 2000, the Veterans History Project aims to collect, preserve, and make accessible the personal accounts of the United States military veterans and Gold Star Families so that future generations may hear directly from the veterans and better understand their service. Researchers, scholars, and educators rely upon VHP collections as a primary source. The oral histories, photographs, manuscripts, and other original materials supplement historical texts and valued cultural resources. Veterans from all branches and ranks of the United States military who served in World War I through the more recent conflicts are eligible to participate. For more information on the VHP, please visit https://www.loc.gov/vets/.

If you live in Florida's 17th Congressional district, please visit https://steube.house.gov/services/vhp to participate.