Colonel Ted Stokes

Ted L. Stokes a native of Fort Meyers, Florida, first entered military service in January 1995, enlisting in the Military Police Corps. After five years of enlisted service, he applied to and attended the US Army Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a 2L T of Armor.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Advertising from the University of Florida, a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from Webster University, a Master's in Military Operational Art and Science, and a Master's in Strategic Studies, both from the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS).

Stokes' first assignment as on officer was to 1st Squadron, 4th US Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division in Schweinfurt, GE, serving as a Tank platoon leader, Scout platoon leader, Company executive officer, and assistant operations officer. During his career he has served in primary staff positions of an operations officer, executive officer, and chief of staff within the 1st Cavalry Division, the 1st, and 7th Infantry Divisions, the 201 st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, the 316th Cavalry Brigade, the National Training Center, the United States Military Academy Preparatory School (USMAPS), and the Ill Armored Corps. He has served at various levels of command, from platoon leader to regiment command, as well as commandant. His most recent assignment was as the chief of staff for the Synthetic Training Environment (CFT-STE).

Stokes has three combat tours, initially serving as a Division Battle Captain while deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in 2004, and then as a Troop Commander and HHT Commander in 6th Squadron, 9th US Cavalry, while again deployed to OIF in 2006. He also deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan and was assigned to CJ3/5 in the International Security Assistance Force, serving as a Joint/Strategic Plans Officer and then Squadron Operations Officer with the 2nd Squadron, 1st US Cavalry Regiment.

He now leads a highly specialized team of military officers, Army civilians, and contractors who are working to modernize the Army from what has been 1970's and 80's technology - to today's advancements in Next Generation Constructive, Embedded Training, Artificial Intelligence, and Synthetic Training Environments. 

Stokes is married to the former Marizza Alvarez of Chicago, IL and they have two daughters (Tristyn and Delaney). Tristyn is a graduate of UCF and a graphic designer. Delaney is a Senior at UCF and studying to be an Environmental Engineer.