Center welcomes U.S. Army War College Fellow, Army soldiers

Louisville, Ky. (August 29, 2023) - The McConnell Center welcomes U.S. Army Colonel Kirk Duncan as the eleventh U.S. Army War College Fellow at the University of Louisville. The one-year appointment will allow Duncan to take UofL classes to broaden his strategic thinking and interact with university leadership. 

"It is an honor and privilege to serve the Army as the 2023-24 Fellow for the University of Louisville," said Duncan. "The McConnell Center is particularly unique as it features some of the most talented and diverse young scholars I've encountered during my 23-year Army career. I am truly grateful to the Army, the University of Louisville, and the McConnell Center to have this opportunity."

Duncan will join 21 other soldiers for the McConnell Center’s Strategic Broadening Seminar for the U.S. Army. The month-long residential leadership program at UofL will run from Aug. 27 to Sept. 23. The program focuses on history and philosophical concepts essential to leadership and war strategy while facing the challenges of the 21^st century.

Prior to his arrival at UofL, Duncan was assigned to the Special Forces Branch at Human Resources Command as the Special Forces Branch Chief. Previous assignments include service as a Commander for the Mission Support Battalion, an Infantry officer, and a member of the 3^rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team at Fort Lewis and of the 5^th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Campbell. Duncan has been deployed numerous times to the Middle East in countries including Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, and Israel. He also successfully completed the Special Forces Qualification Course, earning his Green Beret.

Duncan’s military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic and Advance Courses, Airborne School, the Special Forces Qualification Course, SERE (High Risk), the Military Free Fall course, and Ranger School. His civilian education includes an undergraduate degree in finance from Benedictine College, an MBA from American Public University, and a Master of Science in Defense Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Duncan’s military awards and decorations include: the Bronze Star Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Meritorious Service Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Joint Service Achievement Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Army Achievement Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Citation (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Superior Unit Award, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Military Free Fall Badge, the Italian Military Free Fall Badge, the Ranger Tab, and the Special Forces Tab.