Robert T. Stasik was born at Fort Bragg, N.C., February 1964. He is from LaSalle, Illinois and is a 1982 graduate of LaSalle Peru Township High School. He entered military service in 1981 with the Army Reserve, Split Option Training program and enlisted in the Army in Mar. 1984.

Stasik served with C Battery, 1st Battalion 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, (AFAR) 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, from 1984 to 1990. He has held every duty position in a cannon fire direction center including: driver, advance party, radio-telephone operator, vertical control operator, horizontal control operator, senior cannon fire direction specialist, chief computer and platoon sergeant.

Stasik was then assigned to D Battery, 319th AFAR, 3-325th Airborne Battalion Combat Team, (ABCT), Southern European Task Force, Vicenza, Italy. He served as chief computer and headquarters platoon sergeant and deployed to Northern Iraq with the 3-325th ABCT as part of Joint Task Force Bravo, Operation Provide Comfort.

In May 1993, Stasik reported to Fort Sill, Okla. and served as drill sergeant in B Battery, 1-19th FA and senior instructor writer in A Battery, 1-30th FA (Provisional).

In July 1997, Stasik returned to Fort Bragg and served with Headquarters and Service Battery, 319th AFAR as the 82d Airborne Division Artillery (DIVARTY) fire control noncommissioned officer until Dec. 1999. He then served as operations sergeant with 1-319th AFAR until reassigned as first sergeant of B Battery.

Stasik served as senior military instructor at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, ROTC for the next two years. He then attended the Sergeant’s Major Course, Class 54 and then served as operations sergeant major of the 479th FA Brigade before retiring in 2007.

His military education includes the Primary Leader Development Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course, (commandant’s list), Advanced Noncommissioned Officers Course, (honor graduate) Drill Sergeant Course, (distinguished honor graduate) First Sergeant Course, USASMA Sergeant’s Major Course and Jumpmaster Course.

His awards include the Humanitarian Service Medal 2nd award, Army Achievement Medal 7th award, Army Commendation Medal 5th award, Meritorious Service Medal 3rd award, Legion of Merit, Master Parachutist Badge, Drill Sergeant Badge, Canadian Parachutist Badge, Spanish Armed Forces Parachutist Badge and British Parachutist Badge.

Stasik has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration (Cum Laude).

He has served as the Fires Center of Excellence Noncommissioned Officer Academy deputy commandant since Jan. 2008. Stasik is married to the former Vickie Mcfadin of LaSalle, Ill. and they have three grown children.