RAPID CITY, S.D. - The South Dakota Army National Guard promoted Todd Bartunek, of Rapid City, to the rank of colonel during a ceremony at Camp Rapid, Nov. 23.

Bartunek, a native of Wagner, serves fulltime as the deputy for the United States Property & Fiscal Office for Joint Force Headquarters at Camp Rapid.

"I am thankful for the opportunities that the South Dakota Army National Guard has offered me over the past 35 years, and I look forward to the new opportunities and challenges that lie ahead," said Bartunek.

Bartunek began his military service in 1983 enlisting as a combat signalman with the 137th Engineer Battalion in Wagner, where he achieved the rank of sergeant. In 1994, he attended the South Dakota National Guard Military Academy and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Engineer Corps.

Over the course of his career, Bartunek has served in a variety of command and staff positions to include: 200th Engineer Company platoon leader; 211th Engineer Company executive officer; and the 153rd Engineer Battalion's training, communications, plans and administrative officer positions.

Bartunek has commanded at the company and battalion levels with Company A, 153rd Engineer Battalion and the 881st Troop Command. He has also served in multiple positions at Joint Force Headquarters to include: counter-drug operations, Golden Coyote exercise coordinator, and training, administrative and logistics management officer positions.

Bartunek has completed two tours of duty - his first to Iraq with the 153rd Engineer Battalion in 2003-2005 and his second to Afghanistan with the 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in 2010-2011.

Bartunek holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Commercial Economics from South Dakota State University, and he's received two Master degrees in Strategic Leadership from Black Hills State University and in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

Bartunek resides in Rapid City with his wife, Sheri, and they have three children: Tyler, Zach and Myles. He is also the son of Merle and Elaine Bartunek of Wagner.