LTC Michael A. Quitania was named Battalion Commander of the 3rd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army in a Change of Command ceremony in June at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

He is currently the department chair, Department of Military Studies, at the University of Louisville.

He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry after graduating from Central Washington University in 1994. He has served in numerous key command and staff positions and has served on multiple operational and combat deployments in Kosovo and Iraq.

His most recent assignment was as a professor of military science at the University of Louisville. Prior to that he served at Joint Base Lewis-McChord at the Brigade Operations Officer of the 191st Infantry Brigade.

His first assignment was Camp Greaves, Korea, where he served as a platoon leader and company executive officer with the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, Air Assault. He later served with the 509th Infantry (Airborne) at Fort Polk, Louisiana. His career has included Brigade Operations Officer, 191st IN BDE, Squadron Operations officer 3-73 CAV, Battalion Operations officer, 1-23 Infantry Regiment and Battalion Executive Officer, 1-23 Infantry Regiment.

He has a Bronze Star and has received the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, Iraqi Campaign Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, Korean Defense Medal, Overseas Service Medal, NATO Medal, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Air Assault Badge, Master Parachutist badge and the Ranger Tab.

He is the son of the late Eufemiano Quitania. His mother, Virginia Quitania-Echon, and his step-father Conrado Echon, reside in Bremerton.

He is married to the former Dr. Tiffany Rainier of Luling, Louisiana, and has a 14-month-old son, Colton.