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Colonel Rasmussen graduated from the US Air Force Academy in 1970 and cross-commissioned in the US Army as an Infantry 2nd Lieutenant.
He then graduated from the Infantry Officer’s Basic Course, Airborne School and Ranger School at Ft. Benning, Georgia. His first assignment was in the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina as an Infantry Platoon leader. In the spring of 1971, he was reassigned to the 101st Airborne Division in the Republic of Viet Nam where he spent 18 months in combat as an infantry platoon leader.
Returning to the United States, he commanded three infantry companies at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, and attended the Infantry Officer’s Advanced Course, again at Ft. Benning. From there he attended graduate school at Syracuse University in preparation for a teaching assignment at West Point. There he taught English for two years and was the Tactical Officer for a Cadet Company for two years.
Following this, he was again assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, as a Battalion Operations officers and then Executive Officer. From there he was chosen to be Aide-De-Camp to the Forces Command Commander at Ft. McPherson, Georgia, and selected for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel.
Colonel Rasmussen then served with the 7th Infantry Division (light) at Ft. Ord, California, as a Brigade Executive Officer and Deputy Division Operations Officer (G-3), until selected to command an Infantry Battalion at Ft. Leonard Wood.
Following Battalion Command and graduation from the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, he was selected for promotion to Colonel and assigned as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at Headquarters, US Army South in the Republic of Panama.
Colonel Rasmussen was then selected to command the 3rd US Army Recruiting Brigade at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, until selected to be the Garrison Commander at Ft. Campbell. Following the command at Ft. Campbell, he again returned to Panama as the Deputy Commander of US Army South, from which he retired from active duty after over 28 years of service.
Following his retirement from active duty, Mr. Rasmussen chose to pursue a career in city management. He first worked for three years as an assistant City Administrator in St. Louis County before being chosen as the City Administrator of Ottumwa, Iowa. As the City Administrator, he worked for the Mayor and City Council as the senior appointed official of the City and was responsible for the day- to-day management of the City staff. He served in that position until February 2006. In February 2006, Mr. Rasmussen accepted the position of City Administrator for the City of Jefferson.
Colonel Rasmussen has earned two Master’s Degrees, one in American Literature from Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York, and one in International Affairs from Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island. Among his other awards and decorations, he has been awarded three Air Medals, four Meritorious Service Medals, the Bronze Star and two awards of the Legion of Merit. He has also earned the Ranger Tab, Airborne and Air Assault Wings, and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge.
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