A life of service honored

BY RAY VAN COR

The Greenville Standard

 

With Armed Forces Day occurring this past Saturday and Memorial Day fast approaching, we pay homage to those great men who served, those who currently serve, and those who gave their lives in defense of this nation.

Colonel Allan Hester is one such man who has given a life of service to his nation and community.

Hester is originally from Mobile, graduating from Baker High School in 1984. He was a four-year participant in Army JROTC and served as the JROTC Brigade Commander for Mobile County his senior year.

After graduation Hester was accepted to West Point Military Academy. In (1988) he graduated West Point with a bachelor’s degree in National Security Studies speaking Russian and Polish.

Hester continuing his studies in 1999 received a master’s degree in Russian and East European Studies from Florida State University.

As an Air Defense Artillery officer, Hester served as a platoon leader, battery executive officer, battery commander and battalion S-4 Officer. His service includes a nine-month combat tour in Saudi Arabia and Iraq during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Colonel Hester was the U.S. Defense Attaché/ Senior Defense Official to the Republic of Georgia from 2004-2007.

He played a key role in encouraging Georgian defense reform efforts, as well as planning for three brigade-level training programs that supported operations in Iraq until August 2008.

Prior to his Senior Service College assignment, Colonel Hester served as U.S. Military Representative from the Joint Staff to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna, Austria from 2007-2009.

Hester served as an Army War College Senior Fellow with the International Security Program at the Atlantic Council of the United States in Washington, D.C. from 2009-2010.

At the Atlantic Council, he focused his research and analysis on three topics: Russian actions in the Black Sea region, including Ukraine, changes in European defense and security policy following the Russian Georgian conflict, and the appropriate size and composition of U.S. military forces in Europe.

He has served as Army Attaché to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Prior to that, he served as Army Attaché to the Republic of Poland from 2010 to 2013.

Hester also played a key role in coordinating various issues related to the presence of a Polish joint Brigade Task Force in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan.

He is an Air Defense Artillery officer with a specialization as a Foreign Area Officer from March 6, 2014, to July 2015.

On Aug. 1, 2015, Hester retired from active duty and assumed the position as Senior Army Instructor at Greenville High school.

In addition to overseeing the battalion as a whole, Hester has coached the Rifle Team, the Drill Team, the Archery Team and the Academic Bowl Team for 11 years.

The Tiger Battalion Drill Team has excelled, winning Alabama State Championships in Armed Exhibition Drill in 2024 and 2026.

Hester is married and has two daughters and one son. His oldest daughter, Olivia, is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with degrees in International Relations, German, and Russian Studies. Olivia is also a graduate of Drexel University Law School in Philadelphia and currently practices law in Pennsylvania.

Hester’s youngest daughter, Natalie, is a JROTC graduate from Greenville High School and an ROTC graduate from Auburn University. Natalie is currently an Army Reserve Captain and attends Graduate School at Rutgers University.

Hester’s son, Ross, is also a JROTC graduate from Greenville High School and served a tour of duty in the United States Marine Corps. He is currently a firefighter with the Cullman Fire Department after previously serving in a similar capacity with the Fort Payne Fire Department.

There’s not more that I can add except this nation, state, and Butler County owe a large debt of gratitude to Colonel Allan Hester. A debt we will never be able to repay.

An incredible man and an incredible life given in the service of the United States of America and we’re extremely lucky to have this man among us.