Biography

LaMont Wells is a native of Newport, Rhode Island. He was born on 30 November 1951 to Billy and Etta Wells. He is a 1970 graduate of Rogers High School, where he was a member of the Army JROTC program and served as the commander of its Drill Team. LaMont entered the University of Rhode Island in 1970. He was a scholarship recipient of the Army ROTC program for 4 years. LaMont earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1974. He was a Distinguished Military Graduate and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, Quartermaster Corps.

As a Regular Army Officer, he served a combat arms detail in the Armor branch reporting to Fort Knox, KY to attend the Armor Officer Basic Course. Lieutenant Wells was then assigned to Ft. Lewis, WA in the 2/60 Infantry (M), 9th Infantry Division as the Scout platoon leader. Following the completion of his Armor detail he was branch transferred to the Quartermaster Corps and reassigned to the 9th Supply and Transport Battalion serving as a Supply Platoon Leader. Captain Wells was then selected as Company Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 9th Supply and Transport Battalion.

Completing a successful company command, he was assigned in sequence to the Quartermaster Advance Course, the Army Logistics Executive Development Course and the Florida Institute of Technology obtaining a Master of Science Degree in Contracts and Acquisition Management. Captain Wells was assigned as a contracting officer, U.S. Army Communications Electronics Command where he successfully negotiated and awarded a complex foreign manufacturing contract with Israel which was one of the key provisions of the Camp David Accords.

Subsequently, Major Wells was assigned to the Division Support Command, 3rd Infantry Division, Wurzburg, Germany where he served in multiple leadership roles as a battalion S-3, DISCOM S-4, and Executive Officer 1st Support Battalion. Major Wells was selected to attend the Navy Command and General Staff College, Newport, Rhode Island. Upon completion, he was assigned to the Deputy Chief of Staff Operations as a Systems Integrator Staff Officer, followed by an assignment to the Department of the Army Inspector General’s Office where he was responsible for investigations regarding Special Access Programs under the direct purview of the Secretary of the Army.

Lieutenant Colonel Wells was selected for battalion command and assigned to the 225th Forward Support Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. An outstanding leader, he developed his chain of command by giving subordinate leaders authority to match responsibility. He deployed his battalion to Kauai providing humanitarian support as a result of the devastation from Hurricane Iniki. This was followed by a deployment to South Korea for Exercise Team Spirit. LTC Wells ensured that the soldiers’ families were provided outstanding support while the battalion was deployed.

He returned to attend the National Defense University. Upon completion of the NDU, he was assigned to the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as the Chief, Operations, Training and Exercises. He led a team of joint service officers and noncommissioned officers in the National Military Command Center. He planned strategic missile events exercises and crisis operations for the National Command Authority as a part of the J33 operations staff.

Colonel Wells retired from active duty in 1997 completing 23 years of Army service. He was subsequently appointed in the Senior Executive Service serving in the Financial Recovery & Management Assistance Authority, Washington, DC, as the Chief Information Officer and Deputy Chief Financial Officer for Information Systems. Following this assignment, LaMont entered private industry and has served in multiple senior leadership positions including Chief Operations Officer and Chairman of the Board positions. His work has focused on information and information security operations in direct support of national military and civilian agency missions.

Colonel Wells is the recipient of the Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit Medal; Meritorious Services Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters); Army Commendation Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters); Army Achievement Medal; Humanitarian Medal; Army Service Medal; Overseas Ribbon; Presidential Unit Citation; Joint Staff Badge; and Army Staff Badge. In 2016, LaMont was recognized with the Executive Management Award by Smart CEO Magazine.

Colonel Wells has been a loyal supporter of the University of Rhode Island. He is a long- standing member of the Washington/Baltimore Chapter of the Alumni Association. He is a member of the URI Army ROTC Alumni Chapter. LaMont is a dedicated American who has served his country with distinction through the heart of the Cold War.