Biography

Stephen Falcone was born in 1960 in Providence and grew up in Cranston.  He graduated from Cranston High School West in 1979.  He was Captain of the Soccer Team.  He then attended the University of Rhode Island and served as President of Phi Psi fraternity.  He joined the URI ROTC program as a scholarship student graduating in 1983 with an Engineering degree and a regular Army commission in the Signal Corps.  

Lt Falcone’s first duty assignment was with the 1st Signal Battalion in Kaiserlautern, Germany, as a Platoon Leader for two distinct platoons, simultaneously.  He later became the Assistant S-3 for Operations.  Steve resigned his commission in 1987 and returned to the US where he worked as a defense contractor for the Air Force at Hanscom AFB, MA. 

Steve entered the reserves in 1988 with the 3rd Battalion 18^th INF as the Communications-Electronics Staff Officer.  He later assumed command of Headquarters Company and took the company to Canada and Iceland for exercises during his 4-year command tour. Col Falcone then served as the 3^rd Battalion, 310th Infantry Regiment, Commander.  He was selected over 7 other Battalion Commanders and mobilized to lead the Mobilization Assistance Team at Fort Drum during the build-up for Operation Iraqi Freedom.  COL Falcone certified 6000 Guard and Reserve soldiers as combat ready to the Commanding General, 1^st Army. 

Col Falcone served as the 655th Area/Regional Support Group Commander on two occasions, commanding 5 Battalions and 2 Direct Reporting Units covering the six New England states.  He oversaw a major reorganization whereby the 655^th released all Combat Support units to the 1^st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade and gained all Combat Service Support units from the former 167^th Combat Support Group.

In 2010, Col Falcone assume command of the 77^th Sustainment Brigade, his 3^rd BDE level command and deployed to Iraq.  Steve commanded the Brigade consisting of over 3500 soldiers, airmen and sailors in five battalions.  The 77th conducted the largest retrograde operation since WWII.  The Brigade, the larger of only two in Iraq, supported over 27 facilities from the Turkish border to Baghdad.    

Upon his return from deployment in 2012, Steve was assigned as the Acting Commander of the 316^th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, the largest in the Army, consisting of 8 Brigades and over 12,000 soldiers in 13 states.  Col Falcone retired in October 2014 after more than 30 years service.  Steve’s decorations include: the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Army Achievement Medal, all with several oak leaf clusters; among other service ribbons and foreign awards. 

Steve’s civilian career was that of a contractor for the USAF Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom AFB, MA as a General Manager for the Dynamics Research Corporation where he led over 300 employees.  Steve was one of a select few that was recruited to enter civil service as a GS-15 and became a Division Chief Engineer.  Steve currently serves as the Director of Engineering for the Program Executive Officer – Digital, where he leads more than 1,500 Airmen, government civilians and support contractors in the execution of a $19 billion portfolio of more than 200 major defense acquisition, technology transition, and Foreign Military Sales programs. 

Steve is an active member of the Armed Force Communications Electronics Association where he served as chapter president and chairman of the board.  He received national attention when he won the International Leadership Award and Distinguished Award for Excellence in Engineering.  He is also a member of VFW, American Legion, ROA, MOAA, and the Elks.  Steve has been active in the URI ROTC Alumni Chapter, having served on the board of directors.  Col Falcone is married to Lisa (Girard) Falcone URI ‘84 and they have 2 daughters, Kaitlyn and Allison.  He enjoys hiking, the beach, reading, and trying to golf.