COL Ralston enlisted in the Army, Military Police Corps, in 1987. After completion of his own enlistment at Fort Bragg, he attended Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. Upon graduating through the Campbell University ROTC program as a Distinguished Military Graduate, he re-entered the Army, Military Police Corps, in 1994. Having served in various Military Police assignments from 1987 through 2002, multiple deployments and leadership positions, he was assessed into the Army Acquisition Corps in September 2003. Upon completing, the Advanced Civil Schooling program COL Ralston was assigned to the 10th Area Support Group, Okinawa, Japan, as a Contingency Contracting Officer where he began his contracting career at the 18th Contracting Squadron, Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa. During this assignment, COL Ralston deployed to Iraq during OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM and served as the Deputy Chief of Contracting, RCO-Victory, Joint Contracting Command Iraq/Afghanistan (JCC I/A). Upon completion of his tour in Okinawa, COL Ralston was stationed in Germany as the Brigade Current Operations Officer (S-3), Executive Officer (XO) and Deputy Commander (DCO) for the 409th Contracting Support Brigade (CSB), supporting EUCOM, AFRICOM and CENTCOM’s areas of responsibility. In 2012, he Commanded DCMA Lockheed Martin, Orlando, responsible for oversight of various nationally critical defense programs with a portfolio exceeding $29B. During this time, he deployed and commanded DCMA-Southern Afghanistan in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM from November 2012 through November 2013. Upon completion of command, COL Ralston attended the United States Army War College, Carlisle, PA from July 2015 through June 2016. After graduation, COL Ralston served as the Director of Operations (G3/5/7) for HQ, Army Contracting Command. COL Ralston’s most recent assignment before joining the faculty at NDU was commanding DCMA Raytheon, Tewksbury, MA responsible for the contract, engineering, manufacturing, cost, pricing and quality assurance of a defense portfolio exceeding $89B.
COL Ralston is a current Doctoral Candidate at Liberty University in Educational Leadership (Ed.D), has an Educational Specialist Degree (Ed.S) in Educational Leadership from Liberty University, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) with a Concentration in Management from Webster University, a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College, is Level III DAWIA certified in government contracting, Level II DAWIA certified in government program management, Lean-Six-Sigma Green Belt certified, and is a certified member of the Army Acquisition Corps.
COL Ralston’s military awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with One Oak Leaf Cluster), Meritorious Service Medal (with Two Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with Three Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (with Three Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Service Star), South West Asia Service Medal (with Bronze Service Star), Iraq Campaign Medal (with Two Bronze Service Stars), Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with Bronze Service Star), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Non Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon (5th Award), ISAF NATO Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award (2nd Award), Army Meritorious Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award, Combat Action Badge (CAB) and Parachutist Badge.