Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Dustin W. Durst is Commander of the 78th Signal Battalion at Camp Zama, Japan and a native of central Texas. LTC Durst joined the Army in 2005 and commissioned in 2006 through the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Before assuming command, LTC Durst led the Defense Information Systems Agency Pacific – Japan Field Office at Yokota Air Base. He previously served as Deputy Director of the Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Cell and Executive Officer to the United States Strategic Command J3 at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Prior to that, LTC Durst was International Affairs Chief for the United States Space Command J36. He also led the 3d Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade S6 at Fort Stewart, Georgia, deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and NATO's Resolute Support missions.
LTC Durst’s other key assignments include: Legislative Liaison, Office of the Chief of Legislative Liaison, Pentagon; Ceremony Operations Officer, Military District of Washington, Fort McNair, DC; Commander, Headquarters Battery and D Battery, 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery, Kuwait and Fort Hood, Texas; Battalion S6, 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery, Fort Hood, Texas; Executive Officer and Platoon Leader, D Battery, 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery, Camp Carroll, Korea and Fort Bliss, Texas.
LTC Durst’s military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters. He earned the Army Staff Identification and Parachutist badges, and he was also awarded the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara and the Bronze Order of Mercury.
LTC Durst graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. He earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a Master of Legislative Affairs from George Washington University. His military education includes the Joint and Combined Warfighting School and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. LTC Durst also completed a Congressional Fellowship with the United States House of Representatives.
LTC Durst is married to Veronica (Garcia) Durst, and they have two sons, Carson (16) and Ryan (13).