section_path: Military career
section_name: Military career
paragraph_text: Military career
  
  Waltz was commissioned as an armor officer in the U.S. Army in 1996. He later graduated from Ranger School and graduated the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2000, then serving two years as an active duty Special Forces officer with multiple tours in the Middle East and Africa. For his actions in combat, Waltz was decorated with four Bronze Stars, including two for valor.
  
  From 2002 to 2011 and 2016 to 2023, Waltz served in Company B, 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces, MD-ARNG. From 2012 to 2015, he served in 5th Battalion, 19th Special Forces, TX-ARNG.
  
  Waltz worked in the Pentagon as a defense policy director for secretaries of defense Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates. He went on to serve in the White House as the vice president's counterterrorism advisor. Waltz wrote Warrior Diplomat: A Green Beret's Battles from Washington to Afghanistan.
  
  In 2010, Waltz helped found the analytics and training company Metis Solutions. It was bought in November 2020 by Pacific Architects and Engineers for $92 million.
  
  Upon becoming the national security advisor under President Donald Trump, Waltz retired from the Army National Guard at the rank of colonel.
  
  Waltz was commissioned as an armor officer in the U.S. Army in 1996. He later graduated from Ranger School and graduated the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2000, then serving two years as an active duty Special Forces officer with multiple tours in the Middle East and Africa. For his actions in combat, Waltz was decorated with four Bronze Stars, including two for valor.
  
  From 2002 to 2011 and 2016 to 2023, Waltz served in Company B, 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces, MD-ARNG. From 2012 to 2015, he served in 5th Battalion, 19th Special Forces, TX-ARNG.
  
  Waltz worked in the Pentagon as a defense policy director for secretaries of defense Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates. He went on to serve in the White House as the vice president's counterterrorism advisor. Waltz wrote Warrior Diplomat: A Green Beret's Battles from Washington to Afghanistan.
  
  In 2010, Waltz helped found the analytics and training company Metis Solutions. It was bought in November 2020 by Pacific Architects and Engineers for $92 million.
  
  Upon becoming the national security advisor under President Donald Trump, Waltz retired from the Army National Guard at the rank of colonel.