An Army ROTC Rocket Battalion alumnus and former military science professor at The University of Toledo will be promoted to the rank of colonel by the U.S. Army in a ceremony at his alma mater this weekend.

Lt. Col. Jonathan Beasley works at the Pentagon on the Joint Staff as director of current operations for the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Agency. The Joint Staff assists the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the principal military advisor to the President, Secretary of Defense and the National Security Council.

“I chose to come back to UT for the ceremony because this is my home,” Beasley said. “My career started here in 1994, and I was promoted to lieutenant colonel here in 2007. It only seems fitting to have this promotion here.”

Beasley’s promotion ceremony will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, July 16 in the Student Union Room 2584 on Main Campus.

The Lambertville-native graduated from the UT Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and geography. He returned to UT from 2009 to 2012 as military commander of the U.S. Army ROTC Rocket Battalion and professor of military science. He earned a master’s degree this year from the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy at Fort McNair. Beasley graduated from Bedford High School in 1989.

Beasley’s tours of duty include Kosovo in 1999, Iraq in 2006 and Afghanistan in 2004 and 2008.

Beasley lives in Virginia with his wife Robin and their four children. This will mark his third promotion ceremony at UT.

“It is a privilege to be able to witness Lt. Col. Jonathan Beasley be promoted to colonel here at UT where he first earned his commission 22 years ago,” said Master Sgt. Johnnie Fields, UT senior military instructor. “We are honored to celebrate his achievement. It gives great credence to his leadership abilities and potential, as well as to everything that the UT ROTC program represents as a way to instill discipline and leadership skills. Our focus is education and commitment to serving our country.”

The highest ranking alumnus of the UT ROTC program is retired Major General David W. Foley from the commissioning class of 1970. More than 2,000 lieutenants have been commissioned through the program since 1947.