Colonel Brian C. Mellen was born in Lawton, Oklahoma and grew up at various Army installations throughout the United States and in Europe. He attended North Georgia College, Dahlonega Georgia and graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and was commissioned in the Infantry.

After graduation from the Infantry Officer’s Basic Course, his first assignment was with the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry, 1st Brigade 25th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington serving as a Rifle Platoon Leader and Anti-Tank specialty Platoon Leader. Following the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, he was assigned as the Battalion Assistant S3 for 1-9 Infantry (mechanized), 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Hovey, Republic of Korea. After completion of this assignment, he was assigned to 2nd Brigade, 101st Infantry Division, Fort Campbell Kentucky, where he served as the Assistant Brigade S3. Later, he was further assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry where he served as the Battalion S4 before assuming Command of Alpha Company and deploying to Iraq in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM I. Upon conclusion of rifle company command, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 160th Infantry, 91st Division, Fort Carson Colorado serving as a company commander of an Observer, Controller, Training Team and later as the Battalion’s S3 where he facilitated training of Active, Guard, and Reserve units prior to their deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

COL Mellen then transitioned to the functional area, Information Operations (FA-30), and upon completion of the Information Operations Qualification Course, he deployed with 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division to Kirkuk, Iraq and served as the Brigade’s Information Operations Officer. Upon completion of the deployment, he served as the Brigade’s plans officer at Schofield Barracks,
Hawaii.

COL Mellen attended the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey California, where he received a Master of Science in Joint Information Operations. He was then assigned to 3rd Army, USARCENT, Fort McPherson Georgia, Shaw AFB South Carolina, and Camp Arifijan, Kuwait where he served as a Future Operations Planner, Information Operations Planner, and as the Executive Officer to the USARCENT Chief of Staff. He was then assigned to USEUCOM, Stuttgart (Patch Barracks), Federal Republic of Germany where he served as the Plans Branch Chief in the J39 Division.

COL Mellen then attended the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania where he earned a master’s degree in Strategic Studies. He was then assigned to USARCYBER, Fort Belvoir, Virginia where he served in the G39 as the IO Plans and Operations Branch Chief.

In June of 2018 he assumed Command of 1ST Information Operations Command, also located on Fort Belvoir. Upon successful completion of Brigade Command, he was assigned to DAMO-SO, G3-5-7, where he stood up and then served as the Information Division Chief. COL Mellen currently serves as the USSOCOM Operations in the Information Environment (OIE) Division Chief (J39).

COL Mellen’s notable awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (2 OLC), Bronze Star Medal (2 OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC), the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the Ranger Tab.