Colonel Robert Ham

Colonel Robert Craig Ham is a Permanent Associate Professor of Geography, in the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering, United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He is serving as a Visiting Professor for academic year 1992-1993 in the Department of Military Strategy and Operations at the National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, DC.

Born in 1946 in Niles, MI, COL Ham graduated from Western Michigan University in 1968 with a BA in Education and a major in Group Sciences. He was a Distinguished Military Graduate and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) in the Military Police Corps. He earned an MA in Geography in 1976 from University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in Geography in 1986 from University of Kentucky. His Professional Military Education includes the Military Police officer Basic Course in 1969, The Military Police Officer Advanced Course in 1974, and U. S. Army Command and General Staff College in 1983.

COL Ham's troop assignments include Platoon Leader and later Company Commander of 285th Military Police Company in Baumholder, Germany; Assistant Chief of the Criminal Investigations Branch in the Office of the Provost Marshal, USARV, Long Binh, Republic of Vietnam; Drug Suppression officer/Serious Incident Report Section Chief and later Assistant Operations Officer in the office of the Provost Marshal, USARV/MACV Support Command, Saigon; Battalion Executive officer in the 728th Military Police Battalion, Taegu, Republic of Korea, and Project officer in the Combined Arms Concepts Division, Combined Arms Center, Fort Leavenworth, KS.

COL Ham's distinguished military teaching career includes multiple assignments at United States Military Academy (USMA) at WestPoint as an Instructor, Assistant Professor, then Associate Professor in the Department of Earth, Space and Graphic Sciences; Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Computer Science; and his current position as Permanent Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering. He has also held numerous administrative positions at the USMA. COL Ham has also taught Geography at the University of Michigan and at the University of Kentucky.

COL Ham's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross (w/palm) Unit Commendation. His scholarly pursuits include numerous publications, editorial projects, research activities, conference presentations, and other services to the academic profession.

COL Ham is married to the former Vicki Lynn O'Konski and they have five children: Kelly, Debra, Todd, Elizabeth and Stephanie.