Colonel Karen M. Wrancher hails from New York City, New York. She enlisted in the Army on January 18, 1990 as a Private First Class serving as a Legal Specialist with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Advancing to the rank of Sergeant, she then attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps in January 1993. She is a graduate of the Quartermaster Officer Basic Course, Airborne School, Aerial Delivery Material Officers “Rigger” Course, and the Combine Logistics Officer Course and the Marine Corps Command Staff College. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Methodist College, a Master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma and Human Resources and a second Master’s degree from the Marine Corps University in Military Strategy.
She has served over 30 years on active duty. She displayed a mastery of leadership in numerous positions both CONUS and OCONUS including: Platoon Leader in the 407th Forward Support Battalion (FSB); Rigger Platoon Leader, 782nd Main Support Battalion; General Supply Officer, Division Material Management Center in 82nd Airborne Division; Combat Service Support Automation Officer, 100th Area Support Group (ASG) Grafenwoehr, Germany; Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 201st FSB, 1st Infantry Division, Vilseck, Germany and Kosovo; Assignment officer, 1st Personnel Command, Kitzingen, Germany; Resident Fellow, Logistics Management Institute, McLean, Virginia; J4 for Action Officer/Intern, Logistics Directorate, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.; XO to G4 Operations and Readiness Director; Washington, D.C.; Chief, Supply and Service Branch, 19th ESC, Korea; Support Operations Officer, 498th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, Korea; Executive Officer, 498th CSSB, Korea; US Central Command (Forward) Regional Operations Officer, Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services, Kuwait. She was the first Battalion Commander of the 1st Armored Division Headquarters upon its return to United States after 40 years in Germany. She was the first female Proponent Chief in the Quartermaster Corps’ history and CASCOM history. She was also the inaugural Command Inspector General for Combined Joint Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. Her culminating assignment was serving as the Chief of the Assistance Division, the largest division in the U.S. Army Inspector General Agency.
Colonel Wrancher’s military awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (OLC), the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award (OLC), the National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the NATO (Kosovo) Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Overseas Service Medal (4). She is authorized to wear the Parachutist Badge, the Rigger Badge, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge and the Army Staff Identification Badge.
Colonel Wrancher is a Lifetime Member of the Association of the United States Army, Military Officers Association of America and the ROCKS, Incorporated. She currently serves as The ROCKS National Board’s Vice President of Communications and Publications (2016-2021). She is a 2021 ROCK of the Year. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She is also the recipient of Distinguished Diamond Award from the El Paso Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, the El Paso Lions Club and the Women of Destiny Award from the Destiny Family Christian Center. As she ends her service to the Army, she begins her service in an Audit Manager role for the 4th largest bank in the United States, Wells Fargo.
