COL Truesdell was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in 1987 from the United States Military Academy. His first assignment was with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Carson, Colorado, where he served as a Rifle Platoon Leader and Battalion Maintenance Officer. He also served as a Rifle Platoon Leader with the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. He joined the Engineer Regiment in 1990, serving in Operation DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM as a Line Platoon Leader with the 52nd Engineer Battalion. After the Engineer Advanced Course, he assumed command of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 6th Engineer Battalion, 6th Infantry Division (Light), Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
He served as a Project Officer and Deputy District Engineer of the Galveston District, US Army Corps of Engineers from January 1996 until June 1999 and deployed as part of the National Support Element in support of Operation JOINT FORGE/JOINT GUARD. In 1999 he was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas as a Training Developer. COL Truesdell then returned to the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood, serving as the Battalion S3 and Executive Officer of the 588th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team from May 2000 until June 2002. He next served as the Engineer Lieutenant Colonel Assignment Officer in the Army Human Resources Command in Alexandria, Virginia. COL Truesdell took command of the 65th Engineer Battalion on 30 June 2005 and transitioned the unit into the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and deployed as part of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Upon redeployment, he served as the Executive Officer to the Commanding General, US Army Pacific and assumed duties as the Command Inspector General for the US Army Pacific in September 2009.
COL Truesdell is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, the Engineer Officer Advanced Course, the Combined Arms Services and Staff College, the College of Naval Command and Staff in Newport, R.I., and the US Army Airborne and Ranger schools. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the United States Military Academy, a Master of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Florida, and a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the US Naval War College.
COL Truesdell’s significant awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, NATO Medal, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Noble Patron of Armor Medal and Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal.