Background

Lieutenant Colonel Daniel L. Rausch is a native of Dalzell, SC. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1999 and was commissioned as an Infantry Officer.

Lieutenant Colonel Rausch enlisted in the Army Reserves in June 1996 as a 54B Chemical Operations Specialist. After completing split option Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Fort McClellan, AL in August 1997 he was assigned to the 414 Chemical Company in Orangeburg, SC. After commisssioning he attended the Infantry Officer Basic Course and Ranger School at Fort Benning, GA. In 2000, his first assignment was as an Infantry Platoon Leader in A Company 1-187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (ASSLT), Fort Campbell, KY, followed by duties assigned to D Company where he served as a Anti-Tank Platoon Leader and deployed his platoon in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Upon redeployment from Afghanistan he assumed duties as the HHC Executive Officer where he deployed again, this time in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). In 2003, after completing his assignment in the 101st, he transitioned to Fort Benning, GA where he served as a Tactical Instructor in D Company 3-11th Infantry Regiment (OCS) for one year and then attended the Infantry Captains Career Course. His next assignment was with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment at Fort Lewis, WA where he served as the Regimental Assistant Operations Officer for one year. During this time the 2nd Cavalry Regiment re-flagged to 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division and Lieutenant Colonel Rausch assumed command of C Company 2-23rd Infantry Regiment where he commanded for two years during which he deployed his company to Iraq for 15 months during the “Iraqi Surge”. Upon return from Iraq in 2007, he was assigned to the Maneuver Center of Excellence Directorate of Training (DOT) and served as a Maneuver Captains Career Course Small Group Instructor for two years and the MCCC Team 3 Chief for an additional year. In 2011, he attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS where he earned a Masters in Military Arts and Science. In 2012, Lieutenant Colonel Rausch was assigned to 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division where he served as the Squadron Operations Officer and Executive Officer in 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment. In 2014, he was assigned to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, LA where he served as the Reconnaissance Squadron Task Force Operations Officer OC/T and the Live Fire Division Executive Officer. In 2016, Lieutenant Colonel Rausch was assigned to the United States Army Central Command (USARCENT) and immediately deployed to the USARCENT Forward Headquarters at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait for one year as the Executive Officer for the USARCENT Deputy Commanding General. Following his assignment in Kuwait he was assigned to Shaw Air Force Base, SC as the USARCENT Training and Exercise Deputy Chief in the G37 Directorate. From May 2019 to May 2021 Lieutenant Colonel Rausch served as the Battalion Commander of 2d Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 193d Infantry Brigade at Fort Jackson, SC. Recently, he has returned home to where he began his career as an officer and is currently serving as the Army ROTC Professor of Military Science at the University of South Carolina.

Lieutenant Colonel Rausch’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star w/2OLC, the Meritorious Service Medal w/4OLC, the Army Commendation Medal w/1OLC and “V” Device, the Army Achievement Medal w/3OLC, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Peruvian Parachutist Badge, and German Parachutist Badge. He holds a BA in Sociology from the University of South Carolina and a Masters of Military Arts and Science from the Command and General Staff College. He is married to the former Tara L’Nelle Sweatt of Bennettsville, SC, and has four children: Machaela (26), Rhianna (21), Walker (19), and Meredith (17).