COLONEL DREW R. MEYEROWICH, U.S. Army (Retired)

Long before his distinguished military career, Drew Meyerowich’s foundation was built on the high school wrestling mat, where he learned the values of toughness, discipline, humility, and perseverance—values that would define his life of leadership and service.

A 1987 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Drew served 28 years as an Infantry Officer in the United States Army, leading soldiers and large organizations in some of the most demanding and complex environments imaginable. A wounded warrior, he twice led troops in combat. While wrestling was only one chapter of his life, its lessons never left him. In the face of adversity and the demands of leading soldiers in combat, Drew often found himself relying on the same discipline, resilience, and mental toughness first forged on the wrestling mat.

He was awarded the Silver Star—our nation’s third-highest award for valor—for his extraordinary leadership as a Company Commander during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, where he played a critical role in the rescue of Task Force Ranger, an operation later depicted in Black Hawk Down. He later commanded a battalion task force of more than 1,200 joint and civilian personnel during a 15-month combat deployment to Iraq from 2006 to 2008, at the height of the insurgency.

Colonel Meyerowich’s distinguished career includes numerous awards and decorations, including the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, and the Purple Heart. He earned both the Combat Infantryman Badge (with star) and Expert Infantryman Badge, along with the Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, and German Jump Wings.

Following his retirement in 2014, Drew brought his leadership and team-first philosophy to the private sector, where he serves as President and CEO of Sprague Excavating Company in St. Joseph, Missouri, continuing to build strong teams grounded in accountability, safety, and performance. Drew holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the United States Military Academy and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies and Communications from the U.S. Army War College. Wrestling was not the path he pursued beyond high school, but it became the foundation for the perseverance that shaped his success.