Clifford E. Wheeler, Jr. (Cliff) is the Program Manager for the Keystone and Pinnacle programs at CAPSTONE. He is responsible for curriculum development and execution of both courses, to include; planning, administration, assessment of educational objectives and student learning, and review and revision of course curricula as needed.
Cliff is a native of Woodville, MS. He retired from the Army in November 2014 after 28 years in active and reserve service. He began his military service in November 1986 as a 19D Cavalry Scout in the Mississippi Army National Guard. Commissioned as an Armor officer and Distinguished Military Graduate from the Ole Miss Army ROTC program, he entered active duty at Ft. Knox, KY in September 1988.
Cliff served in both staff and leadership positions in Armor and Cavalry units in Germany, Fort Hood, Texas, and Fort Stewart, Georgia. He commanded at the platoon, company, and battalion levels, culminating with command of the 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry, 3rd Infantry Division from 2006-2008. He served two tours in Iraq; as Brigade Executive Officer for 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division (2003-2004) in Baghdad and as Squadron Commander of 5-7 Cavalry in Ramadi, Fallujah, and Arab Jabour.
Key staff assignments include the Lieutenants’ and Captains’ Career Manager at Armor Branch, Army Personnel Command; Exercise Planner at V Corps G3 in Heidelberg, Germany; analyst for the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review at Department of the Army, G8; and Chief of Officer Distribution at Army Human Resources Command. His final assignment was Deputy Director for Overseas Planning and International Engagement at CAPSTONE, National Defense University.
From 2015 to 2018, Cliff was an organizational and leadership consultant and later an Assistant Vice President and Program Manager at Command Security Corporation in Herndon, Virginia.
Among Cliff’s military awards and decorations are the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Combat Action Badge, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Navy Unit Commendation. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Mississippi, and Masters of Science degrees in Adult and Continuing Education from Kansas State University, and in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University.
Cliff is a passionate volunteer for the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, the Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park, the National Museum of the United States Army, and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (T.A.P.S.). He is proud father of three sons; Clifford III, Stuart Ashby, and Morgan.