COL Garrison has an extensive military career that spans over 27 years of total service including over 24 years as a commissioned officer. He earned his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Illinois Chicago in August 2000. His notable assignments include a mobilization to Germany in 2002 with Task Force Santa Fe as a Platoon Leader for B Company, 1-178 Infantry Battalion in support of force protection operations. In 2006, COL Garrison mobilized to Iraq with A Company, 1-178 Infantry Battalion and conducted base defense operations. Following command, COL Garrison served as the operations officer for the 1-178 Infantry Battalion then the plans officer for the 33 Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He was selected to serve as the U.S. European Command Bilateral Affairs Officer assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Poland from 2014 – 2016. After serving in multiple key and developmental staff positions, COL Garrison commanded the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment from 2019 – 2021 while the battalion was deployed to Afghanistan from 2019 - 2020. Upon his departure from command, he served as the Illinois National Guard Operations Officer during the COVID-19 domestic operations response from 2020 – 2023.
COL Garrison’s professional military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Infantry Mortar Leader Course, Maneuver Captains Career Course, Command and General Staff College, the Advanced Operations Course and is a graduate of the United States Army War College.
His notable military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Pathfinder Badge and Parachutist Badge.
March 2025