Rand's distinguished 20-year military career began with basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and advanced air traffic control training at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Promoted to Sergeant in Korea, Lucas was selected for Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and commissioned as a Logistics Officer in 2005. At Fort Bragg with the 82nd Airborne Division, he earned Jumpmaster wings and led as a Platoon Leader and Company Commander. Deploying to Afghanistan twice for a total of 27 months, he earned the Combat Action Badge, two Bronze Stars, three Meritorious Service Medals, and two Army Commendation Medals. His career included pivotal roles such as Training with Industry at Labatt Food Service, leadership at the Joint Culinary Center of Excellence at Fort Lee, and attendance at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. As Battalion Executive Officer and Brigade S4 with the 3rd BCT, Rakkasans, at Fort Campbell, he managed sustainment for over 4,000 soldiers. At the Pentagon, Lucas served on the Army’s Talent Management Task Force, driving reforms to the officer promotion system based on merit and milestones. Although Lucas was selected for Battalion Command, he made the difficult decision to retire in 2023 leaving a legacy of leadership and impact.
