Douglas V Mastriano

Education

Mastriano has a bachelors history degree from Eastern University and has four master's degrees, which include; Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Master of Science of Strategic Intelligence, Master of Air Power Theory and Studies, and a Master of Strategic Studies. Mastriano is a graduate of the USAF School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. In 2013, he earned his Ph.D. in history at the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada.

Military

In 1986, Mastriano was commissioned in the United States Army. He started his military career in Nuremberg, Germany with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment along the West German Iron Curtain border of East Germany and Czechoslovakia. Mastriano took part in the end of the Cold War and in 1990 deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Shield/Storm to force Iraqi out of Kuwait. His regiment fought against Saddam Hussein's Republican Guards. He also held military assignments in The Pentagon, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) "Rock of the Marne," NATO, US Army Europe (USAREUR) and many other assignments. He has served in tactical, operational, and strategic assignments.

Mastriano also served four years in NATO Land Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany. While in this unit, he deployed to Afghanistan three times, where he was director of the ISAF Joint Intelligence Center. In June 2012, Mastriano became a part of the US Army War College faculty as a professor in the Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations.

Historian and writer

Mastriano is a much sought after public speaker on a diverse array of topics. He was featured on C-Span for his talk on Sergeant Alvin York.

Mastriano published his first book Alvin York: A New Biography of the Hero of the Argonne in 2014. He conducted twelve years of research for the biography, gathering data in both American and German archives. In all, Mastriano spent 1,000 hours doing research on Alvin York, and combed through archives in various parts of Germany including, Stuttgart, Freiburg, Potsdam, Rottweil, and Ulm. Mastriano then did another 1,000 hours of field research in the Argonne Forest of France to locate where Alvin York fought. Using terrain analysis, geo-spatial data, and field archaeology, his research team uncovered thousands of artifacts related to the Sgt York battle of October 8, 1918. He said that his interest in Alvin York began when he was a child, after having seen the 1941 film Sergeant York. After he joined the Army, his interest in York "deepened." Along with research, the books incorporates forensic study and military terrain analysis.

H.R. McMaster wrote of Mastriano's book, "A compelling story of Sergeant York's heroism and character."

The book won four awards, which included the 2015 William E. Colby Award, the Army Historical Foundation Award, the US Army War College Madigan Award and the 2015 Crader Family Book Prize in American Values. In 2015, Mastriano was inducted into the elite "Colby Circle." Other writers associated with this group include: H.R. McMaster, Tom Clancy, W.E.B. Griffin, James Webb, and Mark Bowden. This group of writers is recognized for their contributions "to public understanding of military and political affairs."

Mastriano is the co-founder of the Sgt. York Discovery Expedition. The purpose of this group was to pinpoint the exact location where Alvin York captured 132 German soldiers and removed a machine-gun nest, for which York was awarded the Medal of Honor. On October 14, 2006, Mastriano, along with his team, recovered several .45 caliber bullets, connecting back to York. This was followed by the discovery of twenty-four Colt .45 ACP cartridges and forty-six M1917 Eddystone rifle cartridges in the locations where German and American eyewitnesses indicated York fired his weapons. Subsequent forensic ballistic analysis of the pistol and rifle cartridges by Dr. Doug Scott proved that these matched York's rifle and side arm. The details of this ballistic forensic analysis are described in Mastriano's book. His group of searchers included family members, soldiers from across NATO, historians, and colleagues, who dedicated 1,000 hours studying the battlefield with metal detectors. He organized the construction of a five kilometer trail in the Forest of Argonne in France, that includes nine historic signs and two stone monuments with all text in German, English and French. Mastriano says, "on the 'Circuit du Sergeant York' visitors can walk where York fought."

Strategist

Mastriano is a strategist with expertise in Europe, the Middle East and South Asia. He is a prolific writer on NATO, deterring Russia and the defense of the Baltic nations (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania). Mastriano has supported six NATO exercises in the Baltic Region since 2014 and published ten articles on this subject. He also served as the lead contributor and editor of two major United States Army studies in support of a tasking from the Army Chief of Staff, General Ray Odierno. These studies involved a multinational and joint service team to provide the United States with viable options on how to maintain the peace in Northern and Eastern Europe. These include an extensive analysis of the threat that Putin's Russia poses for the United States and its European Allies, particularly Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. He has led several studies on this subject, making recommendations on how to best deter Russian aggression and assure our Baltic Allies. The most significant studies are "Project 1721" and "Project 1704."

Mastriano's introduction of Project 1721 (published in 2017) states

Rasa Jukneviciene, a Member of Parliament and former Lithuanian Minister of Defense, brilliantly stated, “The biggest provocation for Putin is empty security promises. Lithuania’s policy in 1940 was not to provoke Stalin and Russia. Look at what that got us.” The Baltic Nations had a policy of not provoking the Soviet Union in the late 1930s and in 1940. History demonstrated that weakness encouraged aggression. In 1940, Stalin demanded that Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania open their borders to the Red Army, which they did, in an endeavor not to provoke or antagonize Moscow. This weakness resulted in the invasion and occupation of these lands that within a year would suffer unimaginable horror and deprivations at the hands of Moscow. This is yet another example of appeasement inviting aggression. The idea that inaction and weakness is a reasonable course of action for the United States and NATO is a hazardous and dangerous approach that historically has only resulted in costly and bloody wars. Indeed, the “costs to deter Russia now is far cheaper than the costs later,” as “Russia always goes for the weak one.” “There is a race for the Baltics; the side which comes first with substantial forces will prevail. To prevent conflict, there must be strength and resolve.” If NATO acts with determination, war can be averted and peace preserved. However, the window of opportunity for the Allies is closing. The emerging

Russian “strategy of ambiguity” is a direct threat to the NATO Alliance. Yet, it can be deterred now with resolve and a modest forward deployment of American forces in the region. The United States can change the calculus in the region and avert a perilous move by Russia with a simple commitment of a brigade in the Baltic Region. NATO has an opportunity to prevent the unthinkable from happening.

Mastriano's introduction of Project 1704 states:

The strategic calculus changed in Europe with the 2014 Russian seizure of Crimea and its ongoing war against Ukraine. Compounding the dilemma of an aggressive Russia, is the application of ambiguity to create a cloak of uncertainty that prevents a decisive response to counter its destabilizing activities. However, this application of ambiguity is easily defeated, if nations are willing to take concerted efforts now to preempt and deter further Russian aggression. Project 1704 provides an honest assessment of the tenuous strategic environment that now envelopes Eastern Europe and offers specific recommendations on how to continue the 70 years of unparalleled peace that most of Europe has enjoyed.

Personal life

Mastriano's spouse is Rebecca Stewart. They have one son named Josiah.

Mastriano is a devout Christian.

His father was in the Navy.

Mastriano is originally from New Jersey.