CPT Ethan Shafer was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 2013 after graduating from Dakota State University with a B.S. in Computer Science. He served as a Mission Director and Platoon Leader for A/3 Air Defense Artillery Battery (JLENS) at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Afterwards, CPT Shafer worked as the executive officer for Bravo Battery, 3-6 ADA, an AIT training battery.  He then transferred from Air Defense Artillery to the Information Systems Engineering functional area.  Subsequently, he served as the Information Management Officer for the 44th Signal Battalion, 2nd Theater Signal Brigade, Grafenwoehr, Germany.  

After completing his M.S. in Computer Science, CPT Shafer then transitioned to an instuctor in the EECS Department at the
U.S. Military Academy, where he currently serves. CPT Shafer is a graduate from the Air Defense Artillery Basic Officer Leader's Course, the Signal Captain Career Course, the Information Systems Engineer Course, and Airborne School.