Oboho commands 75th Ranger Regiment

Col. Kitefre Oboho, a 2002 University of North Georgia (UNG) alumnus, has taken command of the Army's 75th Ranger Regiment. Oboho began this new role in June after previously leading the 3rd Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Moore, Georgia, since 2021.

"I'm humbled to serve our nation's finest. Every single day we wake up with a purpose to do something great for the nation and the Army," Oboho said. "It's a powerful initiative to get you moving every single day."

When he first joined the Corps of Cadets at UNG, Oboho didn't plan to commission, but the commitment to serve gained from the Corps of Cadets and seeing his friends on the commissioning track encouraged him to pursue a commission with the idea of serving three to four years after graduation. Twenty-two years after his graduation, he continues to rise the ranks of the Army's premier direct-action raid force, something he credits largely to his UNG experience.

"The expertise I gained, the friends I made, the commitment sewn in at a young age, made it easy to continue to serve, especially being around great people," Oboho said.

As a cadet, a trio of mentors made an indelible impact on Oboho. He pointed to Master Sgt. Tony Nunley, a Ranger non-commissioned officer and military science instructor who had served in Grenada and Panama and was "the epitome of what an officer should be."

Oboho said a conversation with retired Maj. Richard Neikirk, longtime former assistant commandant of cadets, during Oboho's orientation, cemented his decision to come to UNG.

Maj. Gen. Joe Jarrard, now National Guard Bureau director of operations, was an ROTC instructor during Oboho's time at UNG, and the two also linked up during several of their assignments in the Army. Jarrard "has always been a staunch supporter" of Oboho, the colonel said.

Many second lieutenants Oboho encounters are concerned about their next rating or evaluation. He encourages them to instead focus on what's most important.

"Don't worry about what you cannot control. Just go in there and be a good human being first. Good human beings take care of their subordinates. They have good character," Oboho said. "If your subordinates know you care about them and have their best interest at heart, they'll follow you to the end of the Earth."

Oboho's latest assignment allows him to lead over 3,000 soldiers stationed in Georgia and Washington state.

He earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from UNG and commissioned into the infantry in 2002, and he added a master's degree in defense analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2015.

Oboho previously commanded the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd IBCT (Airborne) in Vicenza, Italy, from 2019-2021. From 2017-19, Oboho served as the aide de camp to then-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley, who later served as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The alumnus also held leadership positions with the 2nd Ranger Battalion from 2012-17, including executive officer, operations officer, company commander, and adjutant.

Oboho's awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the NATO Meritorious Service Medal.

He and his wife, Kai Hawkins Oboho, sponsor the Knox Kitefre Oboho Military Leadership Scholarship for UNG cadets. The scholarship honors their son Knox, who died in December 2014. Kai Oboho, a 2005 UNG alumna, is a Distinguished Military Graduate and a well-decorated combat veteran. The couple have two sons, Kope and Karter.