By The Major Brent Taylor Foundation and Jenny Goldsberry

Angelique A. Pifer

Lieutenant Colonel Angelique A. Pifer joined the Army Reserves in college. After finishing boot camp, her dad, Master Sergeant Michael Kincanon, who has since retired from the Army, suggested she begin training as an officer. Luckily, her university had an ROTC program, so she was able to join. There, she met her husband Ryan Pifer, also an Army Lieutenant Colonel.

“Comically, we couldn’t stand each other,” Angelique remembers. Eventually, they were colloquial with each other. In her senior year, Angelique volunteered to coach a U10 boys’ soccer team. She felt the boys needed a male role model, so she asked Ryan to help coach, and the rest is history.

Angelique was commissioned on Active Duty in December 2001, as an Air Defense Artillery officer. While stationed in Germany, she conducted operations in Turkey and Crete, working with NATO partners and the Israeli Defense Force. Meanwhile, Ryan deployed to Iraq as an infantry officer. Soon after Ryan redeployed, they transitioned to Military Intelligence and moved to Arizona, then Fort Hood, Texas, where they had their first baby. While in Texas, they deployed to Iraq, and their son went to live in Utah with his grandparents. Upon redeploying, they moved to the Defense Language Institute for command and had baby number two. While there, Angelique applied to a specialty branch of the Army, and Ryan was accepted into special training. They moved to the nation’s capital where Angelique earned her master’s and then worked at the Pentagon and Defense Intelligence Agency. By this point, they had three children.

Their next assignment took them back to Germany, where they had their fourth child. In a full-circle moment, their oldest son was invited to play on a German soccer team as the lone American. Angelique was notified she was selected to be a Professor of Military Science, days before her deployment to Jordan. She accepted a three-year position at Johns Hopkins University, which brought them all back to the east coast. She loved the job so much that she requested to continue her calling at Weber State University, where she remains today.

She enjoys training the 100+ cadets from Weber State and Utah State Universities. At times, they get frustrated with the training, but when faced with challenges, are exposed to different types of leadership, and get to interact with cadets from other programs, they quickly appreciate the training they received from Angelique and others. Her cadets are currently gathering at Fort Knox, Kentucky(where she is currently), to complete training with cadets from 238 ROTC programs across the nation. Every year, she helps cadets get on the same path that brought her and her family amazing memories and meaning to their lives.

As the Pifers get ready to retire in North Ogden, they reflect on the friends they made across the world: those who went above and beyond to befriend them despite their transitory lifestyle. They would encourage everyone in the community to get to know the military members here, no matter how brief their time here might be.

Are you a military member in the North Ogden area? Do you know one?
Submit nominations to be featured in the magazine at http://www.connectionpub.com/military.html

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Veteran’s day is November 11th. The week before will include our Fundraiser Gala. You won’t want to miss it!