Several members of the Catawba community were in attendance to celebrate this achievement, including fellow alumni Monisha Henley ’04, Shawn Sanders ’02, and Jamel Jackson ’04, along with Meg Dees, Vice President for Development at Catawba College. Their presence reflected the strong and lasting bonds among Catawba alumni and the College’s pride in the accomplishments of its graduates.
Not long after his promotion, Colonel Boler learned that he had been selected for Brigade Command, another significant milestone in his career. While his specific assignment has not yet been announced, Brigade Command typically places leaders in charge of more than 5,000 Soldiers and Civilians, reflecting the Army’s confidence in his leadership, judgment, and service.
A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Colonel Boler graduated from Catawba College in 2004, where he commissioned as an Artillery Officer. Since then, he has served in a wide range of operational, institutional, and strategic leadership roles across the Army and Joint Force. His early assignments included service with the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Airborne) at Fort Richardson, Alaska, where he served as a Fire Support Officer and Battalion Lethal/Non-Lethal Effects Coordinator. He deployed to Iskandariyah, Iraq, from 2006 to 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Colonel Boler’s career has included command and staff positions at multiple levels, including leadership roles in recruiting, human resources, Special Operations support, and strategic personnel management at the Department of the Army. From June 2022 to June 2024, he commanded the 120th Adjutant General Battalion, leading Soldiers and Civilians in support of Army-wide human resources operations. He currently serves as Chief, Military Secretariat, Joint Force Development, Joint Staff (J7), supporting senior leaders as they shape the future of the Joint Force.
A graduate of the Command and General Staff College and the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy at the National Defense University, Colonel Boler holds a Master of Arts in Human Resources Management from Webster University. His numerous awards and decorations reflect a career defined by excellence, service, and leadership.
Colonel Boler and his wife, Karlyn Hylton Boler, are the proud parents of three daughters: Skylar Rose, Kaylen Denise, and Kameryn Scottie.
“Scotty’s promotion to Colonel is a remarkable achievement and a powerful example of how Good goes Far,” said Meg Dees, Catawba’s Vice President for Development. “His career reflects the values of leadership, service, and purpose that define Catawba College and its alumni. Congratulations to Colonel Boler and his family on this extraordinary achievement.”
Catawba College extends its heartfelt congratulations to Colonel Scotty Boler ’04 and his family on this well-deserved honor. His continued service stands as an inspiration to current students, alumni, and the entire Catawba community.
Photo at Top: Javarr (Shawn) Sanders, Meg Dees, Colonel Scotty Boler, Jamel Jackson
