Captain (CPT) Teresa Krakowiak Roach was born in Langhorne, PA to John and Cynthia Krakowiak. She graduated from Villa Joseph Marie High School, Holland, PA in 2003 and from Norwich University, Northfield, VT in 2007, with a degree in Computer Security and Information Assurance. She enlisted in 2011 into the Delaware Army National Guard and earned her commission as a Signal Officer from the Officer Candidate School in November of 2013.
Upon completion of the Signal Basic Officer Leader Course in 2014, CPT Roach was assigned to Charlie Company, 198th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, where she served as a Platoon Leader and the Operations Officer, in Wilmington, DE until 2016. During this assignment, she led her platoon during a training exercise at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, CA, where she met her husband, Gary. CPT Roach was then assigned to the 261st Tactical Signal Brigade in Smyrna, DE as a Network Officer. She was then deployed as a part of small team to Camp Arifijan, Kuwait where she served as a Signal Future Plans Officer for III Corps in support of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve from 2017-2018. Upon redeployment, CPT Roach took command of Alpha Company, 198th Expeditionary Signal Battalion in Georgetown, DE. During this assignment, she attended Signal Captain’s Career Course and graduated as the distinguished honor graduate in March of 2019. From August 2019-July 2020, CPT Roach deployed her Company to Camp Buerhing, Kuwait in support of Operations Inherent Resolve, Spartan Shield, and Freedom’s Sentinel. Upon return, she accepted her most recent assignment as the Executive Officer at the Military Entrance and Processing Station in Fort Lee, VA until September 2021, before returning to Delaware and serving as the Assistant Operations Officer for the 198th Expeditionary Signal Battalion.
CPT Roach’s military awards and decorations include the Joint Service Commendation Medal (2nd award), Army Commendation Medal (2nd award), Army Achievement Medal (2nd award), National Defense Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (2nd award), Global War on Terrorism – Expeditionary Medal (2nd award), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Region (2nd award), Delaware Medal for Military Merit, Delaware National Guard Medal, Delaware National Defense Service Medal, Delaware Medal for Service in Aid to Civil Authority (2nd award), and Delaware Physical Fitness Ribbon (6th award).
CPT Roach has always been proud of her Polish heritage, which has been an important part of her life since childhood. She attended Saint Adalbert’s Polish Language School as a child with her sisters Mary, Anna, and Rose. After college, she was a member of the Polish Intercollegiate Dance Group (PKM) and performed in several Pulaski Day parades, Polish Constitution Day at Our Lady of Czestochowa and performing at the Kimmel Center prior to the Mazowsze Dance Ensemble performance. In 2010, she had the honor of being named Miss PKM and appeared in the Pulaski Day Parade. Currently, she is enrolled at the University of Maryland Global Campus earning a graduate degree in Human Resource Management. CPT Roach lives in Virginia with her husband CPT Gary Roach and daughter Evelyn.
