COL Hirschey was born in Helena, Montana and was commissioned in 1997 from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics with an emphasis in Biochemistry from Montana State University. His military education includes the Ordnance Officers Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) School, Air Assault School, Command and General Staff College (CGSC), Senior Service College (Advanced Strategic Leadership Studies Program/SAMS), and the Brigade Pre-Command Course.
His assignments include Troop Executive Officer, Platoon Leader, and Assistant Squadron Operations Officer, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colorado; Commander, 717th Ordnance Company (EOD), Fort Campbell, Kentucky; G35, USARNORTH, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Operations Officer and Executive Officer, 84th Ordnance Battalion (EOD); Chief of Operations, Defense Intelligence Agency, Rivanna Station, Charlottesville, Virginia; Commander, 84th Ordnance Battalion (EOD), Fort Riley, Kansas; Deputy Commander and Commander, 71st Ordnance Group (EOD), Fort Carson, Colorado; Small Group Leader SAMS, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Commander, 52nd Ordnance Group (EOD), Fort Campbell, Kentucky: and most recently as the Commandant for EOD, Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia.
COL Hirschey’s deployments include support to Operation Joint Forge, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Service Star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Valorous Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation, Joint Meritorious Unit Citation, Combat Action Badge, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Master Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.
COL Hirschey is married to the former Mistee Castleberry and they have four children, Hayden, Jacob, Zachary, and Maddison.