Terrence L. Roche

Throughout his 26 years of military service Col. Terry Roche commanded at every level from platoon to Garrison and posts from Buffalo to Paris and Korea, with wartime service in Vietnam. 

Col. Roche was Garrison Commander when the announcement was made in 1984 that Fort Drum would be the home of the 10th Mountain Division. He was instrumental in the planning and initial execution of the $1.2 billion construction project and the rapid expansion of the installation support services needed to man, equip and train to combat readiness, 10,000 light infantry soldiers. 

For his military service, Col. Roche was awarded the Legion of Merit (two awards), Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Army Commendation Medal (four awards), Air Force Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and several others. 

After retirement, Col. Roche became a member of the Fort Drum Steering Committee, continuing to make significant contributions to the success of the Fort Drum expansion and integration into the North Country community. In 2000, he helped create the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization (FDRLO) with the mission of fostering effective communication, understanding and mutual support among the region’s military and civilian communities. As part of the FDRLO top team, Col. Roche assisted in keeping Fort Drum off multiple BRAC lists and pulled together community support to ensure Fort Drum maintains its status as a premiere power projection platform in support of the most deployed division in the U.S. Army. 

Col. Roche also has been actively involved in a number of organizations, civic groups and volunteer efforts. He has been a member of the Executive Leadership Team of the American Heart Association, served as Vice President of the Carthage Coordinated Development Group, Director of the Carthage Industrial Development Corporation and the Economic Development Corporation of Carthage. He is also a member the Rotary Club of Watertown, Chairman of the Purple Heart Scholarship Committee, and a member of the Board of Directors of WPBS-TV. Col. Roche is also extremely active in his church. 

Col. Roche was recently recognized for his overall contribution to the North Country by being selected for the 2010 Shapiro Award and the 2013 Carthage Citizen of the Year Award.