Colonel Casey Wardynski is the Director of the U.S. Army's Office of Economic and Manpower Analysis (OEMA) at the United States Military Academy . Colonel Wardynski also serves as an Associate Professor of Economics within the Department of Social Sciences.  As the Director of OEMA, Colonel Wardynski provides policy analysis and advice to senior Army leaders including the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, the Army G1 and G3, and Commanders of Major Subordinate Commands of the Army. By applying economic and statistical analysis to time-sensitive policy problems, he provides senior leaders with definitive policy advice on issues ranging from Soldier compensation structure to recapitalization of the Army tank fleet. Of note, Colonel Wardynski conceived and leads two projects that have gained public visibility. 
    The first project, the Officer Career Incentive Program, is now in its second year of execution at West Point and within ROTC.  Under this program, cadets may elect to extend their period of obligated service to secure a career incentive of their choosing.  These incentives include the option to attend a fully funded graduate program of their choosing between their eighth and eleventh year of service or the option to extend their obligated service to secure their commissioning branch or post of choice.  Thus far, these programs have proven exceptionally popular with cadets.  The second project, the " America 's Army" game, is designed to reduce the career information search and assimilation costs associated with learning about Soldiering in the U.S. Army.  Colonel Wardynski developed the concept for the Army Game and has led the development and operational phases of the project since 1999.  Since its launch on 4 July 2002, the game has consistently ranked among the top ten online PC actions games played worldwide, and last year earned an award from Harvard as being one of the top ten innovations in government.  With over 8 million registered users, " America 's Army" supports over 120,000 hours of game play each day.  Within the Game, players explore Soldiering from Basic Training to operations in the Global War on Terrorism.

    Colonel Wardynski entered the Army from the United States Military Academy in 1980, and went on to serve in Germany , Korea and the United States . After his selection to return to West Point as an instructor in 1990, Colonel Wardynski attended Harvard University where he earned a Master's degree in Public Policy. From 1990 to 1993, Colonel Wardynski served as an Assistant Professor of Economics at the United States Military Academy . He then attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth , and served as the S-3 of the Division Support Command for the 1st Infantry Division. Colonel Wardynski later attended the Rand Graduate School where he completed doctoral work, graduating with General Distinction with a Doctorate in Policy Analysis. His dissertation explored the employment and earnings consequences of military service for spouses of military personnel. In August 2000, Colonel Wardynski returned to the United States Military Academy as the Director of OEMA.

    Colonel Wardynski's awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Parachutist Badge.

    Colonel Wardynski is a native of Arlington Heights , Illinois . He now resides at West Point , New York with his wife Susan and youngest son Christian.  His daughter Jen is a yearling at West Point and his oldest son Casey serves in the Coast Guard at Gloucester Massachusetts .