Command Sergeant James C. McKinney

Command Sergeant Major James C. McKinney

July 23, 1968 - October 31, 1998

Command Sergeant Major James C. McKinney was born November 3, 1950, in Monticello, Florida and enlisted in the United States Army in July 1968. He completed Basic Training at Fort Benning, Georgia and Advanced Individual Training as a Field Artillerymen at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

In the more than 30 years of service, he served in all noncommissioned officer leadership positions attaining the rank of Command Sergeant Major. He is a graduate of the United States Army Sergeant's Major Academy, Class 29 at Fort Bliss, Texas and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from University of Maryland, College Park.

Before becoming the Command Sergeant Major of the Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe, Virginia 1996-1998, he was the Command Sergeant Major of United States Army Europe/7th Army, Heidelberg, Germany 1995-1996, Field Artillery Center and School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Seventh Army Training Command, Grafenwohr, Germany, Schweinfurt Military Community, Schweinfurt, Germany, and 2nd Battalion, 41st Field Artillery, Schweinfurt, Germany. He served as a First Sergeant in 2nd Battalion, 10th Field Artillery, Fort Benning, Georgia, 2nd Battalion, 78th Field Artillery, Bamberg, Germany, and he has served two tours in the Republic of Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division Artillery, 2nd Infantry Division. He served more than twelve years as a Command Sergeant Major.

With a keen eye for training, his reputation propelled him to the key position with the Training and Doctrine Command. During the last 10 years of his career, he took the lead in articulating the need for strong and decisive improvements to current methods of developing and mentoring the Army's noncommissioned officers in all the NCO Academies as well as the Sergeants Major Academy. Additionally, he was instrumental in providing guidance and input for countless command and Army wide program and polices that consolidated several Career Management Fields resulting in improved efficiency and substantial cost savings.

Command Sergeant Major McKinney was directly involved in the Soldiers Command Improvement Program, which improved the living conditions at all installations within the Training and Doctrine command. He has exemplary service and contributions, coupled with his tireless devotion to duty and strong love for his country and the soldiers who protect it will have a lasting, positive impact. He was also credited with focusing the NCO Corps on change - change the way the army does business. He attended hundreds of seminars, conferences and rock drills and gathered the best and brightest soldiers, the seasoned and experienced sergeant's major to ensure that the NCO Corps training were all tied together for all aspects of training for the entire Army.

His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit 1OLC, Meritorious Service Medal 3OLC, Army Commendation Medal 2OLC, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 4; Army Service Ribbon; Instructor of the Month and Year at the United States Army Infantry School. He is a recipient of the Ancient and Honorable Orders of St. Barbara and Honorable Order of Saint George.

Command Sergeant Major (R) McKinney is married to Ann McKinney and they have three children, Damon McKinney, Jermaine McKinney and Calista Hodge and they have five grandchildren.