Leadership
Biographies
Command Sergeant Major Jason Schmidt (Top of Page)
Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Schmidt assumed the duties as the 23rd Commandant, and fifth Enlisted Commandant, of the NCO Leadership Center of Excellence and the Sergeants Major Academy on June 22, 2020. He enlisted in the Army in 1993 attending one station unit training (OSUT) at Fort Knox, Kentucky where he was awarded the MOS 19D, Cavalry Scout.
CSM Schmidt's previous assignments include: Gunner/Cavalry Scout, G-Troop 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment Fort Polk, Louisiana; Sheridan Crewman/Squad leader D-Troop, 1st Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment Fort Polk, Louisiana; Bradley Gunner/Commander A-Troop, 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Camp Gary Owen, Korea; Section Sergeant 2/11 Scout Platoon, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Irwin, California; Platoon Sergeant A-Troop, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Joint Readiness Training Center, Observer Controller (JRTC), Armor/MECH Team, Fort Polk, Louisiana; First Sergeant HHT, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry (Airborne), Fort Richardson, Alaska; First Sergeant B-Troop, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry (Airborne), Fort Richardson, Alaska; Senior Career Advisor Armor Branch. Human Resources Command, Alexandria, Virginia; Operations Sergeant Major, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; CSM for the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas; CSM United States Army Garrison, Fort Riley, Kansas; CSM United States Army Operational Test Command, Fort Hood, Texas; CSM for Installation Management Command – Pacific Region, Fort Shafter, Hawaii; and CSM Eighth Army, Korea.
CSM Schmidt's military and civilian education includes all levels of NCO Professional Development System and is a graduate of the Sergeants Major Course, Class 60. He is also a graduate of the Basic Airborne school, Air Assault school, SERE school (High Risk), Scout Leaders course, Advanced Airborne school (Jumpmaster), Pathfinder course, Joint Fire Power Controller course, Battle Staff course, Northern Warfare course, Battalion and Brigade Pre-Command Courses, Garrison PCC and the CSM/SGM Force Management Course. He is a graduate of the Strategic Broadening Seminar (SBS 2015) in National Security Studies from the University of Louisville. CSM Schmidt holds a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Troy University.
CSM Schmidt's awards and decorations include: the Legion of Merit (3OLC), Bronze Star Medal (1OLC), Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (6 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (5OLC), Korean Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal (2-CS), Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, and the United Nations Mission In Haiti Medal. He has also earned the Combat Action Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Pathfinder Badge, German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (GOLD), Australian Parachutist Badge, Ukrainian Parachutist Badge, and the Canadian Parachutist Badge. He is a Knight in the Order of Saint George (Bronze and Silver Medallion), inducted into the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara, Legionnaire in the Order of Saint Maurice, member of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club, member of the Excellence in Armor Program, recipient of the Draper Armor Leadership Award, and was inducted as a distinguished member of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He has earned his Silver and Gold combat spurs.
CSM Schmidt is married and has two daughters.
CSM Patrick D. Thomas (Top of Page)
Command Sgt. Maj. Patrick D. Thomas assumed responsibility as Deputy Commandant, NCO Leadership Center of Excellence and Sergeants Major Academy in February 2023.
CSM Thomas entered the Army on 15 October 1992. He attended basic combat training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) as an Automated Logistical Specialist, 92A at Fort Lee, Virginia.
His previous assignments include: HHC 3-64 Armor Battalion, Schweinfurt, Germany; 299th FSB, Schweinfurt, Germany; SVC Battery 4-42 FA, Fort Hood, Texas; 305th QM Company, Yongsan, Korea; D Company, 27th MSB, Fort Hood, Texas; HDC 215th FSB, Fort Hood, Texas; ADC, 215th BSB, Fort Hood, Texas; 49TH Quartermaster Group, Fort Lee, VA; 62nd Medical Brigade, JBLM, WA; 308th BSB, JBLM, WA; and 2ID Sustainment Brigade, Camp Humphreys, Korea and Office of Army Cemeteries, Arlington National Cemetery, VA. CSM Thomas has served in a number of leadership positions to include Squad leader, Section Sergeant, SSA NCOIC, Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, Operations Sergeant, Battalion Command Sergeant Major, Brigade Command Sergeant Major, and Senior Enlisted Advisor for a DA Principal.
His overseas assignments include: one tour to Germany, two tours to South Korea, three tours to Iraq, and one tour to Afghanistan.
CSM Thomas’ military education includes attendance and graduation from the following schools: The Warrior Leaders Course, the Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course, the Advanced Noncommissioned Officers Course, the Sergeants Major Academy, Combat Lifesaver course, Unit Alcohol and Drug course, Contracting Officer Course, and Commanders Total Fitness Course. His civilian education includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. SGM Thomas is also a member of the prestigious Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.
CSM Thomas’ awards and decorations include Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (3 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (6 OLC), Good Conduct Medal (9th award), National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), Afghanistan Campaign Medal (1 CS), Iraqi Campaign Medal (3 CS), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 5), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (Numeral 5), NATO Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation (1 OLC), and Army Superior Unit Award. He has been awarded the Combat Action Badge and the Driver Badge.
CSM Thomas is married to his lovely wife of 27 years, Ebony. They have two adult sons, Patrick and Brian.
Mr. Jesse W. McKinney (Top of Page)
Sgt. Maj. Jesse W. McKinney, U.S. Army Retired, entered the Army in January 1980 as an Electronic Warfare Signal Interpreter, German Translator (MOS 98G). Upon graduation from the Defense Language Institute, he was reclassified as an Administrative Specialist/German Linguist and attended Advanced Individual Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and remained there for his first permanent party assignment.
His subsequent assignments include Emergency Action Procedures (EAP) Trainer, 552d Artillery Group, Germany; Senior Drill Sergeant (BCT and AIT), Fort Jackson, South Carolina; NCOIC, Secretary of the General Staff, 3rd Corps Support Command, Wiesbaden, Germany; AIT First Sergeant and S3 NCOIC, 369th Adjutant General Battalion, Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Sergeant Major, Secretary of the General Staff, 21st Theater Support Command, Kaiserslautern, Germany, Faculty Advisor for the Sergeants Major Course, US Army Sergeants Major Academy, and culminating as the Director, School Secretariat for the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. After his retirement in 2005, Sgt. Maj. McKinney was selected to stay on at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy as the Director, Human Resources and ultimately ascending to the position of Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, his current position today.
Sgt. Maj. McKinney’s military education includes the Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Drill Sergeant Course, Battle Staff NCO Course, Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course, First Sergeant Course, and the Sergeants Major Course (Class 50). He has an Associate in Liberal Arts Degree with Honors from City Colleges of Chicago, a Bachelor of Science Degree (Cum Laude) from Excelsior College, and a dual Masters Degree with Graduation Honors in Management & Leadership and Human Resource Development from Webster University.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal (4th Award), Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award), Army Achievement Medal (5th Award), Good Conduct Medal (8th Award), National Defense Service Medal (w/1st Service Star), NCODP Ribbon (w/Numeral 4), Overseas Service Ribbon (w/Numeral 3), Silver German Schuetzenschnur Marksmanship Badge (w/Lanyard), Expert Weapons Qualification Badge ( M16 & 9mm), and the Drill Sergeant Identification Badge.
Mr. McKinney is married to his lovely bride Ana Maria. They are the proud parents of four adult children.