Command Sergeant Major of the Army National Guard

Command Sergeant Major Christopher Kepner was selected as the 11th Command Sergeant Major of the Army National Guard on May 2nd, 2016.

In his current position, Command Sergeant Major Kepner represents and advises the Director of the Army National Guard on matters pertaining to Army National Guard policies and actions that affect enlisted Soldiers of the Army National Guard through meetings, conferences, information exchanges and on-site observation, coordinates with the Sergeant Major of the Army and Command Sergeants Major of the Army National Guard and Major Army Command formations; reviews and inspects field training, inactive duty training, overseas deployments and Noncommissioned Officer Leadership schools on behalf of the Director.

CSM Christopher Kepner was born in York, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the United States Army in October of 1980 and attended Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Following his graduation from AIT CSM Kepner served seven years on active duty with the 82nd Airborne and 10th Mountain Divisions before joining the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He earned a Bachelors of Business Administration from American Intercontinental University in 2006; and a Master of Science in Leadership from Duquesne University in 2012. CSM Kepner is married to the former Mary Wise and they have four children.

CSM Kepner’s assignments include serving in all enlisted infantry positions while assigned to Bravo Company 1-504 PIR. Other key assignments include; Detachment Sergeant, 104 LRSD; First Sergeant, Bravo Company 1-111 IN; Operations Sergeant Major, 1-111 IN (deployed Kosovo); Command Sergeant Major, 2-112 IN Stryker (deployed Iraq); Command Sergeant Major 28th Combat Aviation Brigade; Senior Enlisted Leader of the Philadelphia Papal National Special Security Event; and Command Sergeant Major, 28th ID.

CSM Kepner’s military education and training includes all levels of NCOES to include the Executive Leader Course, United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, and Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education. CSM Kepner’s military training also includes: Combat Leaders Course, 18th Airborne Corps Recondo School, Northern Warfare Instructor Qualification Course, Pathfinder School, Ranger School, Basic and Advanced Airborne schools, Jungle Warfare School, and Long Range Surveillance Leader Course.

CSM Kepner’s awards include; the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 oak leaf clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with 3 oak leaf clusters), Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon (with Numeral 4), NATO Medal, Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Honduran and Spanish Parachutist Badges, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, Major General R. White Jr. Medal, General Thomas J Stewart Medal, Pennsylvania Twenty Year Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal (Historical), Iraq Campaign Medal (with 1 campaign star), Global War on Terrorism Service Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation.