Command Sergeant Major Doug Gibbens was born near Gibson City, Illinois and graduated from Gibson City High School.  He then attended the University of Illinois where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics.

He joined the Army in 1966, and after serving stateside duty was assigned to the Army Reserve. He served in the Army Reserve in a variety of units including Quartermaster, Chemical, Combat Engineer, Field Artillery, Medical, and non-aligned headquarter units until his military retirement in 2001.

Sergeant Major Gibbens’ awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Indiana Distinguished Service Medal.  In addition, Gibbens has been awarded the Saint Barbara Medal by the United States Field Artillery Association and the de Fluery Medal by the Army Engineer Association.  He was also commissioned an Honorary Alabama Colonel.  In 2013, Gibbens was presented with the Lt. General Timothy Maude award for his lifetime of service to Soldiers and Army families. Most recently, Sergeant Major Gibbens was awarded the Major General James E. Rudder award by the Association of the United States Army.  The Rudder Medal is awarded to a current or former member of the Army Reserve for outstanding contributions to the advancement of the Army’s goal of a seamless and component-integrated Army.

In civilian life Command Sergeant Major Gibbens is retired as the Indiana Executive Director for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense Agency, as well as from Tucker Mortgage, a residential mortgage company.   He is active in his church, The Lawrence (IN) Chamber of Commerce, The Veterans Day Council of Indianapolis (where he is a past president), the Indiana Committee, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) where he was Vice Chair for Indiana for 6 years, Operation: Job Ready Vets (as a board member) and in various other civic and fraternal organizations.  He is a Life Member of the American Legion, Reserve Officers Association, Non-Commissioned Officers Association, the 416th Engineer Association, and the Association of the United States Army (AUSA). In AUSA, Gibbens is currently serving as 2nd Region President, and is past chairman of the AUSA National Resolutions Committee.  He has served as chapter Treasurer, Secretary, Vice-President and President. He also served as state President for 9 years.

From 1999 until 2019, Gibbens served as Army Reserve Ambassador for the state of Indiana, reporting directly to the Chief of the Army Reserve.  In this position, Ambassador Gibbens represented the Chief of the Army Reserve at local functions and celebrations and served as another set of eyes and ears for the Chief with local and statewide units and organizations.

Command Sergeant Major Gibbens is married to Audrey Smith, and they have three children and six grandchildren. They have been residents of Indiana for over 40 years and currently reside in Indianapolis and Naples, Florida.