Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III was sworn in as the 14th Sergeant Major of the Army in March 2011. Previously, he served as the 19th commandant of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA), the first enlisted commandant in USASMA history. As Sergeant Major of the Army, he serves as the Army Chief of Staff’s personal advisor on all enlisted-related matters, particularly areas affecting soldier training and quality of life. He devotes the majority of his time to traveling throughout the Army observing training and talking to soldiers and their families. Chandler sits on a variety of councils and boards that make decisions affecting enlisted soldiers and their families, and he is routinely invited to testify before Congress. He has held a variety of leadership positions throughout his career, ranging from tank crewman to command sergeant major. He has served in all tank crewman positions and has had multiple tours as a troop, squadron and regiment master gunner. He has served in the 1st Infantry Division (FWD), 2nd Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Division, 1st Cavalry Division, 3rd Armored Division, 2nd and 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiments, U.S. Army Garrison (Fort Leavenworth, Kansas), and the U.S. Army Armor School. Chandler holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Upper Iowa University.