CSM Ashley was born in Saint James, Jamaica. After Graduating high school in the parish of Saint Elizabeth, he moved to Queens, New York in April 1984. He enlisted in the United States Army on 23 May 1985. CSM Ashley attended basic training at Fort McClellan, Alabama and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where he was awarded the MOS of 91D (52D), Power Generation Equipment Repairer. His assignments include, the 8th Attack Helicopter Battalion, the 8th Infantry Division (Mechanized), in Mainz, Germany; HHT, 2nd Armored Calvary Regiment, Fort Polk, Louisiana; Detachment Chief, 147th Maintenance Company, Kitzingen, Germany.; Platoon and Section Sergeant, 546th Maintenance Company, Fort Polk, Louisiana; Instructor Writer/Chief Instructor/ Division Chief, Technical Support Equipment Department, 16th Ordnance Battalion, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland; First Sergeant for Fox Company, 725 Support Battalion (Airborne), Fort Richardson, Alaska; First Sergeant Bravo Company, 725th Support Battalion (Airborne) Fort Richardson, Alaska; Support Operations NCOIC, 194th CSSB, Camp Humphreys, Korea; Student Unites States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Fort Bliss, Texas; Department Sergeant Major, Tactical Support Equipment Department, Fort Lee, Virginia. His Military education includes: Warrior Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, Senior Leader Course, First Sergeant Course, Sergeant’s Major Academy Class #60, Basic Airborne Course, Air Assault Course, Defense Packaging Hazardous Material Transportation Course, Equal Opportunity Leaders Course, Combat Lifesaver Course, Command and Staff Orientation Course, Army Basic Instructor Course, Systems Approach to Training, and the Army Combatives Trainer Certification Course. CSM Ashley’s civilian education includes an Associate Degree in General Studies from Central Texas College, Killeen, Texas and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management with a minor in History from Excelsior College, Albany, New York. His Awards includes the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal w/ 2 OLC, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal w/ 5OLC, Army Achievement Medal w/ 6 OLC, Good Conduct Medal w/ Silver loop, National Defense Service Medal w/ star, NCO Professional Development Ribbon w/3, Army Valorous Unit Citation Award, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Meritorious Unit Citation, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal w/Star, Armed Forces Service Medal, GWOT Service Medal, GWOT Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, United Nations Medal, Driver/ Mechanics Badge, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon w/5, Air Assault Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Combat Action Badge. CSM Ashley is a recipient of the Ordnance Order of Samuel Sharpe Award. CSM Ashley is married to the former Evangeline Almanzor of Manila, Philippines. They have one son, Kenneth A. Ashley Junior (18), who is a Freshman at the University of Houston on an Academic Excellence Scholarship majoring in Chemical Engineering