Biography

Command Sergeant Major Wardell Jefferson was born in Sharon, PA. His enlistment started on April 19, 1989 when he began One Station Unit Training (OSUT) for MOS 12B, Combat Engineer at Fort Leonardwood, MO. Jefferson reclassified and was awarded the MOS 75D Personnel Records Specialist in November 1993.

During his 22-year career, CSM Jefferson has served in a variety of duty positions including Combat Engineer, Team Leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, NCOIC Enlisted/Officer Evaluations, NCOIC Officer Management, NCOIC Personnel Actions Branch, NCOIC Strength Management Division, Drill Sergeant, Drill Sergeant Leader, Battalion Senior Personnel Services Sergeant, Deputy Commandant and Commandant of the US Army Alaska Noncommissioned Officer Academy, ISAF Joint Command, Headquarters Support Group Command Sergeant Major in Kabul, Afghanistan, G1 SGM, HQs V Corps and he is currently serving as the Battalion Command Sergeant Major for the Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Infantry Division.

Jefferson's assignments include D Co. 39th Engineer Bn, Fort Dix, NJ; A Co. 1st Bn 11th Infantry Regiment, Fort Benning, GA; 7th Army Training Command, Grafenwoehr, Germany; E Co. 1st Bn 61st Infantry Regiment, Fort Jackson, SC; United States Army Drill Sergeant School, Fort Jackson, SC; 59th Signal Battalion, Fort Richardson, AK; the US Army Alaska Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Fort Richardson, AK; and Headquarters, V Corps, Heidelberg, Germany.

Jefferson's military education includes the Combat Engineer Course (12B1O), Personnel Records Specialist Course (75D1O), all NCOES courses, First Sergeant Course, Instructor Trainers Course, Master Fitness Course, Airborne School, Air Assault School, Drill Sergeant School, the Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officers Course, the Command and Staff orientation course, and a graduate of the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, class 59. He also holds an MBA (Human Resource Management) from TUI University, a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Management from Wayland Baptist University, and an Associates degree in Applied Technology from Central Texas College.

His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (3 Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (1 Silver OLC), Good Conduct Medal (7th Award), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (4), Army Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the Drill Sergeant Identification Badge. Jefferson was named the 2004 Adjutant General Corps Regimental Association NCO of the Year and was awarded the SGM Larry Strickland medal for Distinguished Achievement. He is also a member of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.