Jack L. Tilley

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Jack L. Tilley
Born 1948 (age 59–60)
SMA Jack L. Tilley
Place of birth	Vancouver, Washington
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1966-1969 1971-2004
Rank	Sergeant Major of the Army
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (3) Bronze Star with V Device Meritorious Service Medal] (2) Army Commendation Medal (3) Army Achievement Medal(3) Presidential Unit Citation

Jack L. Tilley was sworn in as the 12th Sergeant Major of the Army on June 23, 2000 and served until January 15, 2004.

Tilley was born in Vancouver, Washington, on December 3, 1948. He entered the U.S. Army in November 1966 and attended basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, and advanced individual training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Following tours in Vietnam and Fort Benning, Georgia, SMA Tilley left the Army for two years before enlisting again in September 1971.

He held a variety of important positions culminating in his assignment as the Sergeant Major of the Army. He previously held the senior enlisted position as Senior Enlisted Leader of the United States Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. Other assignments he held as Command Sergeant Major were 1st Battalion, 10th Cavalry, Fort Knox, 194th Armored Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Bad Kreuznach, Germany and United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Arlington, Virginia.

Throughout his 37-year career, SMA Tilley held every key leadership position including tank commander, section leader, drill sergeant, platoon sergeant, senior instructor, operations sergeant and first sergeant. His military education includes the First Sergeants Course and the Sergeants Major Academy. He is also a graduate of the basic airborne course, drill sergeant school and master gunner's course.

[edit] Awards and decorations

His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star with V Device, Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Vietnam Service Medal and Campaign Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Overseas Service Ribbon (2), NCO Professional Development Ribbon (4), Drill Sergeant's Badge, Parachutist's Badge and the Army Staff Identification Badge.