Leaders

Biography

Major General Ken Kamper is the Commanding General of the Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill, Oklahoma. MG Ken Kamper commissioned as an Artillery Officer in 1989 from the United States Military Academy at West Point. His military education includes a Bachelor of Science from the U.S Military Academy, a Master of Arts from the U.S. Naval War College, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

MG Kamper has commanded at the Battery, Battalion, and Brigade level as well as the Operational Test Command. Most recently he served as the Deputy Commanding General for the III Armored Corps at Fort Hood, Texas

His past assignments include: 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Division, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army; 82nd Airborne Division; 1stBattalion, 508th Airborne Battalion Combat Team; 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment; 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment (Automatic), a part of 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division; 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment (Red Lions) in 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division; 17th Fires Brigade, 7th Infantry Division, I Corps; 1st Infantry Division; 4th Infantry Division, and III Corps.

MG Kamper’s combat and operational experience include deployments to OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM from 2003-2005 and 2006-2008, OPERATION ATLANTIC RESOLVE, and OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE from 2014-2015 and 2017-2018.

MG Kamper’s Awards and decorations include: Combat Action Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, and Ranger Tab.

Biography

Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Stephen A. Burnley assumed his duties as the Air Defense Artillery Regimental Command Sergeant Major on 14 December 2018. He has held a variety of positions in airborne and air defense artillery units throughout his career, ranging from a stinger gunner to command sergeant major.

CSM Burnley is from Alexandria, Virginia and entered the United States Army in February 1993. He attended Basic Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Bliss, Texas graduating as a 14S Avenger Crewmember. His previous assignments include the following: CSM 32D Army Air and Missile Defense, Fort Bliss, Texas; CSM 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Kaiserslautern, Germany; CSM, 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery, Rhine Ordnance Barracks, Germany; Operations Sergeant Major, 4th Battalion 3rd Air Defense Artillery, Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Senior Enlisted Advisor, 8th Iraqi Army Division Military Transition Team (47433), MNF-S; First Sergeant, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade (Airborne); First Sergeant, Detachment 3, 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, Space and Missile Defense Command, Shariki, Japan; First Sergeant, Alpha Battery, 3rd Battalion (Airborne) 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment (ADAR), 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Platoon Sergeant, Bravo Battery, 3rd Battalion (Airborne) 4th ADAR; Officer Basic Course Instructor, 4th Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery, Fort Bliss, Texas; Operations Sergeant and Observer Controller at the Joint Readiness Training Center (Airborne), Fort Polk, Louisiana; Stinger Section Sergeant and Team Chief, Delta Battery, 3rd Battalion (Airborne) 4th ADAR, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Avenger Crewmember, 5th Battalion 5th Air Defense Artillery, Camp Stanton, South Korea.

CSM Burnley has completed numerous military schools and courses including Cheju-do Rappelling and Mountaineering, Jungle Operations, Jumpmaster, Combatives, Joint Firepower, Battle Staff, Army Force Management, Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, and the Advanced Military Transition Team Courses. He has completed all levels of the Non Commissioned Officers Education System and is a graduate of the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy Class #61 (Resident) and the Executive Leader Course. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree.

His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (1 Silver and 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (1OLC), Army Achievement Medal (4OLC), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award (1OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal (8th Award), National Defense Service Medal (w/Bronze Star), Korean Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon (w/Numeral 5), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Master Parachutist’s Badge, British Royal Parachutists Badge, and is a member of the Ancient Order of Saint Barbara.

CSM Burnley is married to Victoria, and they have two daughters.

Biography

Mr. Joe E. Gallagher was selected for the Senior Executive Service in November 2009. Mr. Joe Gallagher was appointed as the Deputy to the Commanding General, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill, effective 16 January 2013. In this capacity, Mr. Gallagher works in collaboration with and under the general direction of the Commanding General in the development and execution of organizational goals, objectives, and policies to ensure the Warfighting commanders receive world class Field Artillery and Air Defense Artillery Soldiers, equipment and organizations. Mr. Gallagher has full responsibility to direct the action of the Center's 3300 military and civilian personnel, technical and managerial efforts and the 130 million dollar annual operating budget. He provides direct supervision to the Center's 700 military and civilian workforce engaged in Force Management and the development of capabilities, concepts, doctrine, organizations, materiel, leader education, personnel, and facilities. Additionally, he serves as the Commander's principal advisor and the Center's senior expert in force management, joint capabilities integration and development system, requirements determination, and material acquisition.

Biography

Brigadier General David Pritchett currently serves as the Director of the Joint Staff for the Wyoming National Guard and the Deputy Commanding General, Army National Guard for Field Artillery to the Fires Center of Excellence. He commissioned as an Artillery Officer in 1991 from the Auburn University Army ROTC program and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration. His military education includes a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

BG Pritchett has commanded at the Battery, Battalion, and Brigade level. His combat and operational experience include deployments to Operation Iraqi Freedom, Hurricane Opal, Hurricane Ivan, Hurricane Katrina, and Deepwater Horizon.

BG Pritchett is married to the former Julie Kidd of Fort Payne, Alabama. He has three children Katelyn (25), Clay (20), and Anna Chris (17). He and Julie reside in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Biography

Brigadier General Thomas E. Moore II is the Assistant Adjutant General for Army, Ohio National Guard, and also serves as the Commander, Ohio Army National Guard. BG Moore assumed these duties on September 1, 2020 and is responsible for establishing policies, priorities, and oversight for the readiness of approximately 11,500 Soldiers.

Brigadier General Moore enlisted in the active component in 1990 as an administrative specialist. He was commissioned in August of 1994. He has served in various command and staff assignments from the company to the combatant command level. In 2018 upon return from the National Capital Region he assumed command of the 174th ADA Brigade with a deployment of the Brigade Headquarters to Germany in support of the European Deterrence Initiative. He has four previous deployments; Commander TF Guthrie Greys – National Capital Region, US Commander of the Operational Mentorship Liaison Team - Afghanistan, Operations Officer of 2-174th Air Defense Battalion - National Capital Region and Battery Commander - Operation Iraqi Freedom. He resides in Cumberland Ohio with his wife Nikki. They have two sons and two granddaughters.

• 1995 Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic Course, Fort Bliss, TX
• 1999 Air Defense Artillery Officer Advance Course, Ft Bliss, TX
• 2004 Combined Arms Staff Services School, Ft Leavenworth, KS
• 2009 Command and General Staff College, Ft Dix, NJ
• 2015 Senior Service College (Resident), Carlisle Barracks, PA

Biography

Brigadier General Andy Preston, a native of Edmond, Oklahoma, was commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer through Officer Candidate School in 1992, after enlisting as an 11B in 1990. He began his commissioned career as a Company Fire Support Officer in 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute

Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Battery Fire Direction Officer and Executive Officer in 1st Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, followed by Aide-de-Camp to the XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery Commanding General. After his time at Fort Bragg, he was assigned to the 214th Field Artillery Brigade as Assistant Brigade S3 before commanding both C Battery, 2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery and Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 214th Field Artillery Brigade.

After departing Fort Sill, BG Preston served as a Harvard/ DCSOPS Fellow first in Cambridge, Massachusetts then as a Strategic Plans Officer in DAMO-SSW (War Plans Division), Army G3. Following schooling at Fort Leavenworth, he began a series of assignments in the Pacific to include 25th ID Plans Officer (CJTF-76, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM), Battalion Executive Officer in 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery, Executive Officer for 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM), and Contingency Plans Officer in J35, United States Pacific Command.

BG Preston then returned to the 25th ID as Commander 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery (OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM and NEW DAWN) and Division G3 (Rear). He then departed Hawaii and assumed command of the 214th Fires Brigade and 4th Division Artillery. In 2015, he returned to Hawaii as the 25th ID Chief of Staff, prior to transitioning to the Pentagon as Director for the Chief of Staff of the Army’s Coordination Group. Returning to Hawaii in 2018, he served as the Deputy Commanding General (Support) for the 25th Infantry Division; the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, United States Army Pacific; and his last assignment as the Chief of Staff, United States Army Pacific.

His civilian education includes a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Oklahoma, a Master of Public Administration degree from Harvard University, and a Master of Military Arts and Sciences degree from the United States Army Command and General Staff College. He also attended a Senior Service College Fellowship at the Scowcroft Institute, Texas A&M University.

BG Preston has been happily married for 30 years to his wife Gina. They have two adult daughters, one granddaughter, and another one on the way.

Biography

CSM Michael McMurdy entered the Army on 14 Aug 1996 as a 13B Cannon Crewmember where he attended Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

His initial assignment was to 3-320th Field Artillery Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), where he served as Advanced Party, Ammunition Team Chief, Gunner, and Section Chief. He deployed to Kosovo in 2000 in support of 1-187th IN, and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003-2004.

Upon redeployment he served as a Drill Sergeant and Senior Drill Sergeant at Fort Sill, OK with 1-40th Field Artillery Battalion from 2004-2006. He was then assigned to 3-17th Field Artillery, Joint Base Lewis-McChord from 2007-2013. During that time he served as a Platoon Sergeant, Firing and Headquarters Battery 1SG, Operations Sergeant Major for 2-1 IN, and interim Battalion Command Sergeant Major for 2-17th Field Artillery Battalion, all within 5-2 SBCT and 2-2 SBCT. This assignment included deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 2009-2010 and 2012.

CSM McMurdy attended the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy Class 64 at Fort Bliss Texas from 2013-2014, and after graduation was assigned as the Battalion Command Sergeant Major for 1-320th Field Artillery, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) from 2015-2016. He was then selected to serve as the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division Command Sergeant Major from 2016-2018 and the 4th Security Force Assistance Brigade Command Sergeant Major from 2018-2020 at Fort Carson.

Currently, CSM McMurdy is serving as the 14th United States Army Field Artillery School Command Sergeant Major.

He completed his AA Degree from Thomas Edison University, and BA in Organizational Leadership from Brandman University. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star for Valor, Ranger Tab, Combat Action and Air Assault Badges, Field Artillery Master Gunner and Drill Sergeant Identification Badges, Ancient order of Saint Barbara and was inducted into the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.

He is married to Mrs. Beth McMurdy, and they have two children, Baylee and Major.

Biography

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Biography

CSM Randy B. Gray was born in Newberry, South Carolina and graduated from Newberry High School in 1991. He enlisted into the United States Army for active duty on Jan 5, 1994, as a 14S Stinger MANPADS Crewmember completing Basic Training at Fort Jackson, SC, and Advance Individual Training at Fort Bliss, TX.

CSM Gray’s duty positions and assignments include Stinger Crewmember, 5-5 ADA Camp Stanton, Korea; Avenger Team Chief, 5-2 ADA Bamberg, Germany; Stinger Section Sergeant and BDE S2 NCOIC, 172nd Infantry Brigade (Separate) Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Avenger Platoon Sergeant, 3-62 ADA Fort Drum, New York; ANCOC SGL, ANCOC Senior SGL, and Operations Chief at the NCO Academy Fort Bliss, Texas; 1SG C Battery and HHB 3-4 ADAR Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Brigade Master Evaluator and 1SG HHB 108th ADA BDE Fort Bragg, North Carolina; ADA Branch SGM HRC Fort Knox, Kentucky; Battalion Command Sergeant Major 2-44 ADAR Fort Campbell, Kentucky; BDE Operations SGM 101st ABN DIV (AASLT) Sustainment BDE Fort Campbell, Kentucky and 30th Air Defense Artillery Brigade Command Sergeant Major at Fort Sill, OK. His operational and overseas assignments include Turkey, Operation Joint Endeavor (Hungary), Operation Joint Guard (Croatia), Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq), Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (Afghanistan) and Operation Inherent Resolve (Iraq).

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, seven Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, the Ancient Order of Saint Barbara and several service awards. He is a graduate of numerous professional development courses to include: Basic Leaders Course, Advance Leaders Course, Senior Leaders Course, Small Group Instructor Course, Total Army Instructor Training Course, Equal Opportunity Course, First Sergeant Course, and the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy Class 63 at Fort Bliss, Texas. He is also a Graduate of the University of Maryland (University College) with a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Management.

CSM Gray is currently serving as the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery School Command Sergeant Major at Fort Sill, OK. He is the father of four children and has three grandchildren.

Biography

Colonel Michael J. Kimball is a 1996 graduate of the University of Arkansas and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery. His first assignment was as a Company Fire Support Officer for Alpha Co, 2nd Battalion 87th Infantry, 2nd BDE, 10th Mountain Division, Ft. Drum, NY. He then served as a battery Fire Direction Officer and Executive Officer in B/2-15 Field Artillery Regiment. COL Kimball’s final assignment at Fort Drum was as Assistant S3, 2-15 FAR.

From 2001 to 2002, COL Kimball served as the Adjutant in 2-17th Field Artillery BN, Camp Hovey, Republic of Korea (ROK). From 2002 to 2005, he served as a BN Fire Support Officer, 1st BN 327th Infantry Regiment, Commander C Battery, 2-320th Field Artillery BN, and Commander HHC, 1st Infantry Brigade, 101st Air Airborne Division (Air Assault), Ft. Campbell, KY.

From 2005-2008, COL Kimball served as an Observer, Controller, Trainer (OC/T) at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Ft Polk, LA. In 2009, he graduated from the Command and General Staff College and was re-assigned to Ft. Polk, LA this time serving with the 4th BCT, 10th Mountain Division. COL Kimball served as the Battalion Operations Officer for 5th BN 25th Field Artillery Regiment, the BCT Fire Support Officer, and the BCT Executive Officer.

In 2012, COL Kimball was assigned to the Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington DC where he served as an Action Officer in the J33, Deputy Director of Regional Operations (DDRO), AFRICOM desk. In 2014, COL Kimball took command of 1st BN, 15th Field Artillery, 1st BCT, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Hovey, Republic of Korea (ROK). After relinquishing command, COL Kimball served for the CDR, UNC/CFC/USFK in the Commander’s Initiative Group.

COL Kimball attended the U.S. Army War College from August 2016 to June 2017 at Carlisle Barracks, PA. From July of 2017 to May of 2018, COL Kimball served as the Senior Fires Trainer, at the National Training Center (NTC), Ft. Irwin, CA. From June 2018 to July 2019, COL Kimball served as the Director, G3/5/7 of FCOE and Ft. Sill. From August 2019 to July 2021 he served as the Director of the Army Capability Manager Fires Cell-Targeting. He is currently the Fires Center of Excellence and Ft. Sill’s Chief of Staff .

COL Kimball is a graduate of the Field Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the U.S. Army Airborne School, the U.S Army Air Assault School, the U.S. Army Ranger School, the Joint Firepower Control Course, the U.S. Army Jumpmaster Course, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College. He has a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the U.S. Army War College.

COL Kimball is married to the former Melissa Forney of St. Louis, MO and has four children, Nora (25), Cameron (21), Alareese (12) and Clayton (7).

Biography

Colonel Rhett A. Taylor enlisted in the Indiana National Guard in 1991. He received his commission as a Field Artillery Officer in 1997 through the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) upon his graduation from Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis. His first duty station was Vilseck and Bamberg, Germany, serving in the 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment (1st Infantry Division) as a company fire support officer, platoon fire direction officer (Kosovo), platoon leader, and battalion logistics officer from 1998-2001. Following the field artillery advanced course he remained at Fort Sill, Oklahoma where he was assigned to the 214th Field Artillery Brigade. There he served as the brigade fire control officer and deployed in support of the initial invasion of Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. He then commanded Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery Regiment from 2003- 2005.

Upon completion of command, COL Taylor, was assigned to 205th Infantry Brigade, Camp Atterbury, Indiana. There he served as an observer-trainer and operations officer in 2nd Battalion, 335th Infantry and a brigade plans officer. He then deployed as part of a Military Transition Team to Mosul, Iraq where he served as an operations officer advisor to an Iraqi Brigade from 2007-2008.

Following Command and General Staff College he was assigned to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado. There he served as the Battalion Executive Officer for 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment. He later served as the brigade fire support coordinator during the brigade’s deployment to Kandahar City, Afghanistan as part of Regional Command – South, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from 2011-2012. In 2012, COL Taylor reported to Mission Command Training Program at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he served as a fires observer, coach, trainer and senior fires warfighting function chief.

From July 2015 to July 2017 COL Taylor command 2-289 Infantry Regiment at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. The regiment was responsible for the training and mentoring of 12 National Guard battalions that resided within a six-state region. Following battalion command COL Taylor served as a planner in the Commander’s Initiative Group for the Command General of Training and Doctrine Command; Fort Eustis, Virginia. Upon graduation from the Army War College, COL Taylor assumed duties as the Director, G-3/5/7 Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill.

COL Taylor’s decorations include the Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters (OLC), Meritorious Service Medal with three OLC, Army Commendation Medal with three OLC, Army Achievement Medal with three OLC, Valorous Unit Award, and Combat Action Badge. He is a graduate of the Airborne and Air Assault Courses.

He is married to the former Ms. Amy Heckelmoser.

Biography

Command Sergeant Major William C. Taylor was born on 21 January 1979, in Crystal River, FL, but was raised in Basking Ridge, NJ. He enlisted in September of 1998 and completed AIT with the MOS 14J in June 1999.

CSM Taylor has held numerous leadership positions throughout his career. CSM Taylor was first assigned to 3-4 ADA BN at Fort Bragg, NC from 1999 – 2007 where he served as an Early Warning Team Leader, Air Defense Liaison NCO, Assistant Operations NCO, Early Warning Squad Leader, and C-RAM Platoon Sergeant.

He deployed to Afghanistan with Charlie Battery 2002-2003, Iraq with HHB 2003-2004, and Iraq again with Charlie Battery 2006-2007. CSM Taylor then served as a Recruiter with Pittsburgh Recruiting Battalion in Pennsylvania from 2007 – 2010. He was then assigned to XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, NC from 2010 – 2012 as the Corps ADAM Cell NCOIC and deployed to Iraq as part of Operation New Dawn while helping to bring the mission there to a close in December 2011.

CSM Taylor was then assigned to 3-4 ADA BN from 2012 -2015 where he served as a First Sergeant in Echo and Charlie Battery with a deployment to the CENTCOM AOR. Following the completion of the deployment, he was assigned as First Sergeant for Alpha Battery 3rd ADAR at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD from 2015-2016. Following attendance at the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy in 2016-2017 at FT. Bliss, TX, he served as the Current Operations Sergeant Major for the 94th AAMDC at JBPHH, HI from August 2017 – March 2019.

Most recently CSM Taylor was the Battalion Command Sergeant Major for 4-3 ADA BN at Fort Sill, OK from May 2019 – November 2021 where he deployed the Battalion to the CENTCOM AOR from June 2019 to June 2020.

CSM Taylor’s military education and training includes the Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Senior Leader Course, Sergeant’s Major Course (Class 67), U.S Army Recruiter School, Airborne School, and Jumpmaster School. CSM Taylor also holds an Associate’s Degree in Counseling from Coastline Community College, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management from the American Military University, and is currently pursuing a Masters of Business Administration degree.

Some of CSM Taylor’s military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (6 OLC), Joint Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC), Army Achievement Medal ( 4 OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal (7th Award), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ 1 campaign star, Iraq Campaign Medal w/ 4 campaign stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal w/ 1 star, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon(5), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (5), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, and Meritorious Unit Award (3 OLC). He also wears the Combat Action Badge, Gold Recruiter Badge w/ 3 Sapphires, Senior Parachutist Badge and Venezuelan Parachutist badge.

CSM Taylor has been married to his wife, Lauren (Sanford) Taylor, for over 18 years and they have two children: Madisyn and Karter.