Welcome to Frontier Living

Col. Derek R. Baird graduated from Ferrum College in May 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and enlisted in the Army in 1997 as a research technician. He was selected for Officer Candidate School in June 2000 and was commissioned into the Field Artillery as a Second Lieutenant. Col. Baird served his company grade years at Fort Cavazos, TX with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. During this time, Col. Baird deployed two times to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Following Battery Command, Col. Baird was selected as an Observer Controller Trainer at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California. He spent the next two years coaching and mentoring 20 rotational units in fire support and field artillery operations. Upon completion of his tour at the NTC, Col. Baird attended the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS. There he earned his Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University. As a Major, Col. Baird served in the 3rd Infantry Division as the Deputy Chief of Fires and deployed with the 3ID Division HQ to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He then completed his time at the 3ID as the 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery S3 and the 3ID DIVARTY S3. COL Baird’s next assignment took him to Muenster, Germany, where he served as the Joint Fire Support Officer for the 1st German-Netherlands Corps. Col. Baird was selected for Battalion Command of the 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Cavazos, TX. During this time, he deployed his battalion to multiple European countries in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. After command, Col. Baird attended the Army War College, and was then assigned as the Assistant Field Artillery Commandant, Fort Sill, OK.

Col. Baird is married to Jolinda Baird

CSM William M. Pearson is a native of Red Hook, New York. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in September 2000 and completed Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma as a Fire Support Specialist.

CSM Pearson's previous assignments include: Fire Support Specialist, 2nd BN, 319th PFAR, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC; Operations Sergeant, Ground Liaison Officer, and Battalion FSNCO, 19th Battlefield Coordination Detachment and 1-4 IN; Security Forces Assistance Team Sergeant (SFAT), Brigade Fire Support NCO, and FECC OPS NCO, 4th Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division; Joint Tactical Air Controller (JTAC), JTAC Program Manager, and Battalion Operations Sergeant, 2nd Battalion, 7th SFG(A) Eglin AFB, FL; First Sergeant Charlie Battery 2nd Battalion 8th FAR, Ft. Wainwright AK and First Sergeant Headquarters Headquarters Battery 2nd B.N. 8th FAR; Division Fires SGM, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, KS, and Battalion CSM, 1-94 FAR JBLM, WA. CSM Pearson's first deployment was as a Forward Observer with Delta Battery, 2nd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment. He then proceeded to Germany, where he served with the 19th Battlefield Coordination Detachment, where he fell into a myriad of roles to include Operations Sergeant and Ground Liaison Officer. While there, he deployed several times to Qatar and Afghanistan to the Combined Air Operations Center and a Battalion FSNCO with the 1-4 IN out of Hohenfels, Germany. He returned to the 82nd ABN DIV as the Team Sergeant for an SFAT in support of 4th BCT, 82nd ABN to Zhari, Afghanistan. CSM Pearson then became the 4th BDE FSNCO. CSM Pearson was then selected for Special Operations Terminal Attack Control Course (SOTACC) and proceeded to Eglin AFB, FL. While in Florida, CSM Pearson became a JTAC and JTAC Program Manager for 2nd BN, 7th SFG(A) and deployed several times across SE Asia and other locations. In 2017, CSM Pearson would assume his First Sergeant role with 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment. While in Fort Wainwright, CSM Pearson was the First Sergeant for Charlie Battery and Headquarter Headquarters Battery. In 2019 CSM Pearson was selected to attend USASMA Class 70 and would proceed to Fort Riley, Kansas, to serve as the DIV Fires SGM.

Most recently CSM Pearson was the CSM for 1-94 FAR on JBLM. Throughout his 22-year career, CSM Pearson has worked in many diverse positions across the Fires Spectrum, from Light Infantry, Theater-level operations, Special Operations, and Stryker operations.

His education includes all levels of military professional development, Airborne, Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems, Joint Air Operations Staff, Military Security Advisor Course, Battle Staff, Pashto Language, Precision Fires Suite, Switchblade, and Special Operations Terminal Attack Controller.

His civilian education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership and Workforce Development from CGSC and a Master's in Global Security from Arizona State University. He is currently pursuing a second master's degree in World War II Studies from Arizona State University.

CSM Pearson is married to his beautiful wife Tamara Pearson and has two amazing daughters Kiera and Kenzie

Ms. Julia Sibilla assumed the role of Deputy Garrison Commander at USAG Fort Sill, Oklahoma in October 2020. She comes to the Garrison from the State Department, Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO) Africa Bureau where she was a Defense Senior Leadership Development Fellow and Stabilization Advisor. A distinguished graduate of the National War College in Washington, DC, she earned a master’s degree in National Security Strategy.

Her extensive experience in installation management and Soldier and Family Support includes assignments in Romania, Bulgaria, Belgium, and Italy. Ms. Sibilla served as the inaugural Site Director at the Novo Selo Training Area (NSTA), Bulgaria where she established base operations for IMCOM in the Black Sea region. She previously served in several roles at the Army Community Service at USAG Italy, including the role of Director.

Ms. Sibilla previously served at the Pentagon in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management as a Strategic Planner in the Operations Directorate. In this capacity she provided subject matter expertise on Forward Operating Sites (FOS) and contingency basing in the Black Sea Area of Responsibility.

In addition to over 25 years of experience serving at military installations around the globe, Julia has also worked as a UN staff member and as a DOD education contractor with program oversight in Europe and the Middle East, including several brief deployments to Iraq, Djibouti, and Afghanistan.

Ms. Sibilla is married to Angelo Sibilla, a retired Italian Infantry Officer, and is the proud mother of two awesome young women.

CAREER CHRONOLOGY:
• Oct 2020-Present: Deputy Garrison Commander, USAG Fort Sill, OK
• Jun 2020-Oct 2020: Stabilization Advisor, DSLDP Fellow, U.S. Department of State, Conflict & Stabilization Operations-Africa, Washington, DC
• Jul 2019-Jun 2020: Graduate Student, National War College, National Defense University, Washington, DC
• Jan 2018-Jul 2019: Strategic Planner, Operations Directorate, Deputy Chief of Staff, Installations (G9), The Pentagon, Arlington, VA
• Aug 2016-Jan 2018: Site Director/Deputy Garrison Manager, Novo Selo Training Area (NSTA), Bulgaria
• Jun 2016-Aug 2016: Operations Officer, MK Airbase, Romania
• Mar 2009-Jun 2016: Director, Supervisory Community Program Manager, Relocation Manager, Army Community Service, USAG Italy, Vicenza, Italy

EDUCATION:
• MS, National Security Strategy, The National War College, The National Defense University, Washington, DC, 2020
• MS, Management, Boston University, Brussels, Belgium, 2003
• MA, Humanities, California State University, Dominguez Hills, CA, 2000
• BA, History, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, 1985

SIGNIFICANT TRAINING:
• Defense Senior Leader Development Program (DSLDP), Cohort 2019, graduation 2021
• Strategic Planning Course, Army War College (AWC), 2019
• Senior Manager’s Course (SMC) for National Security Strategy, George Washington University, Elliott School of International Studies, 2018
• Joint Humanitarian Operations Course, USAID, 2018
• Anti-Terrorism II Officer Course, 2017
• Mediation Training, The Justice Center of Atlanta, GE, 2016
• Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP), 2016

AWARDS AND HONORS:
• Distinguished Graduate & Writing Excellence Award, National War College
• Meritorious Civilian Service Medal
• Superior Civilian Service Award (2X), Commander’s Award for Civilian Service (5X), and Army Achievement Medal (3X)
• NATO Rapid Reaction Force, French CG Award for Excellence
• USAG Italy Volunteer Family of the Year
• IMCOM-E Phenomenal Woman of the Year-USAG Italy