John W. Troxell

Last updated
John W. Troxell
SEAC John W. Troxell.jpg
Command Sergeant Major John W. Troxell with the new SEAC rank insignia, December 2019
Bornc. 1964 (age c. 59)
Davenport, Iowa
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1982–2020
Rank Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman
Battles/wars Operation Just Cause
Gulf War
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Awards Defense Superior Service Medal (3)
Legion of Merit (3)
Bronze Star Medal (2)
Meritorious Service Medal (5)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal (5) w/ "V"
Army Achievement Medal (6)

John Wayne Troxell (born c. 1964) is a retired United States Army senior non-commissioned officer who served as the third Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (SEAC). [1] This position made him the most senior enlisted member of the United States Armed Forces. He enlisted in the United States Army in September 1982, as an armored reconnaissance specialist and graduated from One Station Unit Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Contents

Army career

Troxell served in the United States Army for over 37 years in numerous units throughout his career. They included the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Fort Bliss, Texas; 2 tours in Germany with the 3rd Armored Division, and the 3rd Infantry Division; 3 tours in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Campbell University Reserve Officers' Training Corps in Buies Creek, North Carolina, and the Special Operation Division of Joint Task Force Six (Counterdrug) in El Paso, Texas. He has served as the command sergeant major of the 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York and in Iraq; the regimental command sergeant major of the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment in both Fort Polk, Louisiana and Fort Lewis, Washington; the command sergeant major of the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2d Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington and in Iraq; the 21st command sergeant major of the U.S. Army Armor Center and Fort Knox, Kentucky; the command sergeant major of the U.S. Army Accessions Command and Human Resource Center of Excellence at Fort Knox, Kentucky, the command sergeant major of I Corps at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, the command sergeant major of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command in Afghanistan and the Command Senior Enlisted Leader of United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea. His official date of retirement was on March 31, 2020.

Troxell's five combat tours of duty included making the combat parachute jump and service in Operation Just Cause in Panama, Operation Desert Shield/Storm, two tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. His military education includes Ranger, Airborne, Jumpmaster, Pathfinder, PLDC, BNCOC, ANCOC, and the First Sergeant Course. He is a graduate of Class 51 of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Course and the Command Sergeants Major Course. Troxell is also a graduate of the National Defense University Keystone Joint Command Senior Enlisted Leader Course, the United States Army War College Strategic Leader Development Course and the Army Strategic Leader Development Course (Intermediate) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Troxell's civilian education includes a Master's degree in Business Administration from TUI University in California. He is a Centurion of the Order of Saint Maurice (National Infantry Association). [2]

Suspension

Troxell was re-assigned from Senior Enlisted Advisor to Special Assistant to the Vice Director of the Joint Staff, from September 2018 to March 2019, pending the outcome of an investigation of misconduct. An Army Inspector General investigation determined Troxell was guilty of “the improper use of U.S. military personnel to conduct tasks not associated with their official duties, such as personal errands, and improper endorsement of commercial fitness and nutrition products on official SEAC social media platforms." The investigation found there was no personal or monetary gain from these endorsements. [3] Troxell was administratively disciplined for breaching ethics rules and re-instated. [4] [5] [6] [7]

Awards and decorations

Combat Action Badge.svg Combat Action Badge
Ranger Tab.svg Ranger tab
1 star jump.svg Master Parachutist Badge with one bronze Combat Jump Device
Pathfinder.gif Pathfinder Badge
DandMBadge (Small).jpg Driver and Mechanic Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
2nd Infantry Division CSIB.png 2nd Infantry Division Combat Service Identification Badge
73rd Cavalry DUI.jpg 73rd Cavalry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
Service stripe.jpg 12 Service stripes
ArmyOSB.svg 7 Overseas Service Bars
US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Defense Superior Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze Star ribbon.svg
Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation ribbon.svg Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg "V" device, brass.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Army Commendation Medal with "V" device and three oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg Army Commendation Medal (second ribbon to denote fifth award)
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Army Achievement Medal ribbon.svg
Army Achievement Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Meritorious Unit Commendation
Army Good Conduct Medal ribbon.svg Gcl-11.png Army Good Conduct Medal (11 awards)
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Arrowhead device.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead device
Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Southwest Asia Service Medal with two campaign stars
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Afghanistan Campaign ribbon.svg
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one campaign star
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Iraq Campaign ribbon.svg
Iraq Campaign Medal with one campaign star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service ribbon.svg Korea Defense Service Medal
NCO Professional Development Ribbon.svg Award numeral 4.png NCO Professional Development Ribbon with bronze award numeral 4
Army Service Ribbon.svg Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg Award numeral 4.png Army Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 4
NATO Meritorious Service Medal bar.svg NATO Meritorious Service Medal
NATO Medal ISAF ribbon bar.svg NATO Medal for service with ISAF
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Moore</span> United States Army post outside Columbus, Georgia

Fort Moore is a United States Army post near Columbus, Georgia, adjacent to the Alabama–Georgia border. Fort Moore supports more than 120,000 active-duty military, family members, reserve component soldiers, retirees and civilian employees on a daily basis. As a power projection platform, the post can deploy combat-ready forces by air, rail, and highway for their designated mission. Fort Moore is the home of the United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, the United States Army Armor School, United States Army Infantry School, the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, elements of the 75th Ranger Regiment, the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade, and other tenant units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sergeant Major of the Army</span> Senior enlisted member of the U.S. Army

The sergeant major of the Army (SMA) is a unique non-commissioned rank and position of office in the United States Army. The holder of this rank and position is the most senior enlisted soldier in the Army, unless an enlisted soldier is serving as the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman. The SMA is appointed to serve as a spokesman to address the issues of enlisted soldiers to all officers, from warrant officers and lieutenants to the Army's highest positions. As such, they are the senior enlisted advisor to the chief of staff of the Army. The exact duties vary depending on the chief of staff, though much of the SMA's time is spent traveling throughout the Army, observing training and talking with soldiers and their families.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albert Bryant Jr.</span> United States Army general

Albert Bryant Jr. is a retired United States Army brigadier general, best known for service as the Chief of Western Hemisphere Operations during and in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and for his tenure as the Assistant Division Commander of the 4th Infantry Division at the time of the division's detection and capture of deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. Bryant also served as the Deputy Commander of Fort Knox, Kentucky, and the United States Army's Armor School. As Chief of Staff of NATO's Kosovo Force (KFOR), Bryant was the highest ranking American general on the KFOR leadership team in the lead up to Kosovo independence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas F. Metz</span> Lieutenant General in the United States Army

Thomas Fredric Metz is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Army. Metz retired from the Army in Jan 2010 after more than 40 years of active military service. His tour of duty prior to retirement was as the director, Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization., leading the DOD organization tasked with finding and fielding ways to defeat the IED threat. Previously he was the deputy commanding general and chief of staff, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. Previous to that assignment he was commanding general of the U.S. III Corps and Fort Hood. He assumed command of III Corps on 7 February 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack L. Tilley</span> 12th Sergeant Major of the US Army

Jack L. Tilley is an American businessman and retired United States Army soldier. He served for almost 37 years in the United States Army, culminating in his appointment in 2000 as the 12th Sergeant Major of the Army, a post he held until his retirement on January 15, 2004. He was the last Vietnam War veteran to serve in that position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert E. Hall (soldier)</span> Eleventh Sergeant Major of the US Army

Robert E. Hall is a retired United States Army soldier who served as the eleventh Sergeant Major of the Army from October 21, 1997, to June 23, 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cavalry scout</span> U.S. Army soldier who has received training as an Armored Reconnaissance Specialist

Cavalry Scout is the job title of someone who has achieved the military occupational specialty of 19D Armored Reconnaissance Specialist in the Combat Arms branch of the United States Army. As with all enlisted soldiers in the United States Cavalry, the person holding the Scout specialization will still be referred to as a "Trooper", the traditional colloquialism denoted in the cavalry's Order of the Spur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Army Armor School</span> U.S. Army school dedicated to training in armored warfare

The United States Army Armor School is a military training school located at Fort Moore, Georgia. Its primary focus is the training of United States Army soldiers, non-commissioned officers, warrant officers, and commissioned officers. It also trains for equipment handling, including the M1 Abrams, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, and the Stryker Mobile Gun System. The Armor School moved to Fort Benning in 2010 as part of the United States Base Realignment and Closure program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R. Steven Whitcomb</span> United States Army general

R. Steven Whitcomb is a retired United States Army lieutenant general. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation from the University of Virginia in 1970. In his final assignment he served as Inspector General of the United States Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Gainey</span> United States Army NCO

William Joseph Gainey is a retired United States Army soldier who served as the first Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Fil</span> United States Army general

Major General Joseph Frederick Fil Jr. was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army in June 1976. He is a Distinguished Military Graduate of San José State University. He has served in Army units in the United States, Germany, Belgium and Iraq.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman</span> Senior enlisted advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

The senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (SEAC) is the most senior non-commissioned officer (NCO) position overall in the United States Armed Forces. The SEAC is appointed by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to serve as a spokesperson to address the issues of enlisted personnel to the highest positions in the Department of Defense. As such, the SEAC is the primary enlisted advisor to the chairman, and serves at the pleasure of the secretary of defense. The SEAC's exact duties vary, depending on the chairman, though the SEAC generally devotes much of their time traveling throughout the Department of Defense, to observe training and communicating to service members and their families. The SEAC's normal term of assignment runs concurrently with the Chairman, but an incumbent may be reappointed to serve longer. The first member to hold this post was William Gainey. The current SEAC is Troy E. Black, USMC who assumed the duties on 3 November 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Senior enlisted advisor</span>

A senior enlisted advisor (SEA) in the United States Armed Forces is the most senior enlisted service member in a unit, and acts as an advisor to the commanding officer. Formally, E-9 billets for the senior enlisted advisor are established at service unit, command, major command, force, or fleet levels to the SEAs/CSELs of DoD Agencies and the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. SEAs are also known as command senior enlisted leaders (CSEL). Always a non-commissioned officer, the SEA is the main link between the commanding officer and the enlisted service members under his or her charge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raymond F. Chandler</span> 14th Sergeant Major of the US Army

Raymond F. Chandler III is a former United States Army soldier who served as the 14th Sergeant Major of the Army. He was sworn in on March 1, 2011, and active on duty until January 30, 2015. Chandler served in all tank crewman positions and has had multiple tours as a troop, squadron and regimental master gunner. He has served in the 1st Infantry Division (FWD), 2nd Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Division, 1st Cavalry Division, 3rd Armored Division, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, United States Army Armor School, and the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy. He also served as first sergeant in four different detachments, troops and companies. As a sergeant major, he served as Operations SGM in 1/2 ACR and as CSM in 1/7 Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, United States Army Garrison Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and the United States Army Armor School CSM. Chandler was assigned as the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy CSM in December 2007. In June 2009, Chandler became the 19th Commandant of USASMA and the first enlisted commandant in USASMA history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benjamin Freakley</span> American general (born 1953)

Benjamin C. Freakley is a retired United States Army lieutenant general. From Woodstock, Virginia, Freakley was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1975, and served in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan before retiring in 2012. After leaving active duty military service, he joined the McCain Institute and Arizona State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryan B. Battaglia</span>

Bryan B. Battaglia is a retired United States Marine who served as Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sworn into office on 30 September 2011. He held this position until December 11, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William R. Desobry</span> United States Army general

William Robertson Desobry was a senior U.S. Army field commander in Germany during the Cold War, and a Lieutenant General in the United States Army. General Desobry was a decorated hero from World War II, and played a significant role as an advisor to the Republic of Vietnam Army and on the Army Staff during the Vietnam War. In addition to commanding a division and corps, he was the Commanding General of the Armor Center and was the President of the Tank Task Force, which led to the creation of the M1 Abrams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John F. Campbell (general)</span> United States Army general

John Francis Campbell is a retired United States Army general who was commander of the Resolute Support Mission and United States Forces – Afghanistan. He was the 16th and last commander of the International Security Assistance Force. Prior to this, he served as the 34th Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army. He is currently a member of the board of directors of IAP, and BAE Systems, and serves on the advisory board of Code of Support Foundation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott H. Stalker</span> American governmental official

Scott H. Stalker is a retired United States Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sergeant who last served as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL) of the United States Space Command. Before, he has been the Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL) of the United States Cyber Command, the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Central Security Service (CSS) in Fort Meade, Maryland, serving from March 16, 2018, until August 28, 2020. He was the first to hold the position of CSEL for all three agencies during their career. He has served in multiple military operations throughout his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael A. Grinston</span> Sergeant Major of The Army 2019-2023

Michael A. Grinston is a retired soldier of the United States Army who served as the 16th Sergeant Major of the Army from 2019 to 2023. Prior to his term as Sergeant Major of the Army, he served as the senior enlisted leader for United States Army Forces Command.

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from Command Sergeant Major. United States Army . Retrieved 23 November 2015.

  1. "Dunford Chooses Korea-Based Sergeant Major as Next Senior Enlisted Advisor". Department of Defense. November 18, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  2. "Command Sergeant Major John Wayne Troxell > U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE > Biography View". dod.defense.gov. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  3. Copp, Tara (March 28, 2019). "Troxell is back: The military's top enlisted adviser is reinstated to duty after investigation". Military Times. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  4. Schohol, Jeff (Jan 13, 2010). "Investigation finds former top enlisted leader improperly endorsed products and used staff as personal shoppers". Task and Purpose. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  5. Dickstein, Corey (September 27, 2018). "US military's top enlisted leader is suspended amid investigation". Stars and Stripes . Archived from the original on September 27, 2018.
  6. Copp, Tara (September 27, 2018). "Top enlisted adviser Troxell suspended, under investigation for alleged misconduct". Military Times . Archived from the original on September 28, 2018.
  7. "Dunford reinstates his senior enlisted advisor after investigation finds he violated ethics rules". Task & Purpose. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
Military offices
Preceded by Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman
2015–2019
Succeeded by