Command Sergeant Major
Thomas A. Lettis  

CSM Thomas A. Lettis was born on September 21, 1962 in Little Falls, New York. After graduating from Regents College, Tom Lettis enlisted in the United States Army in 1985 and attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, with follow-on Advance Individual Training in the 27B Military Occupational Specialty (Land Combat Support Systems Test Specialist) at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. CSM Lettis quickly rose through the junior enlisted ranks and was soon promoted to the rank of E-5/Sergeant based on his performance and leadership potential.

By 1989, CSM Lettis’ skills were put to use as the Land Combat Repairman Supervisor with the 563rd Ordnance Company at Camp Pieri, Germany. In March of 1991, he was the Non Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of preparing Improvised TOW Vehicles and Bradleys for use as war reserves in South-West Asia.

In 1992, he was assigned as the S-3 Operations NCOIC for the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Academy located at Redstone Arsenal, AL. He shaped the Army’s newest leadership through training and the Program of Instruction (POI) for the Basic NCO course (BNCOC) and Advanced NCO Courses (ANCOC). He supervised 26 instructors ensuring proper recognition and adherence to POI standards.

In 1996, CSM Lettis was selected as the First Sergeant of the 563rd Ordnance Company - Forward deployed to Tazar Air Base, Hungary, in support of Operation Joint Endeavor. He operated the Life Support Area (LSA), Container Holding Area (CHA), and the Main Railhead of the Intermediate Staging Base (ISB) for Task Force Eagle. CSM Lettis, as the NCOIC of the LSA Expansion Project, saved the Army $300,000, by expanding the area by 78 tier III compliant tents to support a surge of incoming deploying soldiers.

As First Sergeant of B Company, 832nd Ordnance Battalion at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, from 2000 to 2003, CSM Lettis supervised the Advanced Individual Training mission that trained 8 Military Occupational Specialties. During his tenure, he was personally commended by the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Inspector General (IG) for having the best Safety Program in all of TRADOC after the September 11, 2001 attacks. As First Sergeant of Bravo Company his soldiers won 24 Battalion Soldier of the Month Boards, 13 Brigade, and 8 Post Soldiers of the Quarter boards, culminating with one soldier winning Department of the Army Soldier of the Year. CSM Lettis received the Ordnance Order of Samuel Sharpe for his outstanding efforts as a First Sergeant.

In 2003, upon graduation from the Sergeants Major Academy in the top 10% of his class, CSM Lettis was assigned to III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas. From there he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Combined Joint Task Force - Kuwait Command Sergeant Major. In 2004, he became the Command Sergeant Major of the 73rd Ordnance Battalion, Fort Eisenhower, Georgia. He oversaw the Advanced Individual Training mission that trained 12 different MOS’s and was directly responsible for the training, supervision, and professional development of 24 Drill Sergeants, S3/S4/civilian personnel, as well as the 1,200 Soldiers and their families.

CSM Thomas A. Lettis retired in 2005.