Command Sergeant Major Ricky A. Vernon is a native of Grand Haven, Michigan. In 1970 at seventeen years old he entered the United States Army and attended initial training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Command Sergeant Major Vernon served as the 4th Regimental Command Sergeant Major of the US Army Quartermaster Center and School. Command Sergeant Major Vernon’s assignments include: 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Second Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Korea; Berlin Brigade, West Berlin, Germany; Fourth US Army, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, Second Corps Support Command, Germany and the Third Corps Support Command, Germany. Command Sergeant Major Vernon has been awarded and performed duties in military occupational specialties in all three components of Arms, Infantry in Combat Arms, Engineer in Combat Service and as Quartermaster in Combat Service Support. He has served in the positions of Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, and Command Sergeant Major. Command Sergeant Major Vernon’s professional education includes: Honor Graduate, third US Army Noncommissioned Officers Academy, Airborne and Jumpmaster School, and the US Army Sergeants Major Academy, (Class 28). Command Sergeant Major Vernon’s awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (5th Award), Army Occupational Medal, Master Parachutist Badge and the German Infantryman’s Badge.