Command Sergeant Major Marlo V. Cross entered the United States Air Force in February of 1984. He attended basic training and Air Force Specialty Code training for Military Police at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and received additional Emergency Response Specialty Training at Camp Bullis, Texas.
Command Sergeant Major Cross served more than 8 years on Active Duty; his first assignment was with the 4392 Security Police Squadron, Strategic Air Command (SAC) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. His assignments included Base Security, Patrol, Missile Security, and the Operations Center NCO for the Space Shuttle Defense Program. Command Sergeant Major Cross was instrumental in security operations for the first Shuttle program on the West Coast (The U.S Enterprise). He was also a member of the Emergency Service’s Team (EST) and was selected as an Aide-de-camp for the Commanding General of Vandenberg Air Force Base.
Command Sergeant Major Cross entered the United States Army Reserve in 1992, as a Combat Medic and his initial duty assignment was the 349th General Hospital in Los Angeles, California. He was later selected for Drill Sergeant Duty, and assigned to the 104th Division, San Jose, California, performing Drill Sergeant Duties at Fort Benning, Georgia, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Reserve Officer Training Corps missions at Fort Lewis, Washington. Command Sergeant Major Cross also served with the 4211th U. S. Army Hospital as the Company First Sergeant, the Hospital First Sergeant and the acting Command Sergeant Major. Command Sergeant Major Cross has held every leadership position there is in his Military Career.
Command Sergeant Major Cross served in Operation Enduring Freedom as the NCOIC of the Joint Operations Center (JOC), Combined Forces Command in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2005. In March of 2007, Command Sergeant Major Cross was selected as the first Battalion Command Sergeant Major of the 98th Signal Battalion as it stood up in Mesa, Arizona.
In August of 2010, Command Sergeant Major Cross was vetted through a vigorous selection process for a high visibility and challenging assignment as the Command Sergeant Major for the Fort Bliss Warrior Transition Battalion where he was responsible for upwards of 500+ Wounded Warriors and over 120 civilian and military personnel at any time. In September of 2012, he was selected for the Medical Readiness and Training Command (MRTC), a One Star Nominative level CSM Position. In 2015, Command Sergeant Major Cross was selected to be the first Army Reserve Command Sergeant Major for Army Reserve Medical Command (ARMEDCOM), a Two Star Nominative level CSM Position previously held by an AGR Command Sergeant Major. In 2017, Command Sergeant Major Cross was selected for the G 3/5/7 Operations Sergeant Major position at the 807 MC (DS). In 2018, Sergeant Major Cross was selected for the 2nd Medical Brigade Command Sergeant Major and now currently serves as the 807 MC (DS) Command Sergeant Major.
His military education includes Air Force Non-Commissioned Officers Course, Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Non-Commissioned Officers Course, Advance Non-Commissioned Officers Course, Non-Residence Sergeants Major Academy-Class 34 (Fast tracked), Infantryman Basic Course, Command Sergeant Major Designee Course, Pre-Command Course, and Drill Sergeant School. Command Sergeant Major Cross has also completed the CSM Legal Orientation Course, SSD V, the Executive Leadership Course (SSD VI), and a graduate of How the Army Runs Course (HTARC) as well as numerous other professional development courses.
Command Sergeant Major Cross’ civilian education is comprehensive as well as all-encompassing, consisting of a Doctorate in Education, with an emphasis in Organization Leadership, a Master’s of Science Degree in Leadership and a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. Command Sergeant Major Cross is also a member of Kappa Delta Phi, the education Honor society.
In his civilian capacity, Dr. Cross is an Adjunct Professor for Grand Canyon University (GCU), as well as the University of Phoenix (UOP). Dr. Cross is also the Senior Faculty Advisor for the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs (OMVA) at UOP, where he consults and `develops a myriad of training products for the faculty and staff to assist them in working with the diverse veteran population. Dr. Cross’ work is dynamic to our veterans overall success in the classroom and their successful transition to becoming productive civilians.
Command Sergeant Major Cross’ awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, Army National Defense Service Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Air Force Professional Military Education Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Expert Shooting Badge, the Army expert shooting Team Competition Badge, the Expert Hand Grenade Qualification Badge, the Gold Bundeswehr’s Schutzenschnur German Shooting Award and the Drill Sergeant Badge. Command Sergeant Major Cross is a recipient of the Order of Military Medical Merit, as well as an honorary inductee of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.
Command Sergeant Major Cross currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, with his divine wife Yvonne of nearly 30 years. Yvonne is a Treatment Coordinator/Office Manager for an esteemed Orthodontist in Mesa and she has been in the Dental field for over 25 years. Their daughter, Alyssa, who is 24 and a graduate of Cal State Fullerton where she earned a Degree in Bio-Chemistry, resides in New York and works independently as a fashion stylist on various Movies, Music Videos, Television shows, Netflix specials and Print ads.