Command Sergeant Major Montoya first entered Active Duty in November 1982. After basic training at Fort Jackson, SC, he attended AIT at Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN, and was awarded the MOS of 71D. He has been a legal clerk and, later, paralegal his entire career.
Assignments include the 7th Infantry Division (DISCOM) at Fort Ord, CA, 1st Infantry Division (FWD), in Wiley Barracks, Neu Ulm, West Germany, and the 1st Infantry Division in Fort Riley, KS. After joining the Reserve Component in July 1987, Command Sgt. Maj. Montoya’s initial assignments included the 120th JAG Detachment in Albuquerque, NM, the 87th Legal Support Organization in Denver, CO, and the 5025th Garrison Support Unit on Fort Carson, CO. He has also held the jobs of command paralegal NCO at both the 96th Regional Readiness Command, and the 90th Regional Readiness Command. With the deactivation of the 90th, Command Sgt. Maj. Montoya transferred to the 87th Legal Support Organization. In December 2011, Command Sgt. Maj. Montoya was involuntarily transferred into the Individual Ready Reserve during cost-cutting efforts in the USAR. In December 2012, he was transferred to the 10th Legal Support Organization for mobilization, and in April 2013 transferred to the 22nd Legal Operations Detachment.
Command Sgt. Maj. Montoya has been mobilized three times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, as the chief paralegal NCO of the 1st Mobilization Brigade on Fort Carson, CO (January 2003 - July 2004), and as the command paralegal NCO of III Corps and Fort Hood, Fort Hood, TX (October 2007 - October 2008), and the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, KS (March 2012-April 2013). Command Sgt. Maj. Montoya’s military education includes PLDC (Distinguished Honor Graduate), BNCOC, (Commandant’s List), ANCOC (Commandant’s List), and the Sergeant Majors Course 55 at USASMA. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a Master’s Degree in Psychology.
Command Sgt. Maj. Montoya’s military awards and decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC), Army Commendation Medal with four OLC, Army Achievement Medal with OLC, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star Device, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Number Four, Army Reserve Component Achievement Ribbon 7th Award, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Army Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon.
In his civilian occupation, SGM Montoya is a licensed marriage and family therapist and currently is employed as a behavioral health case manager working with TRICARE beneficiaries. He also moonlights as a crisis mental health evaluator for Aspen Pointe Mental Health Center.
Command Sgt. Maj. Montoya is married to Trisha Montoya and has one daughter Arianna. They live in Colorado Springs, CO.