CW5 Kenneth M. Wash, Jr. assumed duties as the Command Chief Warrant Officer of the 377th Theater Sustainment Command in February 2018. The 377th TSC is the largest 2-Star Command in the Army with six General Officer subordinate commands comprised of 445 units and over 35K Soldiers and civilian employees stationed across 36 states. In addition to its command role, the 377th TSC is aligned with U.S. Southern Command, which oversees U.S. military interests in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Chief Wash began his Army career in 1979 with the 1/30th Infantry (MECH). In 1985, CW5 Wash joined the Army Reserve with the 936th Maintenance Company as the NCOIC of the Organizational Readiness Float (ORF) section.
In 1996, CW5 Wash was selected to attend Warrant Officer Candidate School at Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin. After graduation, Chief Wash performed as both an Automotive Repair Technician, 915A, and Engineer Equipment Repair Technician, 919A. From 2003 to 2005, he commanded the 739th Engineer Multi-Role Bridge Company as a CW3. In 2008, he deployed as the S4/Maintenance Officer of the 926 Engineer Brigade in Baghdad, Iraq and Camp Arifjan, Kuwait from Sep 2011 through Sep 2012 as the Battalion Signal Warrant Officer and PAO for the 821st Transportation Battalion. He also worked at the Office of the Chief, Army Reserve (OCAR) as a member of the CAR’s Studies Group for the development of the Army Reserve Public Private Partnership initiative (P3i), creating high end videos and enhanced graphics to promote P3i to senior leadership, congressional review, and for the OCAR and USARC staff from 2012 to 2014.
Once promoted to CW5 in 2014, Chief Wash became a member of the 416th TEC G4 staff. In 2016, CW5 Wash deployed to Iraq as a member of the 300TH SB as a lead advisor of th Maintenance Advise and Assist Team in support of the mission to defeat ISIS. In his role, he advised the Iraq EME Director and level 3 and 4 Commanders on proper methods of repair, parts acquisition, and engine rebuilding techniques as well as how to provide direct repair of diagnostic equipment and system updates. In February 2018, CW5 Wash was selected as the Command Chief Warrant Officer of the 377TH Theater Sustainment Command headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana.
As a civilian, Mr. Wash pursued the profession of automotive repair technician culminating in a 25-year career in the civilian automotive repair industry and attaining the prestigious title of Master Automotive Technician and earning the Automotive Service Award for Excellence. Mr. Wash’s scope of responsibilities included the management of a large civilian automotive repair facility, served as a professional automotive insurance fraud and theft investigator, subject matter expert, and a professional technical witness for multiple insurance companies. Mr. Wash joined the DOD team in 2010, becoming an Area Maintenance Support Activity (AMSA) Repairer, Inspector, and currently work as the Work Lead/Supervisor of AMSA 159-G BMA in Granite City, Illinois.
Chief Wash’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit award, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (2OLC), Army Commendation Medal (2OLC), National Defense Service Medal, GWOT Expeditionary Medal and Iraq Campaign Medal w/Campaign Star.
CW5 Wash is an accomplished author having written and published two novels, The Final Defense and Flags of Vengeance. He has been married for 32 years to his wife and boss, Jean, and has four grown children aged 18 to 29. He and wife currently reside in St. Louis, Missouri.