First Sergeant Desmond M. Burgess is a native of Lake City, South Carolina. He enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2003 as a 25U1O serving in multiple leadership positions throughout his career. He began his career as a Radio Transmitter Operator for 854th Engineer Battalion, Kingston, New York, July 2003, Information Management Officer for the 408th Personnel Services Battalion, Fort Totten, New York Sep 2005, during which he deployed several times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom under the following campaigns; Iraqi Governance (Sep 2005 – Dec 2005), National Resolution (Dec 2005 – Dec 2006) Iraqi Surge (June 2008 – Dec 2008) and Iraqi Sovereignty (Jan 2009 – July 2009), following the deployment he served as a Harris, SINCGARS, Blue Force Tracker, and MBITR instructor to over 4500 deploying service members under 174th Infantry Brigade, Fort Dix New Jersey (Apr 2010 – Mar 2011), As an Operations NCOIC and S-6 for 3rd Battalion 312th Regiment Training Support Battalion, Fort Meade, Maryland (Apr 2011 – Sep 2013), Signal Support Systems Chief for 352nd Civil Affairs Command G6, Signal Support Systems Chief for the 200th Military Police Command G6, and previous assignment as the Communication Chief for 773rd Civil Support Team WMD, Kaiserslautern, Germany.
1SG Burgess’s military education includes: Warrior Leadership Course, Advance Leadership Course, Senior Leadership Course, Battle Staff NCO, SHARP, The University of Foreign Military and Cultural Studies Red Team Member Course, Master Resiliency Trainer, Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I & II, Army Basic Instructor Course, Civil Support Skills Course, Unified Command Suite Operator Course, DTMS, ATRRS, The O/CT Academy, Training Management Course, Company Commanders & First Sergeant Pre-Command Course, Commandant’s Pre-Command Course, and Physical Security Basic Course.
1SG Burgess has completed a Master’s Degree of Science in Kinesiology and a Master’s Degree of Science in Information Assurance. He is also an active member as Ambassador for American Public University System, Golden Key International Honor Society, and Signal Corp Regimental Association (SCRA) in which he has been awarded the Bronze Order of Mercury.
1SG Burgess awards/decorations include: the Meritorious Service Medal 4th Award, Army Commendation Medal 2nd award, Army Achievement Medal 7th award, Army Good Conduct Medal 3rd award, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal 2 Stars, and Combat Action Badge 2nd Award.
1SG Burgess is a husband to the ever so supportive Mrs. LaQuita S. Burgess.