Command Sergeant Major Robert T. Priest is a native of Lafayette, Indiana. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in July 1984 and served as a Rifleman aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Ranger CV-61 with Bravo Company 1ST Battalion 6th Marine Infantry Regiment. He was honorably discharged December 1989 and immediately entered the United States Army Reserve. Command Sergeant Major Priest’s combined active and reserve service exceeds 35 years. He has served in numerous positions in the generating and operating force that include assignments as an Operations Sergeant Major, 1st Simulation Exercise Group (Battle Command Staff Training); Operations Sergeant Major (CJ3), Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan; Joint Senior Enlisted Leader (Sergeant Major), United States Joint Forces Command; Sergeant Major, Combined Joint Task Force-82 (82nd Airborne Division), Joint Task Force Paladin-Afghanistan (Counter-IED); CSM, 450th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne); CSM, 489th Civil Affairs Battalion (Afghanistan); CSM, 354th Civil Affairs Brigade; CSM, 98th Training Division (IET) and CSM, 108th Training Command (IET).
His mobilizations and campaigns include Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm (Homeland-Drill Sergeant), Operation Noble Eagle (Homeland), Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan and multiple global cross-functional team deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism. While serving as the Battalion Command Sergeant Major for the 489th Civil Affairs Battalion, the battalion deployed to Afghanistan and conducted stability and counter-insurgency combat operations earning the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Department of State Benjamin Franklin Award.
CSM Priest graduated from the US Marine Corps NCO Leadership School (BLC Equivalent), BNCOC, ANCOC, the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy Class 54 (Resident) and the Nominative Leader Course (NLC). He has also graduated from the Drill Sergeant Course, Master Fitness Trainer Course, First Sergeants Course, Joint Firepower Controller Course (Tactical Air Operations), Airborne School, Air Assault School, the National Security Course-National Defense University, the Army Force Management Course, the Army Legal Orientation Course and the Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I & II Course.
His awards and honors include the Joint Meritorious Unit Award (2nd AWD), Meritorious Unit Commendation; Navy-Marine Corps Meritorious Unit Commendation; Navy Battle Efficiency Unit Award; Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal (3rd AWD); Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Combat Infantry Badge (CIB), Expert Infantry Badge (EIB); German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency-Gold; Excellence in Competition Badge Bronze-Rifle; Australian Airborne Wings; the 1999 TRADOC Ralph E. Haines Jr. Outstanding Drill Sergeant of the Year Award; Department of State-Meritorious Honor Award and the prestigious Infantry Order of Saint Maurice Medallion.
His education includes a Master Degree in Adult Education and Human Development from the George Washington University, a Graduate Certificate in Security, Stability and Development in Complex Operations, from the Naval Post Graduate School; and a Bachelor Degree in Organizational Leadership from Purdue University. He is employed as a Department of the Army Civilian (Live-Training) for the TRADOC Proponent Office (TPO) Force on Force Training, Army Training Support Center at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA.
He is married, has two children and six grandchildren. His son Staff Sergeant Kameron T. Priest serves as a Ranger in the 75th Ranger Regiment. His daughter Sage B. Priest is a hospice care nurse in Lafayette, Indiana.