Born in Texarkana, Texas, Command Sergeant Major R. Travis Ransom enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) in May 1997 as a 97B intelligence Soldier. Continually expanding his knowledge and skill set within the intel community, he attended several intelligence courses, to include Joint Human Intelligence (HUMINT) Analysis and Targeting Course, Joint Source Validation Course, Defense HUMINT Advanced Tradecraft Course, John Reid Advanced Interrogation Course, Intelligence in Combatting Terrorism Course, the Counterintelligence Agent Course, and others.
Command Sergeant Major Ransom’s senior leadership journey in the USAR began when he was assigned as the First Sergeant for Bravo Company, 321st Military Intelligence Battalion in Dallas, Texas. Once promoted, he served as Sergeant Major at PACOM, Army Reserve Element at Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. Finally, as a Command Sergeant Major, Ransom’s assignments included Command Sergeant Major of the 752d Military Intelligence Battalion (Army Reserve Operational Counterintelligence Activity) at Fort Meade, Maryland; Command Sergeant Major of the 321st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Battalion in Orlando, Florida; and Command Sergeant Major of the Army Reserve Operational Group (AROG) at JBSA. He was most recently assigned to the 505th Military Intelligence Brigade (Theater) as the Command Sergeant Major.
Throughout his 28 years of service, he has been mobilized and deployed multiple times in support of peacekeeping and contingency operations around the world including Bosnia in support of Operation Joint Forge, the EUCOM area of responsibility, Southeast Asia, Afghanistan, and CONUS in support of Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Resolute Support.
Academically, Ransom has earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science from Texas A&M-University-Texarkana and attended military leadership courses, such as Sergeants Major Academy course; Battalion and Brigade Pre-Command Courses; Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, and Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer Course.
The most notable awards and decorations Ransom has earned include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (4 OLC), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (8th Award), National Defense Service Ribbon (w/1 Bronze Service Star), Kosovo Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Ribbon, and the Military Intelligence Corps Association Colonel Thomas Knowlton Award.
Ransom currently lives in Atlanta, Texas with his wife Emily and three children and serves his community as the Cass County Judge and is a licensed commercial insurance agent. In his off time, he volunteers as the Second Vice District Governor for the Lions Club, serves on the executive board for the ARK-TEX Council of Governments and on the advisory board for the Caddo Area Council Boys Scouts of America.