Colonel Ernest T. Parker became the commander of the 83rd United States Army Reserve Readiness Training Center, Fort Knox, Kentucky, on August 23, 2013. The USARRTC develops and delivers world-class, learner centric education and training for Soldiers and Civilians in Leader, Functional, and Duty MOS Qualification Programs of Instruction. Prior to this assignment, he served as the Chief of Public Affairs at the United States Army Reserve Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Colonel Parker was born at Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota. He graduated from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 1988 where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree and was commissioned through ROTC as a Quartermaster officer. He holds a Master of Arts Degree from Texas Christian University and was a 2010-2011 National Security Fellow at Harvard University. He is a Logistics Officer and a qualified Public Affairs Officer. Colonel Parker’s command assignments include Company B, 302nd Forward Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Republic of Korea from 1993 to 1995 and 3rd Battalion, 338th Regiment, 205th Infantry Brigade, Camp Atterbury Joint Forces Maneuver Training Center, Indiana, from 2008 to 2010. Colonel Parker’s key staff assignments include S4, Headquarters Detachment, 724th Main Support Battalion, 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Stewart, Georgia; Division Class IX Accountable Officer, Division Material Management Center, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Republic of Korea; Aide de Camp, Headquarters Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Dallas, Texas; Director of Media Plans and Marketing, Department of Defense 50th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration Committee, Arlington, Virginia; Logistics Staff Officer, Headquarters Department of the Army, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G4, Washington, DC; Chief, National Outreach, Office of the Chief, Army Reserve, Washington, DC; and Chief, Public Affairs, United States Army Reserve Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Colonel Parker’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Southwest Asia Campaign Medal with 3 bronze service stars, Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars, Korean Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Staff Identification Badge, Air Assault Badge, Parachutist Badge, and others. Colonel Parker is married to Edna and they have two daughters, 13 and 7 years old.