Command Team

Lieutenant Colonel Julie Austin was born and raised in Fuquay- Varina North Carolina. She joined ROTC as a Cadet at The Citadel. She commissioned from The Citadel and graduated with a degree in sports management in 2006. Her military education includes the Military Police Officer Basic and Captain’s Career Courses, Airborne School, Jumpmaster Course, Pathfinder Course, Antiterrorism Officer Advanced Course, Foundation Instructor Facilitator Course, Conventional Physical Security, Crime Prevention Course, How the Army Runs, and the Naval War College. 

Upon completion of the Officer Basic Course, LTC Austin’s first assignment was at Fort Campbell, KY with the 194^th Military Police Company, 716^th Military Police Battalion from 2006-2011 as a Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer. She deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Upon redeployment, she was assigned as the Battalion Training Officer, 716^th Military Police Battalion.  In 2011, she attended the Military Police Captain’s Career Course while attending the career course she also earned a Master of Arts in Organizational Security Management from Webster University.

Upon completion, she was assigned to 16^th Military Police Brigade, Fort Liberty NC as the Brigade Operations Officer.  She assumed command of the 65^th Military Police Company from 2012-2014 where her unit won the FORSCOM Eagle Award as the best Military Police Company in FORSCOM. After Company Command, LTC Austin was selected as a small group leader for the Military Police Captain’s Career Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. In 2016, LTC Austin attended the Naval War College in Newport, RI earning a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies.

In 2017, LTC Austin was assigned as the Battalion Operations Officer (S3) and later the Executive Officer (XO) for 716^th Military Police Battalion on Fort Campbell, KY. Upon completion of her MAJ KD assignments, she attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City and earned a Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology. She was then assigned to the Pentagon in the Office of the Provost Marshall General where she served as the Executive officer to the PMG. Following that assignment, she was assigned to HQDA G 3/5/7 Force Management Division (G37) as the Military Police Organizational Integrator.

LTC Austin’s awards and decorations include Bronze Star, Army Meritorious Service Medal (4OLC), Army Commendation Medal (2OLC), Army Achievement Medal (2OLC), National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (2 Campaign stars), the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon (Numeral 2), the Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, the Pathfinder Badge and Army Staff Identification Badge. 

LTC Austin is married to Katie Austin, and they have two children Skylee (8) and Atlas (12 months).  

1st Sgt. Chyna L. Ruffin

Acting Command Sergeant Major, Headquarters Battalion

First Sergeant (1SG) Chyna L. Ruffin is a native of Crestview, Florida.  She enlisted in the U.S. Army in September 2007 and completed both Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina where she was awarded the Military Occupation Specialty of 42A – Human Resources (HR) Specialist. As an HR professional, 1SG Ruffin began her career as a Postal clerk with the 111th AG Postal Company in Vicenza Italy, before transitioning to the 14th Transportation Battalion as an HR Specialist. She later served with the 14th Combat Support Hospital, Ft. Benning, GA continuing in her role as an HR Specialist.  Advancing in leadership, 1SG Ruffin took on the role as the Battalion S1 Noncommissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) with the 36th Signal Battalion at Camp Walker, South Korea.  She was then nominated for assignment with the Army Field Support Center, Ft. Meade, MD as a Senior HR NCO, and later became the Military Personnel Division NCOIC.  From there she served at the Human Resources Command Ft. Knox, KY as the Special Operations Branch NCOIC within the Special Management Division.   Following that assignment, she was selected to serve with the Department of the Army G1 Integrated Personnel and Pay System – Army (IPPS-A) as a functional capability manager.  She then transitioned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon Washington, DC serving as the J1 Senior Human Resources Manager.  1SG Ruffin has deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2008-2010) and Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan (2012-2013).

1SG Ruffin’s military education includes Basic Leaders Course (DHG), Advanced Leaders Course (CL), Senior Leaders Course, Master Leaders Course, Combat Lifesaver Course, Postal Operations Course, Commanders total fitness Course, Field Sanitation Course, Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Course, Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape (SERE), HR Plans and Operations, and Operations Security program manager Course. 1SG Ruffin holds an Associate of Arts from the University of Maryland Global Campus and is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Learning at the University of Louisville.

 1SG Ruffin’s awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (1OLC), Army Commendation Medal (4OLC), Army Achievement Medal (6OLC), Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Good Conduct Medal (5th Award), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 3), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (Numeral 3), NATO Medal, Joint Staff Identification Badge, Army Staff Badge and the Major General Horatio Gates Medal (Bronze).

1SG Ruffin is married to Mr. Wallace Ruffin Jr. (Army Ret.) and together they have two children: Kaleesi (9), Wallace Ruffin III (4).