Commander
Col. Walt Reed
Col. Walt Reed is a career Armor officer from Toms River, NJ with command and leadership experience in all three of the Army’s Brigade Combat Team formations.
Col. Reed has spent much of his career in the Pacific, punctuated by combat tours in Iraq with the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry, 3rd Brigade 2nd Infantry Division (SBCT) and as a Tank Company Commander in the 1st Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (ABCT) in Afghanistan. He also spent time in Europe as an Olmsted Scholar.
He has completed joint assignments on the Army Staff (G3-5-7), the Joint Staff (J5), and as a United Nations Peacekeeper in Jerusalem, Israel. Following his time on the Joint Staff, Col. Reed commanded the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (IBCT) and served as the Assistant Chief of Staff- G-3/5/7 for the 25th Infantry Division and U.S. Army Hawaii.
Col. Reed is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, the Universidad de Cádiz, and is a distinguished graduate of the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC), the Bronze Star (1 OLC), the Combat Action badge, Parachutist badge, Navy SCUBA badge, Ranger tab, the Joint Staff identification badge, and the Army Staff badge.
He completed his most recent assignment as the Regionally Aligned Readiness and Modernization Model Division Chief and Chief of Staff for the Training Directorate of the HQDA G-3/5/7 in the summer of 2026.
Command Sergeant Major
CSM William J. Thacker
Command Sgt. Maj. William J. Thacker entered the Army and graduated from One Station Unit Training at Fort Knox, KY, as a Tank Crewman.
Command Sgt. Maj. Thacker’s previous assignments include: Tank Driver/Gunner, L Troop, 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment, Fort Carson, CO; Tank Commander/Section Sergeant, D Company, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, Fort Carson; Senior Drill Sergeant, E Company, 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, Fort Jackson, SC; Platoon Sergeant/First Sergeant, D Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, Fort Bliss, TX; First Sergeant, C Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, Fort Bliss, TX; First Sergeant, HHC, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, Fort Bliss, TX; First Sergeant, HHC, 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, TX; Operations Sergeant Major, 5th Squadron, 15th Cavalry Regiment, Fort Benning, GA; Operations Sergeant Major, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA; Command Sergeant Major, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armored Regiment, Fort Riley, KS.
His military and civilian education includes all levels of the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development System and is a graduate of the Sergeants Major Course, Class 71. He is also a graduate of the Drill Sergeant School, Battle Staff, Common Faculty Development Instructor Course, and Battalion Pre-Command Course. He holds a bachelor’s degree in human resource management from Excelsior College as well as a bachelor’s degree in leadership and Workforce Development from Command and General Staff College. Command Sgt. Maj. Thacker is currently pursuing a master’s degree.
Command Sgt. Maj. Thacker’s awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal (6 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (5 OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal (7 Knots), the National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal (4 Stars), the Global War Expeditionary Medal, the Global War Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (5), the Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon (5), Expert Infantry Badge, Combat Action Badge, Driver Badge Wheel and Track, the Order of Saint George “Bronze Medallion,” and the order of Saint Maurice “Legionnaire Medallion.” His permanent unit awards include the Valorous Unit Award and the Army Superior Unit Award.