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Leadership

Battalion Commander,  LTC Pope

Lieutenant Colonel French D. Pope III is from Germantown, Maryland and received his commission into the Engineer Corps after graduation from McDaniel College (formerly Western Maryland College) in 2004. LTC Pope served as a Sapper Platoon Leader from 2005-6 in RC-East Afghanistan, Light Equipment Platoon Leader from 2006-7, and Executive Officer from 2007-8 in Bravo (Bushmaster) Company of the 37TH Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Airborne) in Fort Liberty.

After completion of the Engineer Captains Career Course, LTC Pope was assigned to the 1ST Brigade Combat Team (BCT), 10TH Mountain Division in 2010. He served as the Assistant Brigade Logistics Officer for Contracting, responsible for Forward Operations Base expansion contracts and redeploying the Brigade from RC-North Afghanistan. LTC Pope then took command of Alpha Company, 1ST Brigade Special Troops Battalion from 2011-12 then the Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) 1ST BCT from 2012-13. French deployed to Afghanistan for a third time as a Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mayor of FOB Arian responsible for over 1,500 US Forces, civilians and contractors.

LTC Pope then completed the Command and General Staff College. LTC Pope served as the Deputy G33 for Current Operations in Headquarters United States Corps of Engineers (USACE) in Washington, DC from 2014-17. He then served as the Battalion Operations Officer and Executive Officer in the 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power) in Fort Belvoir, VA from 2017-19. Prior to assuming duties as the Aide-De-Camp to The Inspector General, LTC Pope completed a 90-Day Service Chief Fellowship at the Defense Advanced Research and Programs Agency (DARPA) and served as the Assistant Professor of Military Science at The Johns Hopkins University in 2019. LTC Pope served as the Aide De Camp to The 66th Inspector General of the U.S. Army in 2020. He continued to serve in the Pentagon from 2020-2023 on the Joint Staff as a Special Events Manager and a Presidential Strike Advisor in the National Military Command Center.    

LTC Pope holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from McDaniel College, a Master of Science in Engineer Management from the Missouri University of Science and Technology and a Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Howard University. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 4 Stars, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Ranger Tab, Sapper Tab, Senior Parachutist Airborne Badge, Air Assault Badge, the Legionnaire Order of the Saint Maurice and Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal.

Battalion Command Sergeant Major, CSM Wilkens

CSM Corey D. Wilkens is a native of Tama, IA. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in May 2002 as a Combat Engineer. 

He attended Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. 

CSM Wilkens is currently the Battalion Command Sergeant Major of 27th Engineer Battalion (Airborne), 20th Engineer Brigade. He has served as a Combat Engineer, Team Leader, Squad Leader, Sapper Leader Course instructor and Subject Matter Expert (SME), Division Facilities Manager, Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, and a Battalion and Brigade Operations Sergeant Major.

His stateside assignments include Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Hood, Texas and Fort Bliss, Texas. He has deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve and deployed for multiple tours to Afghanistan.

CSM Wilkens' military education includes Airborne School, Sapper Leader Course, Ranger School, Warrior Leader Course, Army Instructor Training Course, Jumpmaster School, Advanced Leader Course, Pathfinder School, Recon and Surveillance Leader Course, Combatives Level I and II, Systems Approach to Training Course, Army Test Development Course, Senior Leader Course, Battle Staff NCO Course, and the US Army Sergeants Major Course. His civilian education includes a high school diploma from South Tama County High School, 120 semester hours towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Project Management from Purdue Global University, and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute.     

CSM Wilkens’ awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (2^nd Award), Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (10th award), Army Achievement Medal (7^th Award), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (3 CS), Iraq Campaign Medal (1CS), Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal (1CS), Master Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Ranger Tab, Sapper Tab, the Department of State Superior Honor Award, and Italian Jump Wings.

CSM Wilkens resides in Sanford, NC with his wife Laura, and his five children: Makaela, Aidan, Madison, Sophia, and Ethan.

History

History 

Incoming Soldiers

Incoming Soldiers 

INPROCESSING 

Welcome to the 27th Engineer Battalion (Airborne)!

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