Command Sergeant Major
James C. McKinney, US Army

Command Sergeant Major James C. McKinney

U.S. Army, Retired

Inducted 2023

James C. McKinney was born November 3, 1950 in Monticello, Florida, and enlisted in the U.S. Army in July 1968. He completed Basic Training at Ft Benning and Advanced Individual Training as a Field Artilleryman at Fort Sill. His Army career spanned over thirty years, and he served in all Non-Commissioned Officer leadership positions. He attained the rank of Command Sergeant Major and served in that capacity for more than twelve years. He is a graduate of the US Army Sergeants Major Academy and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from the University of Maryland. Before becoming the CSM of TRADOC, he was CSM Army Europe, 7th Army, the Field Artillery Center and School, Seventh Army Training Command, Grafenwohr, the Schwienfurt Military Community and the 2nd Battalion, 41st FA. He served as a 1SG in 2nd Battalion, 10th Field Artillery at Fort Benning and the 2nd Battalion, 78th FA, Bamberg. He also served two tours in the Republic of Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division Artillery. During the last 10 years of his career, he took the lead in articulating the need for strong and decisive improvements to current methods of developing and mentoring NCOs in all the NCO Academies as well as the Sergeants Major Academy. While serving as the CSM of the Field Artillery, he was an inspirational, charismatic leader whose love of soldiering and vision of Fire Support for the 21st Century have been reflected throughout the FA community. CSM McKinney was directly involved with the Soldiers Command Improvement Program which improved the living conditions at all installations within TRADOC. His exemplary contributions, coupled with tireless devotion to duty and strong love of country and Soldiers will have a lasting and positive impact. He was also credited with focusing the NCO Corps on change; changing the way the Army does business, benefiting Soldiers, Families and the Army.  Throughout his career as an NCO, CSM McKinney mentored the Officers around him, sharing first person experience and knowledge for their use as desired. This was particularly useful for the commanders with whom he teamed at all levels - Battery through TRADOC. At his retirement from Active Duty CSM McKinney was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. His other awards include the Legion of Merit 1OLC, Meritorious Service Medal 3OLC, Army Commendation Medal 2OLC, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 4 and Army Service Ribbon. Additionally, he is a recipient of the Ancient and Honorable Order of St Barbara and the Honorable Order of St George. Upon retiring, he continued to serve men and women in the Army and their Families as a Civil Servant working as a project and program manager for the Binary Group where he managed a 250 person Army Program Management Support Contract. Most recently, in June 2021, he was inducted into the Non-Commissioned Officers Leadership Center of Excellence at the Sergeants Major Academy Hall of Heroes.