54TH BRIGADE ENGINEER BATTALION COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR

173RD Airborne Brigade Commander

COL Ken Burgess received his commission through ROTC as a Distinguished Military Graduate from James Madison University, Harrison, VA in 1997. He previously commanded the 2nd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington, and 1st Battalion, 325 Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division Ft. Bragg, NC. From Joint Staff as an Africa Counterterrorism Operations Officer and Executive Assistant to the Deputy Director for the Special Operations and Counterterrorism (DDSO/CT), J37. The Chairmen of Joint Chiefs of Staff awarded him the 2013 Joint Staff Action Officer of the Year. Throughout his career, COL Burgess served in multiple leadership and staff positions, including two Company Commands in the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, and a tour in the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized). He has numerous combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. COL Ken Burgess is a recent Distinguished Graduate from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, PA, with a Master of Strategic Studies and he holds a Master of Science Degree in Defense Analysis (Special Operations and Low Intensity conflict) from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA. COL Ken Burgess is married to the former Amy Schroeder of Maryland Line, Maryland and has two wonderful children, Grey (11), and Ella (8). He is the son of Captain (USN ret) Kenneth and Evelyn Burgess of Broad Run, Virginia.

Col. Kenneth Burgess
173RD Airborne Brigade, Brigade Commander

173RD Airborne Brigade Sergeant Major

CSM Christopher D. Clapin entered active duty service on 7 January, 1998. His first duty assignment was with Alpha Company, 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, GA where he served in every duty position from Rifleman through Rife Platoon Sergeant.

CSM Clapin’s previous assignments include: Air Operations NCO, 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment; Rifle Platoon Sergeant, Alpha Company, 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment; Liaison NCO, HQ, 75th Ranger Regiment; Special Operations Forces Exchange Non-Commissioned Officer, United Kingdom; Operations NCO, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment; First Sergeant, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment; First Sergeant, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment; Operations Sergeant Major, 75th Ranger Regimental Special Troops Battalion; Command Sergeant Major, 75th Ranger Regimental Military Intelligence Battalion; and Command Sergeant Major, 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.

CSM Clapin’s awards and decorations include the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Ranger Tab, the Master Parachutist’s Badge with Combat Star, the Bronze Star Medal w/5 OLC, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal w/4 OLC, the Joint Service Commendation Medal w/OLC, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Commendation Medal w/2 Silver OLC, the Army Good Conduct Medal (7th Award), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/3 campaign stars, the Iraq Campaign Medal w/4 Campaign Stars, the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal w/Bronze Arrowhead, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon w/numeral 5, the Overseas Service Ribbon (6th Award), and the NATO Medal. Since October 2001, CSM Clapin has deployed 17 times in support of numerous combat operations across the CENTCOM AOR.

CSM Clapin is a graduate of the United States Special Operations Command Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy (JSOFSEA), the U.S. Army Sergeant’s Major Course, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from Eastern Washington University. CSM Clapin is married to Mrs. Jane Clapin of Taunton, MA.

CSM Christopher D. Clapin
173RD Airborne Brigade, Brigade Command Sergeant Major

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CSM Powers

Command Sergeant Major Anthony D. Powers Jr. was born in Jacksonville, FL on 3 November 1980. He enlisted in the United States Army on 4 November 1999. He completed One Unit Station Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, earning the military occupational specialty 12B, Combat Engineer. Command Sergeant Major Powers is married to Mallory Powers and has three children: son Brayden and daughters Anabelle and Faith.

Command Sergeant Major Powers has served as a driver, sapper, machine gunner team leader, squad leader, small group leader, platoon sergeant, first sergeant, operations sergeant, operations sergeant major, and USACE district sergeant major.

Command Sergeant Major Powers’ units of assignments include Bravo Company, 11th Engineer Battalion, Fort Stewart, Georgia; Charlie Company, 27^th Engineer Battalion, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Bravo Company, 27^th Engineer Battalion, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Engineer Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; 264^th Clearance Company, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Senior Leaders Course, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; 618^th Engineer Company, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 27^th Engineer Battalion, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; United States Army Sergeants Major, Fort Bliss, TX; and Afghanistan District United States Corps of Engineers, Bagram Afghanistan. Command Sergeant Major Powers also multiple deployments to Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Command Sergeant Major Powers’ military training and civilian education includes Basic Airborne School, Sapper Leader Course, Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course, Combat Life Saver Course, Advanced Noncommissioned Officers Course, Course, Jumpmaster Course, Route Clearance and Reconnaissance Leaders Course, Counter Explosive Hazards Planners Course, Basic Army Instructor Course, and the United States Army Sergeants Major Course (Class 69). Command Sergeant Major Powers earned an Associate’s Degree and Bachelor’s from Excelsior Collage and a Bachelor’s Degree from the Commanding General Staff College. He is currently in a Master’s Degree Program with Western Kentucky University.

Command Sergeant Major Powers’ awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal (1OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (DMSM), Meritorious Service Medal (2OLC), Joint Service Commendation Medal (with “C” Device), Army Commendation Medal (3OLC), Army Achievement Medal (3OLC), Good Conduct Medal (6^th Award), National Defense Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal (with Bronze Service Star), Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars), Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 3), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (Numeral 4), NATO Medal (with Bronze Star), and a Meritorious Unit Commendation. He has also been Awarded the Combat Action Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, German Parachutist Badge, Sapper Tab, Drivers Badge (Wheeled), Drivers Badge (Tracked), and the Basic Army Instructors Badge. Command Sergeant Major Powers is also a recipient of the Bronze DeFlurey Medal.