Command Sergeant Major
James B. Kendrick
Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Florida National Guard
Command Senior Enlisted Leader of the Florida National Guard, Senior Enlisted Advisor for Major General John D. Haas, Adjutant General of Florida.
Command Sergeant Major Kendrick enlisted in the Army in 1989 as a Combat Engineer and attended Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. Upon completion, he served with the 9th Engineer Battalion in Aschaffenburg, Germany. While assigned with the 9th Engineer Battalion, he deployed in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. After completing the deployment and his active duty tour, he transitioned to the Florida National Guard.
In 1993, Command Sergeant Major Kendrick volunteered for duty as an Explosive OrdnanceDisposal Technician, and served with the 221st Ordnance Company (EOD) where he advancedthrough the ranks to the position of First Sergeant. In 2006, as First Sergeant, he deployed with the 221st Ordnance Company (EOD) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, coordinating multiple explosive ordnance disposal teams operating in Kuwait, Iraq, and Qatar.
He was selected for promotion to Sergeant Major in 2008 and transferred to the Joint Force Headquarters for the Florida National Guard. At the Joint Force Headquarters, he served as the G3 (Operations and Training) Directorate SGM and G1 (Military Personnel) SGM. In 2013, he was selected for appointment to Command Sergeant Major, assigned to the 211th Regiment, Regional Training Institute, and served as Commandant for the Noncommissioned Officer Academy. Additional leadership tours include serving as Command Sergeant Major for the 753d Brigade Engineer Battalion, Command Sergeant Major for the 83d Troop Command, and State Command Sergeant Major for the Florida Army National Guard.
Command Sergeant Major Kendrick is a graduate of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, Non-Resident Course (Class 36). Additional military education includes the Force Integration Course for Senior Leaders, Nominative Leader Course, National Defense University's Reserve Component National Security Course, and the Keystone Command Senior Enlisted Leader Course. His civilian education includes a Bachelor of Science in General Studies from Charter Oak State College and a Master of Science in Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4th Award), Army Commendation Medal (4th Award), Army Achievement Medal (7th Award), Southwest Asia Service Medal (2nd Award), Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Florida Distinguished Service Medal (3rd Award), Valorous Unit Award, Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge, and French Armed Forces Commando Badge. He is a recipient of the Ordnance Association's Order of Samuel Sharpe.