Jeffrey W. Talley

Jeffrey W. Talley
32nd Chief of Army Reserve and Commander, United States Army Reserve Command
In office June 9, 2012 – June 1, 2016
Preceded by	Jack C. Stultz
Succeeded by	Charles D. Luckey
Personal details
Born	(1959-09-27) 27 September 1959 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Spouse	Linda R. Hall (m. 1981)
Alma mater	Louisiana State Univ. (BS) Assumption College (MA) Washington University in St. Louis (MLA) Johns Hopkins Univ (MSE) Carnegie Mellon Un (PhD) U.S. Army War College (MSS) University of Oxford (EMBA)
Awards	Dist. Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal (3) Meritorious Svc Med (4) Joint Service Commendation Medal Commendation Med (2) Silver De Fleury Medal Army Achievement Med Reserve Component Achievement Med National Defense Service Medal Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Iraq Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Korea Defense Service Medal Armed Forces Reserve Medal Army Service Ribbon Overseas Svc Ribbon (3) Army Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon (2) Armed Forces Reserve Medal Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army Corps of Engineers
Years of service	1981-2016
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands	US Army Res Cmd (Fort Bragg, NC) 84th Division (Fort Knox, KY) 926th Engineer Bde, 4th Infantry Div (U.S. Forces Iraq) 926th Engineer Group (Montgomery, AL) 365th Engineer Battalion (Schuylkill Haven, PA) B Company, 44th Engineer Battalion, 8th Army (U.S. Forces Korea)
Battles/wars	Operation Iraqi Freedom (Kuwait/Southern Iraq) Operation Enduring Freedom (Baghdad/Sadr City, Iraq)

Jeffrey W. Talley (born September 27, 1959) is a retired three-star general in the United States Army. During his almost 35 years of active and reserve military service, he led Soldiers at every level, while also establishing himself in civilian life as an accomplished academic and business leader. In 2012, Talley was appointed by the President to serve as the 32nd Chief of Army Reserve (CAR) and Commanding General of the United States Army Reserve Command (USARC), an organization of approximately 215,000 Soldiers and civilians, 134 general officers and senior executives, with an annual operating budget of approximately $9 billion, and activities in over 30 countries, including all states and territories. His unique military and civilian contributions were recognized by the U.S. Senate on June 28, 2016, with Tribute to Lieutenant General Jeffrey W. Talley, as reflected in the congressional record, on the occasion of his retirement from the Army.

Immediately after his military retirement, Talley joined the International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation where he serves as Vice President, Global Public Sector, and Global Fellow, IBM Center for The Business of Government. He also holds a faculty appointment as a Professor of the Practice in the Price School of Public Policy and the Viterbi School of Engineering, and Scholar-in-Residence, Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors for BluMetric, a diverse water earth, and energy company.

Prior to his current appointments, Talley's career transitioned back and forth between academic, business, and government positions. Academic positions held were Assistant Professor (tenure-track), Associate Professor (with tenure), Professor (with tenure), Department Chair, Endowed Chair, Institute Director, and Adjunct Professor; with faculty appointments at the University of Notre Dame, Southern Methodist University, and The Johns Hopkins University. Talley was also an Advanced Leadership Fellow and Cabot House Scholar-in-Residence at Harvard University. Business experiences range from President & CEO of Environmental Technology Solutions, a holding company in Arizona that owned multiple tech companies, to consulting services as an Associate for Malcolm Pirnie, a well-respected Architect-Engineering firm. Government service includes numerous military command and staff positions, and federal civil service with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Talley holds a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, an Executive MBA from the University of Oxford, England, an MSE from The Johns Hopkins University, an MLA from Washington University in St. Louis, an MSS from the U.S. Army War College, an MA from Assumption College, and an BS from Louisiana State University. He is a registered Professional Engineer (PE) in Environmental Engineering, a Board-Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE) in Sustainability, and a Diplomate, Water Resources Engineer (D.WRE).

Early life and family

Talley was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and moved at a young age to Northern Virginia. In 1977, he graduated from Yorktown High School in Arlington, Virginia. He attended Louisiana State University (LSU) on an Army ROTC Scholarship and was a Cadet of the Ole War Skul. His senior year, he was the Commander of Pershing Rifles Company D-16. He graduated LSU in 1981 as a Distinguished Military Graduate, receiving a Regular Army commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers.

As a cadet, Talley met Linda R. Hall of Mandeville, Louisiana. They dated throughout their undergraduate experience. They were married on campus in 1981 as he prepared to leave for his first duty assignment in the U.S. Army. Linda graduated from LSU in 1982 and joined him at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. Over the course of the next 35 years of active and reserve military service, they would move 26 times. They have three sons and a daughter, Christopher, Joshua, Matthew, and Ashley.

Military career

The Cadet Years (1978-1981)

Talley began his military career at Louisiana State University (LSU) on an Army ROTC Scholarship and was a Cadet of the Ole War Skul. As a cadet, he graduated from the U.S. Army Airborne School at Ft. Benning, Georgia and was Distinguished Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army Air Assault School at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. His senior year, he was the Commander of Pershing Rifles Company D-16 and an Officer in the Scabbard and Blade. He graduated from LSU in December of 1981 as a Distinguished Military Graduate, receiving a Regular Army commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (motto - Essayons - “Let us Try”).

The Regular Army (1981-1992)

Upon graduation and commissioning from LSU, Talley completed Engineer Officers Basic Course (EOBC) at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, and the U.S. Army Ranger School at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Afterwards, he reported to his first permanent duty assignment at Ft. Devens, Massachusetts, where he served with the 39^th Engineer Battalion (motto - “Fight, Build, & Destroy”) as 1^st Platoon Leader, Alpha Company, and later as Battalion Adjutant (S-1). Talley’s next assignment was with the St. Louis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where he worked in Construction Division on Lock & Dam 26 (Replacement), the largest civil works project in the U.S. at that time. Later, he would serve in both Engineering and Planning Divisions.

Following his assignment in St. Louis, Talley returned to Ft. Belvoir, VA for the Engineer Officers Advance Course (EOAC). Upon graduation, he volunteered to go to the Republic of Korea for an unaccompanied assignment with the 44^th Engineer Battalion (motto - “Builders of Freedom”), Eight U.S. Army (EUSA). After a short stint as Assistant Battalion Operations Officer (Assistant S-3) at Camp Mercer (vicinity Seoul), he took command of Bravo Company and Camp Nimble (Dongducheon), in support of 2^nd Infantry Division and its demilitarized zone (DMZ) mission.

After two years in Korea, Talley returned to the U.S. for Combined Arms Service Staff School (CAS3) at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where he worked in the Hazardous Toxic Radiological Waste (HTRW) Branch of Engineering Division. There, he supported the design and remediation of contaminated sites around the country, including the Times Beach Superfund project in Missouri, considered by many to be the most toxic site in America. In April of 1992, Talley resigned his Regular Army commission, leaving active duty as a senior Captain, and transferring to the U.S. Army Reserve.

The Army Reserve (1992-2012)

Talley’s first assignment in the Army Reserve was Assistant Operations Officer (Assistant S-3), 315^th Engineer Group (motto - “Building the Way”), New Cumberland Army Depot, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. In December of 1993, he was promoted to Major and subsequently serve as the Group’s Operations Officer (S-3). Following his assignment at the Group, he was assigned to the 365^th Engineer Battalion (motto - “Fast-Rugged”) in Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, where he served as the Battalion Operations Officer (S-3). While at the 365^th, he also graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC).

Talley relocated in April of 1996 to Vicksburg, Mississippi, to join the 412^th Engineer Command (motto - “Build to Serve”). While at the 412th, he served as the Commanding General’s personal Plans Officer, and later as Commandant. After two years in command, he returned to the 365^th Engineer Battalion to be the Battalion Executive Officer (XO), only to return to the 412^th Engineer Command a year later to serve as its Secretary General Staff (SGS). Selected early for battalion command, Major Talley left the 412^th Engineer Command in February of 1999 to take command of the 365^th Engineer Battalion. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in April of 2000.

While in battalion command, Talley was selected for Senior Service College, which he began through the U.S. Army War College’s (USAWC) Distance Education Program. Upon completion of command in February of 2002, Talley became the Deputy Operations Officer (Deputy G-3) at the 416^th Engineer Command (motto - “Serving by Building”) in Darien, Illinois. In December 2002, he was called to active duty and in February of 2003, he mobilized and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraq Freedom as Chief of Operations (CHOPS), 416^th Engineer Command, Coalition Joint Forces Land Component Command (CJFLCC). While in theater, Talley served as a critical staff officer for the planning and execution of hundreds of combat and construction missions throughout Kuwait and Iraq. He was awarded the Bronze Star. Upon his return, he resumed his studies at the  U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, receiving his diploma and Master of Strategic Studies (MSS) degree in July 2003.

Upon graduation from the U.S. Army War College, Talley served in the Pentagon as a Strategic Planner in the Deputy Directorate for the War on Terrorism, Strategic Plans & Policy Directorate (J-5), Joint Chiefs of Staff. Promoted to Colonel in February of 2005, he was subsequently reassigned to command the 926^th Engineer Group (motto - “Mission Above All”) in Montgomery, Alabama. The 926^th was the largest engineer group in the Total Army, with over 7,000 Soldiers scattered across multiple states. As part of an Army force structure change, the group was selected to reorganize and re-designate as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 926th Engineer Brigade. At that time, reserve brigades were one-star commands. Talley was selected to be its first General Officer and was promoted to Brigadier General in August of 2007.

In January 2008, Talley was called to active duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as Commander, 926th Engineer Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (motto - “Steadfast and Loyal), Multi-National Division - Baghdad and the Baghdad Provincial Engineer. While in Iraq, Talley is credited with developing a military and policy strategy widely referred to as “Engineering the Peace” that aimed to reduce violence in destabilized communities by rapidly rebuilding infrastructure, schools and hospitals. His work is credited with reducing violence and terrorism in the militia stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad, and he was awarded two Bronze Stars - one for his efforts in rebuilding Baghdad, and the other for meritorious achievement in combat during the January 2009 planning and execution of security operations for the Baghdad provincial elections.

Upon return from Iraq, Talley assumed command of the 84th Training Command (motto - “Strike Hard”) at Ft. Knox, Kentucky in June of 2009 and was promoted to Major General. At the 84^th, he was responsible for training and assessing the readiness of units through Combat Training Center-like exercises in preparation for their upcoming combat deployments. While in command, he also served on the Secretary of Defense's Reserve Forces Policy Board. On March 20, 2012, President Obama nominated Talley to be the Chief of Army Reserve and Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command. Talley relinquished command of the 84^th Training Command in April of 2012 and was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal. He was subsequently reassigned to the Office of Chief of Army Reserve (OCAR) at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. On May 3, 2012, Talley was confirmed by the Senate for appointment to the rank of Lieutenant General and assignment as the Chief of the Army Reserve and Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command.

Chief of Army Reserve and Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command (2012-2016)

Talley was appointed to the rank of Lieutenant General in the Regular Army on June 9, 2012, at a ceremony at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Immediately after his appointment, he assumed command of the U.S. Army Reserve Command (USARC) and was sworn in as the 32^nd Chief of Army Reserve. General Raymond T. Odierno, 38^th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, officiated the appointment, the change of command, and the swearing-in ceremonies.

As the Chief of the Army Reserve, Talley was the principal staff adviser to the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army on all Army Reserve Affairs. He developed Army Reserve budgets, training programs and policy decisions; managed the Army Reserve troop program units, individual mobilization augmentees, and the active guard/reserve program; and served as the appropriation director of all Army Reserve funds. As the Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command, Talley commanded all Army Reserve troops in the Continental U.S. and had administrative control over the Army Reserve troops overseas, with a total end strength of 205,000 Soldiers and over 12,000 civilians.

During Talley’s tenure, the Army Reserve mobilized over 62,000 Soldiers to over 30 countries, including continued support to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan; all while overcoming “unprecedented challenges, including the first reduction to the Reserve force since the end of the Korean War, severe budget cuts known as sequestration, a government shutdown and more. To improve the Army Reserve’s support to the Total Force, Talley developed the “Plan, Prepare and Provide” readiness model that placed Army Reserve Engagement Cells and Teams into every Army service component command and combatant command around the world. He also created the Reserve's Private Public Partnership program, which built partnerships with civilian companies and organizations and helps Soldiers and their families find employment or advance their careers in the private sector.

Talley relinquished command to General Robert B. "Abe" Abrams, the commanding general of U.S. Army Forces Command, on June 1, 2016, at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.

Retirement from the U.S. Army

Talley retired from the U.S. Army on June 30, 2016 at the rank of Lieutenant General, having served almost 35 years in active and reserve assignments. Talley and his wife Linda were honored at a Special Retirement Review at Conmy Hall at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia. The ceremony was conducted by the 3^rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) and hosted by General Mark A. Milley, 39^th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. Talley was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal.

Dates of rank

Rank	Date
Second Lieutenant	December 19, 1981
First Lieutenant	June 19, 1983
Captain	August 1, 1985
Major	December 18, 1993
Lieutenant Colonel	April 12, 2000
Colonel	February 17, 2005
Brigadier General	August 13, 2007
Major General	June 19, 2009
Lieutenant General	June 9, 2012

Medals and ribbons

Military Decorations Army Distinguished Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster) Legion of Merit Bronze Star (with oak leaf cluster) Meritorious Service Medal (with three oak leaf clusters) Joint Service Commendation Medal Army Commendation Medal (with oak leaf cluster) Army Achievement Medal (with three oak leaf clusters) Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with four oak leaf clusters) National Defense Service Medal Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Iraq Campaign Medal (with Campaign Star) Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Korea Defense Service Medal Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with oak leaf cluster) Army Service Ribbon Army Overseas Service Ribbon (3) Army Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon (2) Armed Forces Reserve Medal Meritorious Unit Commendation Basic Parachutist Badge Air Assault Badge Ranger Tab Army Staff Identification Badge Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge 926 Engineer Brigade Shoulder Sleeve Insignia worn as his Combat Service Identification Badge 926 Engineer Brigade Distinctive Unit Insignia 3 Overseas Service Bars

External links

• U.S. Army Senior Leader Bio. "Lieutenant General Jeffrey W. Talley". Archived from the original on 18 April 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.