Jack L. Tilley

Jack L. Tilley was sworn in as the 12th Sergeant Major of the Army on June 23, 2000 and served until January 15, 2004.

Early life
Tilley was born in Vancouver, Washington, on December 3, 1948.

Military career
He entered the U.S. Army in November 1966 and attended basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, and advanced individual training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Following tours in Vietnam and Fort Benning, Georgia, SMA Tilley left the active duty Army for two years and served in the Reserve Component before enlisting again in the Active Component in September 1971.

He held a variety of important positions culminating in his assignment as the Sergeant Major of the Army. He previously held the senior enlisted position as Senior Enlisted Leader of the United States Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. Other assignments he held as Command Sergeant Major were 1st Battalion, 10th Cavalry, Fort Knox, 194th Armored Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Bad Kreuznach, Germany and United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Arlington, Virginia.

Throughout his 36-year career, SMA Tilley held every key leadership position including tank commander, section leader, drill sergeant, platoon sergeant, senior instructor, operations sergeant and first sergeant. His military education includes the First Sergeants Course and the Sergeants Major Academy. He is also a graduate of the basic airborne course, drill sergeant school and master gunner's course.

Jack is currently Senior Instructor, Operations Sergeant And First Sergeant at Oak Grove Technologies in Falls Church VA

Post-military career
Jack Tilley retired from the Army in January of 2004. He is now the co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of the American Freedom Foundation. This organization raises awareness for military personnel, their service, and sacrifice, and raises money for various organizations that help service members, veterans and their families. The organization also sponsors military career fairs and hiring events regularly in major military areas around the country. These events are usually in conjunction with high-profile concerts or entertainment. Special emphasis is always given to the men & women who were (WIA) wounded in action.