Lieutenant Colonel Promotable Travis Neal Kerney turned 50 years old on March 15, 2021, and has served as an Army National Guard Officer for 26 years. On July 29, 2021 the Johnson City, TN City School System hired him for the position of Senior Army Instructor with the Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps at Science Hill High School.
Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Kerney is a member of the Tennessee National Guard, and his current duty station as a Reserve Officer is with Joint Force Headquarters in Nashville. He is the Deputy Joint Chief of Staff for the Selective Service System, encompassing all 95 counties in Tennessee. On May 4, 2021, LTC Kerney received the best news of his military career when he learned that he was selected by the Adjutant General over the Tennessee National Guard, Major General Jeff Holmes, for a Unit Vacancy Promotion to Colonel. LTC Kerney has served stateside on active duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005, and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2007-2008. He landed in Afghanistan on Christmas Eve 2007, and was embedded with the Afghan National Army for 9 straight months. LTC Kerney's primary mission was as a mentor and advisor to an Afghan Colonel, who was the Executive Officer for an Infantry Mechanized Brigade. For his service in a combat zone, LTC Kerney was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. In 2019-2020 LTC Kerney was deployed stateside, where he had the honor of serving as a Battalion Commander of the largest Battalion in the storied 101st Airborne Division at FT Campbell, KY. He commanded approximately 1,400 personnel, comprising of 11 companies. LTC Kerney is a graduate of the Advanced Operations and War Fighter Course from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. LTC Kerney received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech Communications from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1994, while on an Army ROTC Scholarship. Additionally, he was a member of the varsity football team under both former legendary head coaches: the late Johnny Majors, and Phillip Fulmer, from 1990-1994. LTC Kerney is an active member of Colonial Heights Baptist Church, and a member of Gideon’s International. LTC Kerney is proud to be married to Mrs. Sandra Butler Kerney. She has a Masters from the School of Music at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. Sandra works for the Kingsport TN City School System as the Choral Director at Ross-N-Robinson Middle School, and is the varsity golf coach. Sandra is also an active member of Colonial Heights Baptist Church, wherein she is on-staff as the fulltime piano player. LTC Kerney and Sandra call both Kingsport, TN and Mountain City, TN their home; wherein they spend time at the house they built in Kingsport, or at Sandra’s home place in Mountain City. LTC Kerney has a 21 year old son; his name is Zachary. |
Master Sergeant Jeremiah Ross (Ret.) is a 1994 graduate of Daniel Boone High School. He has a Bachelor’s Degree from Liberty University and a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Louisville.
MSG Ross served for over 24 years as an Infantryman in the United States Army and has been stationed at Ft Polk, Ft Bragg. Ft Wainwright, Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Ft Knox and Ft Benning. Throughout his career He has served as a mortarman and rifleman as well as a Weapons Company First Sergeant. His broadening assignment included duties as a drill sergeant, infantry professional development NCO as well serving as the Senior Military Instructor at Carson Newman University. MSG Ross’ military education includes PLDC, BNCOC, ANCOC, Air Assault Course, Basic and Advanced Airborne Courses, Pathfinder School, Combatives level 3, Emergency Medical Technician Course, Combat Life Saver Course, Master Resilience Course, Infantry Mortar Leaders Course and the Drill Sergeant Course. Some of his awards include two Bronze Stars, three Meritorious Service Medals, and the Order of Saint Maurice. He has served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Haiti. MSG Ross is married to Jennifer and they have four children; Noah, Miah, Samuel and Benjamin. |