bᵻfˌoːɹ bᵻkˈʌmɪŋ ðə sˈɑːɹdʒənt mˈeɪdʒɚɹ ʌvðɪ ˈɑːɹmi, hiː wʌz kəmˈænd sˈɑːɹdʒənt mˈeɪdʒɚ sˌiːˌɛsˈɛm ʌv aɪ kˈɔːɹ ænd fˈɔːɹt lˈuːɪs, wˈɑːʃɪŋtən.
Before becoming the Sergeant Major of the Army, he was command sergeant major (CSM) of I Corps and Fort Lewis, Washington.