Leaders of the Alabama E-9 Association
CSM Thomas D. Grace Jr, Alabama National Guard's Senior Enlisted Leader
Command Sgt. Maj. Donnie Grace began his military career in 1982 on active duty with the United States Marine Corps. He attended basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina, and attended school at Camp Pendleton, California. Grace was stationed at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, where he deployed to Africa on a West Pacific tour on the USS Mobile. He also served on the Inspector Instructor Staff in New Orleans, Louisiana. At the end of his active duty contract, Grace served two additional years in the Marine Corps reserve in Mobile, Alabama, and Montgomery, Alabama.
Command Sgt. Maj. Grace joined the Alabama Army National Guard in 1993 as a heavy vehicle operator where he was a member of the 781st Transportation Company. In 1998, Grace transferred to the Illinois Army National Guard, and, in 2000, transferred to the Florida Army National Guard due to civilian job requirements. In 2002, Grace transferred back to the Alabama National Guard as a member of the 2101st Transportation Company as a platoon sergeant.
In 2004, Grace deployed to Iraq with the 2101st Transportation Company as the platoon sergeant for 1st Platoon. During the deployment to Iraq, Grace was selected as the first sergeant for the 1128th Transportation Company, in Clayton, Alabama. In 2007, Grace transferred to the 122nd Area Support Group in Selma, Alabama, as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company first sergeant. In 2009, Grace was selected as the Command Sergeant Major for the 711th Brigade Support Battalion in Mobile, Alabama. In 2011, Grace transferred to 62nd Troop Command where he served as the Command Sergeant Major for the largest major command in the Alabama Army National Guard.
In 2013, Grace deployed to Afghanistan with the 226th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade as the command sergeant major of the Base Support Group for Camp Eggers, located in the city of Kabul, Afghanistan. Upon return from Afghanistan, Grace served as the brigade command sergeant major for the 226th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Mobile, Alabama. In 2016, Grace was selected as the Land Forces Component command sergeant major for the Alabama Army National Guard.
Command Sgt. Maj. Grace’s awards and medals include the Drivers Badge, Bronze Star Medal (2nd award), Meritorious Service Medal (2nd award), Army Commendation Medal (2nd award), Army Achievement Medal (2nd award), Navy Achievement Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (2nd award), Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (6th award), National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NATO Medal, Alabama Faithful Service Medal (5th award), and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal.
Grace is a life member of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard and the Alabama Enlisted National Guard Association.
Grace served as a Conservation Enforcement Officer with Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries from 1990 to 1998. He currently serves as a Special Agent with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Grace has conducted criminal investigations of federal wildlife crimes for the last 19 years, and is currently assigned to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Field Office in Daphne, Alabama.
CCMSgt David M. Bullard, Alabama Air National Guard's Command Chief Master Sergeant
Chief Master Sergeant David Bullard serves as the Command Chief Master Sergeant for the Alabama Air National Guard, Joint Forces Headquarters, Montgomery, AL. He is responsible for all affairs concerning the enlisted personnel of the AL ANG.
Chief Bullard enlisted in the Alabama Air National Guard in 1983. He began his career as a Crew Chief assigned to the 117 TRW Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, maintaining RF-4C aircraft until the Wing converted to KC-135R. In 2004, Chief Bullard was selected as the 117th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron First Sergeant. In 2008, Chief Bullard was selected as the 117 ARW Wing First Sergeant. Chief Bullard proudly served as a First Sergeant for over eight years. In November, 2012 Chief Bullard was selected as the 117th Operations Group Superintendent. Throughout his career, Chief Bullard has been called upon to serve on numer ous boards and working groups for the Wing and the AL ANG.
His major awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters Air Force, Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters Air Reserve Forces, Meritorious Service Medal with nine devices National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star, Southwest Asia Service Medal with one bronze star, Iraq Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal Air & Space Campaign Medal, Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short, Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border AF Longevity Service Ribbon with six devices, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 3 "M" device Small Arms Expert, Marksmanship Ribbon (rifle) AF Training Ribbon, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal.
He has also been called upon to deploy numerous times to include support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Prior to his current assignment, CMSgt Bullard served as the Wing Command Chief, 117th Air Refueling Wing, Birmingham, Alabama. Chief Bullard is retired from a 28 year civilian career as a Firefighter/EMT with the City of Homewood Alabama.
CSM Jimmy D. Patrick, Alabama Army National Guard's Land Component Command Sergeant Major
Command Sergeant Major Patrick enlisted in the United States Army in 1980. After completing Basic Training at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, CSM Patrick attended AIT at Ft. Gordon, Ga where he trained as a Radio teletype operator. He was then assigned to HHD 1/58th (Mech) INf, 197th INF BDE, Ft. Benning, Ga.
After leaving the Army in 1982, CSM Patrick enlisted in the Alabama Army Nation Guard as a Military Policeman with the 214th Military Police Company where he held the following positions: Team Leader, Squad Leader, Operations Sergeant, First Sergeant. CSM Patrick also held the positions of Platoon Sergeant and Operations Sergeant with the Detachment 1, 214th MP Company.
In 2006, CSM Patrick was selected to be the Command Sergeants Major of the 231st Military Police Battalion until September of 2013 when he transferred to the 203rd Military Police Battalion as the Battalion CSM. He served there until he was selected as the CSM for the 31st CBRN BDE.
Command Sergeant Major Patrick attended Central Alabama Community College and Faulkner University. He currently holds an Associate of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management of Human Resources. His military education includes Radio Teletype Operator course, Basic Military Police training course, Battle Focused Instructor’s course, Level II Anti-Terrorist course, Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Non-Commissioned Officer course, Advanced Non-commissioned Officer Course, The United States Army Sergeant’s Major Course, and the Joint Senior Leadership course.
CSM Patrick is a veteran of Operation Desert Shield /Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom II. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal ( Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Good Conduct, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal (2 Service Stars), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon w/numeral 4, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon and Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, and the Alabama Commendation Medal.
Command Sergeant Major Patrick is married to Michelle Patrick, formerly of Centralia. IL. They have 4 children, Kirk, currently stationed at Eglin AFB, FL., Rochelle, Jordan and Darrielle.
CSM Patrick and his family reside in Harvest, Alabama where he is employed with the Alabama Department of Corrections.