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Elections

The Board of Officers for the Special Forces Association are elected by the Active Membership of the Association every two years.

Directions for voting via Drop and Online

It is time to choose new officers to represent us at National Headquarters. Nominations are closed and the following candidates have been placed on the ballot IAW Article VIII of the Special Forces Constitution. Inside the Spring 2022 Drop, you will find a perforated ballot with voting and mailing instructions. Please read carefully, fill out, and send in your ballot to SFA Headquarters, PO Box 41436 Fayetteville, NC 28309-1436, NO LATER THAN 31 May 2022.

This election year we are also offering an online voting option via the SFA Team House website.  Please go to https://www.specialforcesassociation.org and click on “LOGIN TO THE TEAMHOUSE” in the upper right corner.  Once there, log in using your member ID and password.  After logging in, find the elections tab and use the online election to vote.  Online voting will be open 1 – 31 MAY 2022.

PLEASE CHOOSE ONLY ONE OPTION FOR VOTING!

Kevin Harry

Candidate for SFA National President - 2022

CSM (Ret) Kevin L. Harry assumed the duties as SFA National President on July 1, 2020. As the SFA National President, Kevin sits on the SFA National Board of Officers to establish policy and procedures that allow the 10,600+ SFA members and the 89 SFA Chapters around the world to effectively support the Special Forces Association Mission: The Special Forces Association serves as the voice for the Special Forces Community; Perpetuates Special Forces Traditions and Brotherhood; Advances the Public Image of Special Forces and Promotes the General Welfare of the Special Forces Community.

Fulltime, Kevin is the President of KLH Professional Services and works with the West Virginia Military Authority on a variety of Special Operations initiatives between the West Virginia National Guard and organizations throughout the SOF Enterprise.

He holds a Bachelor of General Studies degree from East Tennessee State University and a Master of Science in Strategic leadership from Mountain State University. He is a graduate of the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, CSM/SGM Executive Education Course and the National Defense University’s Keystone Course. He is a graduate of the 2015 Leadership West Virginia program.

Kevin Harry spent over 32 years of military service and retired as the Senior Enlisted Leader of West Virginia National Guard, where he advised the Adjutant General on enlisted issues for more than 6,500 citizen Soldiers and Airmen. He spent over 20 years in Army Special Forces assignments after attending the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course in May 1991. His Special Forces assignments were split between 3rd SFG (A) and 19th SFG (A). Kevin’s other significant assignments include: Command Sergeant Major for the West Virginia Army National Guard, Command Sergeant Major 2/19th SFG(A), Sergeant Major Det-1, 2/19th SFG(A), 1SG Support Company, 2/19th SFG(A) and Team Sergeant ODA 955.

He is a life member of the Special Forces Association (Decade), Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS), Association of the United States Army (AUSA) and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). He currently serves as Senior Vice-Commander of VFW Post 9796 in Milton, WV. He has served as past President, past Vice-President and past Secretary for Chapter 68 of the Special Forces Association in Kenova, WV and past Commander and past Junior Vice-Commander of VFW Post 9796.

His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, five Meritorious Service Medals, four Army Commendation Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, three Army Good Conduct Medals, two National Defense Service Medals, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Bronze Hourglass and Mobilization Device Number 2, the Humanitarian Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 4, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, the United Nations Mission in Haiti, the WV Distinguished Service Medal, the WV Commendation Medal, two WV Achievement Ribbons, two WV Emergency Service Ribbons, three WV State Service Ribbons, the District of Columbia Community Service Ribbon, two Army Superior Unit Awards, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Expert Field Medical Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Military Freefall Jumpmaster Badge, Aircraft crewmember Badge, the Special Operations Dive Supervisor Badge, German Parachutist Badge, Portuguese Parachutist Badge, the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge – Gold and the Noble Patron of Armor Award.

Christopher Wilkerson

Candidate for SFA National President - 2022

CW3(P) Christopher Wilkerson was born in Roswell, NM in June 1975. He graduated from Lake Dallas High School in 1993 and joined the military in 1995 where he continues to serve on active duty.

Throughout his SF career, he has been very active within the SFA. While assigned in Okinawa he served as President of Chapter II for 4 years. He is currently serving in his 5th year as the President of Chapter I- XVIII in Fayetteville, NC.

He entered the Army as a Petroleum Supply Specialist with time served in the 10th Mountain and 82nd Airborne Divisions prior to attending Special Forces Assessment and Selection in 2000. In March 2003, SGT Wilkerson completed the SFQC as an 18D - Special Forces Combat Medic and was subsequently assigned to 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group in Okinawa, Japan. In 2010, then SFC Wilkerson applied for and was selected to become an 180A - Special Forces Warrant Officer, deploying to Afghanistan as an
Assistant Detachment Commander prior to PCSing to Fort Bragg and becoming the South Field Team Commander at Robin Sage. He recently finished an assignment as the Detachment Commander for the USASOC Black Daggers - Recruiting Support Detachment and is currently the Company Operations Warrant for B Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne).

His deployments include over four years of combat in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Philippines and numerous training events in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, Cambodia, the Maldives, Nepal and Australia.

His military and civilian education includes; Air Assault School, Basic Airborne Course, Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course, Special Forces Medical Sergeant Qualification Course, SERE – Level C, Static Line Jumpmaster Course, Military Freefall Course, Winter Military Mountaineer Course, Advanced Non-Commissioned Officer Course, Defense Language Institute for Tagalog and the Special Forces Warrant Officer Basic, Advanced, Staff and Intermittent Level Education (ILE) Courses. He is currently working on his Bachelor’s Degree after earning an Associated Degree in General Studies from Central Texas College.

His military awards and decorations includes: Bronze Star Medal (2), Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal (3), Army Commendation Medal (4), Army Achievement Medal (4), Army Good Conduct Medal (4), National Defense Service Medal (2), Afghanistan Campaign Medal – 1 Campaign Star, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Non- Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (3), Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Republic of the Philippines Bronze Cross, Overseas Service Medal (9), Joint Meritorious Unit Award (3), Valorous Unit Award (2), Army Superior Unit Award, Special Forces and Ranger Tabs, Combat Infantry Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge and foreign parachutist badges from Thailand, Philippines, Korea, Cambodia, Australia, Germany and Columbia. I support Bill Smith for Vice President.

William Edward Smith

Candidate for Vice President

TOTAL YEARS MILITARY SERVICE FOR LONGEVITY: Active/Reserve 32 Years

CAMPAIGNS: Operation Just Cause and Promote Liberty/ Operation Enduring Freedom (Jul 05 to Jan 06 3rd Special Forces Group and Feb 06 to Jul 06 7th Special Forces Group)/ Operation Iraqi Freedom (Sep 06 to April 07 5th Special Forces Group)

DECORATIONS: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, French National Defense Medal-Bronze, Meritorious Service Medal 5th Oak Leaf Cluster, Special Forces Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Expert Marksmanship Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, Combat Patch, Military Free-fall Wings. (Various Others)

Non-Profit Leadership: 5 years Chapter XV SFA President, VFW District 20 Commander, VFW 8541 Commander and Gold Legacy, Texas VFW Top Post Commander X 3, All State All/American X4, Gold Legacy

MEMBERSHIPS: Life Member, SGT Morales Club, United States Army Europe; NCO of the Year in 2000, 95th IT Division; Special
Forces Association, VFW Life Member, 82nd Airborne Association Life Member, Silver Wing Life Member, American Legion Paid for Life Member

Curt Lowery

Candidate for Vice President

SFA Duty Description: As the SFA National Vice President, MAJ Curt Lowry will sit on the Special Forces Association (SFA) National Board of Officers to establish policy and procedures that allow the 10,600+ SFA members and the 89 SFA Chapters around the world to effectively support the Special Forces Association Mission: The Special Forces Association serves as the voice for the Special Forces community; perpetuates Special Forces traditions and brotherhood; advances the public image of Special Forces and promotes the general welfare of the Special Forces community. As the Vice President, Curt will help support the role and vision of the SFA President, CSM (Ret) Kevin Harry, and will ensure that the national board of officers and chapters are both resourced and organized to execute their
responsibilities to the regiment.

Civilian Occupation: Currently, Curt is in the process of retiring from the military following 21 years on active duty in the United States Army. Through the support and mentorship of The Honor Foundation, he is looking for a position in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area in order to provide stability for his family through the transition process.

Military/Civilian Education: He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and a Masters degree in Strategic Studies from the National Defense University.

Military Service: Curt began his military career as a combat engineer in the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) at Fort Drum. He served over 14 years in Army Special Operations at Fort Bragg, NC. During his career he completed several combat deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan and also two operational deployments to Africa. His Special Forces assignments were split between 3rd Special Forces Group and the Special Operations Recruiting Battalion. As a Detachment Commander, he deployed twice to Kunar Province, Afghanistan with both SFODA 3131 and SFODA 3134. He also served as the Chief of Operations for Special Operations Task Force-Northeast located in Bagram, Afghanistan. Upon 3rd Special Forces Group’s transition back to the AFRICOM area of responsibility (AOR), Curt served as both the Advanced Operating Base (AOB) Lake Chad Basin Commander (SFODB 3130) and the Special Operations Command Forward-North and West Africa Operations Officer (J3). Curt will retire as the Executive Officer of the Special Operations Recruiting Battalion in the coming months.

Civic Organizations: Curt is a life member of the Special Forces Association as a member of Chapter 100.

Military Awards/Accomplishments: His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device, two Bronze Stars, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Parachutist Badge, the Army Free Fall Badge, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Canadian Parachutist Badge, Latvian parachutist (Free Fall) Badge, the Ranger Tab and the Special Forces Tab. Curt is also a recipient of the LTC Keith Antonia Officer Leadership Award from the United States Army Ranger School.

Family: Curt and his wife Sonja are originally from West Virginia and have been married for 15 years. They have four Children, Sofia (17), Noah (14), Tripp (12) and Reese (10). Upon transition from the Army, Curt and his family will remain in North Carolina.

JD Campbell

Candidate for Secretary

Mr. John (JD) Campbell is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces Command Sergeant Major with 32 years of active military service. JD is the President of Executive Solutions Group LLC and currently serves as an instructor / writer for the Joint Special Operations University and the NATO Special Operations School.

JD is a decade and life member of the Special Forces Association and has served as the SFA National Secretary since July 1st, 2020.

Mr. Campbell entered the U.S. Army in March of 1986. Upon completion of basic and advanced individual training, he attended the basic airborne course and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft Bragg, North Carolina where, in October 1992, he graduated the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) becoming a Special Forces Communications Sergeant (18E). As a Special Operator, he went on to serve in multiple leadership positions within the 5th and 7th Special Forces Groups, a Special Missions Unit, and two of the 4-Star Combatant Commands (COCOMs).

Mr. Campbell served four combat tours across the Middle East with leadership positions of Team Sergeant, Operations Sergeant Major, and Battalion Command Sergeant Major. In addition to combat, Mr. Campbell deployed an additional 29 times in support of SOF contingency operations ranging from activities in Central and South America, The Caribbean, Europe, and the Middle East.

Mr. Campbell's military education and advanced skills training includes the graduation from the Keystone Executive CSEL Course, The Summit Course, the U.S. Army and USSOCOM Pre- Command Courses, the Army Command Sergeant Major Development Course, all levels of the Army Noncommissioned Officers Educations System, Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Courses I and II, the Special Forces Qualification Course, Jumpmaster Course, Combat Diver Qualification Course, Combat Diver Supervisor Course, and multiple other staff and tactical courses.

JD holds a master’s degree in Strategic Leadership from the University of Charleston and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from Liberty University. Mr. Campbell’s awards and decorations include the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, The Defense Meritorious Service Medal, The Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Order of St. Philip Neri Award.

JD is married to the former Monica Lanier of Fayetteville, North Carolina and has two children, son Benjamin 32 and daughter Emma 12.

Russ Preston

Candidate for Treasurer

I have over 35 years of military, government, and private sector experience in Europe and the Middle East, including a stint as the acting Regional Vice-President for Central and Eastern Europe for The Boeing Company.

Before the selection process for the Regional VP had even begun, I was hired as the senior International Relations representative for the area and sent to establish Boeing’s regional headquarters in Warsaw, Poland. As acting VP, I was intimately involved with Boeing operations in 16 countries from the Baltics to the Balkans, and coordinated closely among multiple Boeing business units and US Embassy country teams to facilitate such key geostrategic initiatives as the integrated missile defense shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, the proposed sale of F-18s to Bulgaria to bolster the capabilities of their Black Sea Fleet, and the first sales of the new Boeing 787 “Dreamliner” to Poland.

Following that, I joined a leading nanotechnology company, Authentix, Inc., as the Vice- President for Europe and the Middle East where I helped develop fiscal recovery programs focused on tax revenues lost to corruption, smuggling, counterfeiting, and other black-market activities. Coordinating closely with high-ranking US and Iraqi military and government officials, I proposed state-of-the art supply chain authentication procedures for a “track and trace” program to prevent theft and smuggling of Iraqi fuel among border crossings between Iran, Turkey, and Syria that was then being used to fund the Al Qaeda-based insurgency against US and Coalition forces. Later I worked closely with KPMG and the Carlyle Group to co-author a comprehensive petroleum products control study for Saudi Aramco that led to a fuel authentication program designed to save 10B USD per annum for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia upon full program implementation.

As Country Manager for MVM, Inc. during 2003-2004, I led one of the top-tier private security companies in Iraq responsible for providing close personal protection for high-ranking US and Iraqi government and civilian officials. During one 6-month period, I won 8 out of 9 contracts worth 15.5M USD against such better-entrenched security companies as Blackwater, Triple Canopy and Armor Group. With over 100 Western expatriates plus 250 Iraqis and Third Country Nationals under my direct supervision, I was the first to implement protocols for joint US/Iraqi Personal Security Details. In the immediate aftermath of Operation Iraqi Freedom, I supervised over 800 Local Nationals as they provided security at 32 sites across the Sunni Triangle and Kurdistan on behalf of Iraq’s North Oil Company based out of Kirkuk.

I served Dec ’78-Jun ‘95 in 1/505 (ABN), 2/75 (RGR), and 1/10 SFG, and was cross-trained 18B/C/F. As an extraordinarily cunning linguist, I led two separate Military Liaison Teams to the Czech Republic and Slovakia, becoming the first Special Forces operator selected for the Joint Contact Teams that spearheaded post-Cold War US engagement with the countries of the Former Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact. And yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m still the only US jumper with Czechoslovakian, Czech, and Slovak wings. My civilian service with the US government featured assignments with the National Defense University in D.C. as well as overseas duty in Garmisch-Partenkirchen at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies and the Partnership for Peace Consortium of Defense Academies and Security Studies Institutes. I also speak Czech, German, and Slovak fluently, and can drink in Polish and Russian.

Douglas A. Livermore

Candidate for National Director of External Communications

Doug is the Director of Special Programs in the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy and continues his military service as a Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel and Deputy Commander of Special Operations Detachment
– NATO in the Maryland Army National Guard.

He has served in the post of National Director for External Communications for the Special Forces Association for two terms and is the National Capital Region Ambassador for the Green Beret Foundation.

Doug is a combat-proven, respected leader in the US Special Operations Community with many years of personal engagement in the Global War on Terror. He was decorated for valor and service in multiple theaters of operation and is a professionally published author. Doug is also an active member of the Association of the U.S. Army, Office of Strategic Services Society, National Security Forum, Warlord Loop, and the Council for Emerging National Security Affairs. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff Officer Course.

Doug commissioned as an infantry officer upon graduation from West Point in 2004. He served two tours in Iraq as an infantry platoon leader, battalion assistant operations officer, and heavy weapons company executive officer in the 2nd Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division. After returning from his second tour in Iraq, Doug attended the Maneuver Captain Career Course before attending Special Forces Assessment and Selection. After Selection, Doug attended the SF Qualification Course, graduating at the top of his class before reporting to 10th Special Forces Group. Over the next five years, Doug commanded two SF operational detachments, served as a combat-deployed Task Force future plans officer, and finished his active duty service as a battalion sensitive activities director. During his time with 10th SFG, Doug led SF elements during combat and other sensitive operations in Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, Uganda, Djibouti, Afghanistan, and many other locations.

As a civilian, Doug has stayed heavily involved in the SOF community through various organizations, his continued research/writing, and contracting. In his current contracted role, he advises senior Defense Department leaders on sensitive activities and other special operations. Multiple international affairs and security studies journals have published Doug’s works, to include many on-line publications in War on the Rocks, Small Wars Journal, and the Military Times. Additionally, several books feature his writings, to include The Strong Gray Line: Wartime Reflections from the West Point Class of 2004 and Mark Boyatt’s book, Special Forces: A Unique National Asset. Among his awards, Doug earned the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Bronze Star (for service), Meritorious Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, four awards of the Army Commendation Medal (one award for valor), one Army Achievement Medal, and the Ranger and Special Forces Tabs.

Doug has three children (Brie, Mackenzie, and Addison) and lives in northern Virginia.

Chris R. Bell

Candidate for Special Projects Officer

• Special Forces MSGT (18 Zulu) with B/3/20 - 1966 thru 1984
• Accepted into Decade Association in 1977
• Currently Chairman of B/3/20 Reunion group and have been actively involved with this event over the past (30) years.
• Currently SFA Chairman of National Grounds Development Committee
• Currently tasked to help establish new SFA 501(c)(3) Legacy Initiatives.
• Accepted as SFACON volunteer organizer to help with first ever national Sporting Clays event
• My hope is to continue to be involved with SFA wherever I can help benefit the organization.