CSM Chad Blansett

Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Chad C. Blansett was selected to serve as the 1^st Command Sergeant Major of the Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia on the 14^th of April 2023.

Before serving as a Senior Cadet Advisor to the President of the Riverside Military Academy, CSM Blansett served over 31 years of active duty service in the U.S. Army as a Construction Engineer.

 
CSM Blansett’s past duty assignments include Alpha Company, 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Airborne) from 1992-1999; Bravo Company, 535th Engineer Support Company (Heavy); 94th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Heavy) from 1999-2006; Bravo Company, 37th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Airborne) from 2006-2007; 1st Theater Support Command from 2007-2008; 618th Engineer Support Company (Airborne), 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Airborne) from 2008-2011; Support Battalion, 196th Infantry Brigade from 2011-2012; United States Army Sergeant Major Academy 2012-2013; 1st Armored Division from 2013-2014; 15th Engineer Battalion from 2014-2016; United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Transatlantic Division, Transatlantic Afghanistan District from 2016-2017; 130th Engineer Brigade from 2018-2020 and most recently, retiring after 31 years of active duty with the South Atlantic Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, located in downtown Atlanta Georgia from 2020-2023.  His official retirement date is 31 May 2023.

 
CSM Blansett served at multiple stateside and overseas duty assignments to include three peacekeeping and six combat tours; Operation Restore Democracy, Haiti (1994); Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo (1999, 2001); Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003, 2005 and 2007); Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan (2006, 2010) and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Afghanistan (2016-2017). CSM Blansett is a graduate of the Basic Airborne School; Air Assault School; 82nd Airborne Division’s Advanced Airborne School (Jumpmaster); Sapper Leader Course, Basic Leader Course (BLC); Advance Leader Course (ALC); Senior Leader Course (SLC); First Sergeant Course; the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA) (Class 63); Executive Leaders Course (Nominative Course); 82nd Airborne Division’s Air Movement Operations Course; Jungle Operations Training Course (Panama); Master Fitness Course and the Master Driver Course.

 
CSM Blansett’s military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal (3^rd Award); Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal (3^rd Award); Army Commendation Medal (5^th Award); Army Achievement Medal (2^nd Award); Combat Action Badge; Master Parachutist Badge; Senior Parachutist Badge; Basic Parachutist Badge; Air Assault Badge; Sapper Tab; Drivers Badge (3 Clasps); Presidential Unit Citation; Valorous Unit Award; Meritorious Unit Commendation; Superior Unit Award; Japanese Parachutist Badge; both the Silver and Bronze De Fleury Medals. CSM Blansett has also earned Bachelor of Science Degree in Liberal Arts from Excelsior College and is currently enrolled in University of El Paso (UTEP) Master’s Degree program.