Daniel Elder

CSM (RET)

Highlights from Industry Mr. Daniel (Dan) Elder returned to his consulting firm Topsarge Business Solutions, LLC in June 2013 from McLane Advanced Technologies where he was the Senior Director of Business Development and Strategy. Following his retirement from the Army after a 26-year career, he re-entered industry with Computer Sciences Corporation as an Advisor in 2008. He was awarded a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Management from Touro University of Cypress, CA, and is a KM Professional Society Master Knowledge Management Professional. Dan is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Corporate and Organizational Communication with Northeastern University of Boston, MA.

Since his retirement he was selected as the first Senior Enlisted Fellow for the Association of the United States Army where he provides advice and services to the National Headquarters and the Office of NCO and Soldier Affairs. He was inducted to the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy “Hall of Honor” and to the Ordnance Corps Hall of Fame.

Military Acknowledgements CSM Elder entered the Army in Dec 1981 and served in a variety of enlisted leadership positions from squad leader to senior enlisted advisor of the Army Materiel Command. Assignments included duties as mechanic, recovery vehicle operator, squad leader, motor sergeant, senior instructor, senior drill sergeant, first sergeant, and on staff of the Sergeants Major Academy as a lesson developer, culminating with 11 years as a Command Sergeant Major from battalion to Army major command headquarters. He served with the 13th Corps Support Command at Fort Hood, Tx. and Balad Iraq, in OIF II before his selection as the 12th command sergeant major for the U.S. Army Materiel Command, Fort Belvoir, Va.

His overseas assignments include 2/30th Infantry Battalion; 1/36th Infantry Battalion and 3rd Brigade; 3/12th Infantry Battalion and D/123rd Main Support Battalion, His operational deployments include OPERATION Joint Endeavor in Bosnia-Herzegovina and OPERATION Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. Stateside assignments include 2/34th Infantry Battalion.; 6/12th Cavalry Squadron and B Company. (Ordnance) 1/81st Armor Battalion; DOTE & A Company, U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Academy; Letterkenny Army Depot; 541st Maintenance Battalion.; 3rd Brigade, 75th Div; 13th Corps Support Command; U.S. Army Materiel Command. Elder completed active federal service on January 31st, 2008.

Cmd. Sgt. Maj. Elder attended the Primary Leadership Development and Primary Technical Courses; Basic and Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Courses; Instructor and Small Group Instructor Courses; Battle Staff NCO Course; Drill Sergeant School; and the Garrison Sergeants Major Course. He is a graduate of the Sergeants Major course, the Command Sergeants Major course, the Command Sergeants Major Force Management course and the Keystone Command Senior Enlisted Leader course.

His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters; the Army Commendation medal with five oak leaf clusters; the Army Achievement Medal with six oak leaf clusters; the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; the Iraq Campaign Medal; the NATO Medal; the Mechanic’s Badge; the Drill Sergeant Identification Badge, and other service medals and ribbons. Command Sgt. Maj. Elder is the recipient of the Ordnance Order of Samuel Sharpe and the Transportation Corps Order of Saint Christopher.