Tom Gills

CSM (RET)

Tom Gills is a Senior Director for Military Programs and Education for JTilley, Inc. and in representing Kaplan University, responsible for the creation and development of numerous College Programs tailored to the military.

Additionally, he is President of the SGM Larry Strickland Educational Leadership Award Foundation and is also currently rewriting the Enlisted Soldier Guide, to be sold in Post Exchanges throughout the Army. He is a retired active duty Sergeant Major with 30 years of service, capping his military career as the Army G-1, Human Resources SGM for the U.S. Army, the top position in his career field. He further served as an Adjunct Professor and has taught College Foundation courses with a focus on English and College level writing for over seven years. He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Troy University in Dothan, Alabama, Suma Cum Laude, and membership in Pi Alpha Alpha. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Excelsior College, Magna Cum Laude.

He has taught seminars and attended as a keynote speaker for numerous audiences in subjects ranging from leadership training, to international tripartite (U.S./Afghanistan/Pakistan) meetings on cooperation and development; and most recently as invited guest speaker for Troy University’s National Capitol Region Commencement Ceremony.

During his military career, Tom served in numerous locations across the globe including Germany, Hawaii, Alaska, Afghanistan, and six U.S. locations. He has served in every leadership position within his career field of Human Resource Management, and additionally has served as a Basic Training Drill Sergeant, Drill Instructor at the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant School and as an Infantry First Sergeant. He has also served on the Army Staff as the key adviser to the Sergeant Major of the Army, as well as the Command Sergeant Major of the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, a Multi-National NATO Headquarters, overseeing 5,700 personnel in the training and education of the Afghan National Army and Police. His numerous awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal and Audie Murphy Medal.