MILITARY PERSONNEL
Samuel B. Retherford
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army
(Military Personnel)
Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army
(Manpower and Reserve Affairs)
(Download Bio - pdf)
As the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Military Personnel) Mr. Retherford is responsible for the oversight of military human resource programs of the Total Force. Those programs include: recruiting and retention; leave and liberty; military compensation and benefits; decorations and awards; assignments and details, enlisted and officer promotions; enlisted and officer separations; cadet affairs, and medical and health affairs policy.
In his previous position as the DoD Director, Officer and Enlisted Personnel Management, Mr. Retherford developed policies on Defense human resource programs. Specifically, he provided supervision and leadership of major programs such as retention management, awards and decorations, military personnel separations, leave and liberty, officer and enlisted personnel utilization and assignments, retention incentive pays, the disability evaluation system, and military education.
As the Acting Principal Director, Military Personnel Policy, Mr. Retherford served as the Department of Defense Fort Hood Follow-On Review Co-Chair of the Personnel Working Group. In this capacity, he led the comprehensive assessment of 26 DoD Independent Review recommendations pertaining to military and civilian personnel management and security issues.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY:
- Apr 2010 - Jun 2010: Acting Principal Director, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary for Military Personnel Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense Staff, Pentagon, Washington, DC
- Jul 2008 to Apr 2010: Director, Officer and Enlisted Personnel Management, Office of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy - Office of the Secretary of Defense Staff, Pentagon, Washington, DC
- Jan 2005 to Jul 2008: Deputy Director for Policy - Office of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy - Office of the Secretary of Defense Staff, Pentagon, Washington, DC
- Jun 2002 to Sep 2004: Senior Military Assistant for the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness - Office of the Secretary of Defense Staff, Pentagon, Washington, DC
- In his military career, Mr. Retherford served in a variety of human resource staff positions at the Division, Corps, and Department levels. He also commanded human resource company, battalion and brigade organizations. Mr. Retherford finished his military career as the Senior Military Assistant to the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel Readiness.
COLLEGE:
- Master of Science, National Security and Strategic Studies - 1999
- Master of Science in Administration - 1992
- Bachelor of Science in Botany - 1978
SIGNIFICANT TRAINING:
- FEMA National Response Framework - Aug 2008
CERTIFICATIONS:
- National Security Professional - 2008
AWARDS AND HONORS:
- Defense Superior Service Award
- Legion of Merit (2 awards)
- Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service
- Meritorious Service Medal (7 awards)
- Army Commendation Medal (4 awards)
- Army Achievement Medal
- National Defense Service Medals
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
- Armed Forces Service Medal
- Army Service Medal
- Korean Defense Service Medal
- Overseas Medal (3 awards)
- NATO Medal
- Army Superior Unit Award
- Senior Parachutist Badge
- Office of the Secretary of Defense Staff Badge