Ranger-tested leader steps up as DLA Troop Support’s inaugural MSC command sergeant major

In a historic first for the Defense Logistics Agency, a major subordinate command has established a senior enlisted leader position and held an investiture for U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. John Kreifels.

"Today, we are fundamentally evolving how DLA Troop Support operates," U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Sean Kelly said. "As we establish this new chapter in DLA Troop Support's history, we are fortunate to welcome a leader whose entire career has been centered on supporting and leading Soldiers and enabling mission success around the world."

Kreifels joins DLA Troop Support in Philadelphia and is tasked with conducting the daily operations of the more than $28 billion joint command overseeing the military supply chains for Subsistence, Clothing & Textiles, Construction & Equipment and Medical. He brings with him more than 20 years of military leadership experience as a non-commissioned officer, including key assignments as Command Sgt. Maj. for both the 3rd Infantry Division Brigade Support Battalion and the Division Sustainment Brigade, Sgt. Maj. for the 10th Mountain Division and 1st Sgt. for the 2nd Ranger Battalion.

"Command Sgt. Maj. Kreifels is a proven combat leader who has repeatedly led from the front at every echelon," Kelly said. "Having deployed multiple times to the frontlines of Iraq and Afghanistan, he mostly recently spearheaded sustainment operations in Poland. There, his brigade was the critical link, delivering uninterrupted, theater-wide logistics support to all U.S. forces executing the high-stakes Assure and Deter mission across Europe, proving once again that he is an operator who delivers when the stakes are highest."

The graduate of the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program, formally known as the Ranger Indoctrination Program, will now be relied on to execute complex tactical operations and make intent-driven decisions. He will play key roles in joint military exercises and work as a bridge between the services and DLA Troop Support.

"To the phenomenal DLA Troop Support team, you are the unsung engine of American military readiness and global reach," Kreifels said. "As your command sgt. maj., my promise to you is simple: I will be your advocate, I will listen and stay grounded and we will keep warfighters first."

In his previous tours, Kreifels drove lasting organizational improvements, notably unifying 3rd ID sustainers to support real-world missions and establishing the Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield food ecosystem to enhance warfighter nutrition and readiness. Now, as the senior enlisted advisor to the DLA Troop Support command team, he will focus on talent management, fostering mutual trust across the civilian and military enterprise and maintaining the highest standards of readiness.

"I am humbled, honored and proud to serve as your command sgt. maj.," Kreifels said. "Let us continue to set the benchmark for global logistics excellence."

The roles of NCOs have changed over the U.S. Army's 251 years of service to the nation. From the Continental Army of the American Revolution to today, they have grown into roles as technical experts and combat leaders. While DLA Troop Support's more than 2,000 employees are a majority civilian, Kreifels will be tasked with overseeing readiness, leadership, training management, communication, operations and program management for all enlisted personnel in the command.

"With his family by his side and a lifetime of service behind him, Command Sgt. Maj. Kreifels' proven commitment, dedication and leadership make him the idea Soldier to step into this role and lead our organization through this historic moment," Kelly said. "By placing this responsibility into his hands, we are permanently embedding the voice of the enlisted joint warfighter at the very top of our command structure."

A commitment to selfless service runs deep in Kreifels household, rooted in multi-generational military heritage dating back to his grandfather in the Korean War, a great uncle that served in Vietnam, and a father and uncle who both serviced in Desert Storm. Kreifels commitment to the U.S. Constitution and his country is evident, as he married his wife of more than 20 years just four days before deploying in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

"Words can never fully express my debt of gratitude to you," Kreifels said. "You have endured every late night, every change of station, every training cycle and every deployment with unmatched grace and strength. This rank, this honor, and this day belong just as much to you."