Lieutenant Colonel John F. McDaniel enlisted in the Army in 1989, serving as an infantryman in 3-75th Ranger Regiment. Upon completion of his initial enlistment, he attended Indiana University where he was commissioned as a Military Intelligence Officer in 1996 with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.

Upon completion of the MI Basic Course, Lieutenant Colonel McDaniel served as a platoon leader and company executive officer in 2nd ID, Korea. Following consecutive tours in Korea, Lieutenant Colonel McDaniel served as a battalion S2 and G2 operations officer with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Lieutenant Colonel McDaniel attended the Special Forces Qualification Course at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in 2001. Upon completion he was assigned to 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky where he served as a commander of a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha. He and his detachment conducted multiple deployments in support of operations in Iraq. He subsequently returned to Fort Bragg where served as a Small Group Instructor at the Special Forces Qualification Course.

Following completion of the Kuwaiti Joint Staff College Lieutenant Colonel McDaniel returned to 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) where he served as a Battalion Operations Officer, SF Company Commander, Group Operations Officer and Group Executive Officer.

Prior to his current assignment to the Great Lakes Recruiting Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel McDaniel served as a Special Forces Assignments Officer at Army Human Resource Command Fort Knox, Kentucky.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star (3 awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), the Army Commendation Medal (4 awards), the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal (2 awards), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal w/arrowhead (2 awards), the Iraqi Campaign Medal (3 awards), the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals and the Korean Defense Service Medal. His skill qualifications include the Special Forces Tab, Senior Parachutist badge (w/ bronze star), Combat Infantryman badge (2 awards), the Expert Infantry badge and the Air Assault badge.

CSM Shepard was born and raised in Austin, PA where he joined the Army in 1987. He completed One Station Unit Training at Ft. Knox, KY, where he was one of four Soldiers selected into the Excellence of Armor Program, which allowed him to stay at Ft. Knox and be assigned to HQ’s company as an Advanced Individual Training Instructor. Upon completion, he was reassigned to 1/67 Armor Battalion, 2nd Armored Division at Ft. Hood, TX. Upon completion of his initial three year obligation, CSM Shepard left the Army only to return a short four months later. He reentered the Army in October of 1990 and attended Military Police (31B) Advanced Individual Training. Upon completion of MP training, he was assigned to the 984th MP Company, 759th MP Battalion, Ft. Carson, Colorado, where he deployed to the Gulf War in support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Upon redeployment from the Gulf War Command Sergeant Major Shepard was reassigned to the 401st MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Brigade, Ft. Hood, TX. From there he was assigned to the 545th MP Detachment Ft. Greely, Alaska. His last assignment prior to being DA selected for recruiting duty was the West Point Military Police Company, West Point, NY. Command Sergeant Major Shepard entered the U.S. Army Recruiting Command in August of 1995 and was assigned to the Oklahoma City Recruiting Battalion. He has held numerous positions while assigned to USAREC, which include; Recruiter, Station Commander, Special Mission NCOIC, Senior Operations NCO, NCOIC of the first Mobile Recruiting Team, First Sergeant, Operations Sergeant Major and Command Sergeant Major. Command Sergeant Major Shepard’s military education includes; United States Army Sergeants Major Academy (Class 60), DA First Sergeants course, and all required NCOES Schools. He has also completed; Military Police Investigators Course; Unit Armor School; Air Assault and Modern Army Combatives' Instructor.

            Command Sergeant Major Shepard’s awards and decorations include; The Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with twelve oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with thirteen oak leaf clusters, Good Conduct Medal (8th Award) and the  Army Superior Unit Award. He is also a recipient of the Glen E. Morell Award for recruiting excellence.

            Command Sergeant Major Shepard’s accomplishments while assigned to the  Recruiting Command include; New Recruiter of the Year, On-Production Station Commander of the Year for fiscal years 1997 and 1998, Large Station Commander of the Year, NCO of the Year, First Sergeant of the Year for fiscal years 2006 and 2007.