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.

Command Sergeant Major Mulkey began his military career after graduating from Pierce County High School in Blackshear, Georgia. After completing Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, SC and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon, GA; he attended Airborne training at Fort Benning, GA. CSM Mulkey served as a Combat Signaler with the 1/39th Field Artillery BN, Fort Bragg, NC. He reclassified as a Multi-channel Transmission Systems Operator-Maintainer as a part of the 17th Signal BN Kitzigen, Germany. Before becoming the Operation SGM of the Great Lakes BN, his last duty assignment was a Division Chief at the Recruiting and Retention School Command Sergeant Major Mulkey served as the First Sergeant of both the Boston Medical Recruiting Company and the New York Medical Recruiting Company, and Station Commander for the Newburg Medical Recruiting Station for the 1st Medical Recruiting Battalion.

Other assignments include Instructor, Recruiting and Retention School at Fort Jackson, SC.; Master Trainer, Nashville Recruiting Battalion; and multiple assignments as a Station Commander in the Columbia and Jacksonville Recruiting Battalions.

Command Sergeant Major Mulkey is a graduate of the United States Army Sergeant’s Major Academy, Class 63. He also attended and graduated the Department of the Army First Sergeant Course at Fort Jackson, SC. In addition to his military education, he has earned an Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Columbia Southern University in Orange, AL., CSM Mulkey is currently attending the University of Texas at El Paso in pursuit of a Masters in Leadership Studies.

His awards and decorations include the Parachutist Badge, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with six Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters, the Good Conduct Medal 9th award, the National Defense Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon 3rd device, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Multinational Forces and Observers Medal.