First Sgt. Gerald T. Woods is a native of Florence, South Carolina, and enlisted in the U.S. Army in October 2007 as a visual equipment operator-maintainer.
He attended and graduated from basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and advanced individual training at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. He also completed the Basic Leader Course at Fort Liberty, North Carolina; the Advanced and Senior Leader Courses at Fort George G. Meade; and the Master Leader Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
First Sgt. Woods has served as a visual equipment operator-maintainer, audiovisual team leader, schools and training noncommissioned officer, platoon sergeant, chief engineer, instructor, course coordinator, senior military research analyst, and talent management NCO. He currently serves as the acting command sergeant major of the Defense Information School at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.
His assignments include the 3rd Military Information Support Battalion at Fort Liberty, North Carolina; AFN Benelux at SHAPE, Belgium; the Defense Information School at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland; Army University at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and Human Resources Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He has also deployed to Afghanistan.
First Sgt. Woods’s military education includes the Basic Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, Senior Leader Course, Master Leader Course, Unit Movement Officer Course, Instructor Training Course, Visual Information Management Course, Master Resilience Training Course, Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Course, Equal Opportunity Course, Tactical Information Operations Planners Course, and the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Course. His civilian education includes a Security Plus technical certification and a Bachelor of Arts in computer science from Fayetteville State University.
His awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (second award), Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal (fourth award), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (fourth award), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Certificate of Achievement (sixth award), Combat Action Badge, Basic Master Instructor Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Drivers and Mechanics Badge.