Command Sgt. Maj. Teela Washington is a native of Champaign, Illinois. She enlisted in the U.S. Army May 5, 1992 in Baltimore Maryland as an information technology specialist. She attended BCT at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and AIT at Fort Gordon, Georgia. As an IT Specialist, she served in positions from Squad Leader to Section Chief, All Army Track Team Member, and Drill Sergeant, serving in the 122nd Signal Battalion, Camp Red Cloud Korea, the Electronic Proving Ground, Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and the 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
In 2003, CSM Washington changed her career path and became a member of U.S. Army Recruiting Command. Since her transition she has held every position from Recruiter to Operations Sergeant Major, serving in the Macon Georgia Recruiting Center, Warner Robins Georgia Recruiting Company, Indianapolis Indiana Recruiting Company, 2nd Recruiting Brigade-Redstone Arsenal, AL, and 6th Recruiting Brigade-Las Vegas, NV. In 2018, CSM Washington was the only sergeant major out of 30 other candidates to be selected to attend the Penn State Fellowship Program at the Sergeants Major Academy, where she taught in the Department of Army Operations for the last three years.
CSM Washington’s military education includes the Information Technology Specialist Course, U.S. Army Drill Sergeant School, U.S. Army Recruiting School, Guidance Counselor Operations Course, Department of the Army’s First Sergeant’s Course, Master Trainer Course, Master Resilience Training Course, Senior Training and Education Manager’s Course, and Sergeants Major Academy, Class 66.
Her civilian education includes a High School Diploma from Frederick High School in Maryland, two bachelor’s degrees, and two master’s Degrees. She is currently pursuing a third master’s degree in Instructional Design at Western Kentucky University and a Doctor of Business Administration with a concentration in Project Management at Walden University. CSM Washington is also a Certified Scrum Master and a Certified Scrum Product Owner.
CSM Washington’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (4th Award), the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal (5th Award), the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Leadership Development Ribbon (Numeral 5), the Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Army Superior Unit Award.