Command Sergeant Major Johan S. Ponder enlisted in the United States Army on August 8, 1995 from Durham, North Carolina. He received his Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Leonard wood, Missouri as a Motor Transport Operator. His schools include: the Warrior Leaders Course, the Advance Leaders Course, Senior Leaders Course, Army Recruiter Course, Station Commander Course, Equal Opportunity Course, Master Fitness Trainer Course, Master Resiliency Course, First Sergeant Company Commander Course, and the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy Class 70. Command Sergeant Major Ponder graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Project Management from POST University. Command Sergeant Major Ponder has held every leadership positions from Team Leader, to Battalion Operations Sergeant Major.
His assignments include HHC 1-5 Calvary mechanized infantry division Fort Hood, Texas, 193rd Transportation Company Fort Clayton, Panama, 126th Transportation Company Fort Bragg, North Carolina, 515th Transportation Company, Manheim Germany, 497th Medium Transportation Company, Fort Lewis Washington, Boston Recruiting Station, Boston, Massachusetts New England Battalion, Jacksonville Recruiting Station, Wilmington Company, Raleigh Battalion, New Haven Recruiting Center, New Haven Company, Albany Battalion, Winston-Salem Recruiting Company, Raleigh Battalion, and the Kansas City Recruiting Battalion. His deployments include peace keeping tours to Kuwait, Intrinsic Action 96, three combat tours to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, I, III, and 06-08 and numerous humanitarian deployments to France, and Guyana.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (2 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (9 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (6 OLC), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award, Good Conduct medal (8th award), National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Medal, Non Commissioned Officers Professional Development 5th Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas 4th Ribbon, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Drivers Badge, Gold Recruiting Badge w/3 Sapphires and the Gold recruiting ring. He is a recipient of the following distinguished awards Audie Leon Murphy Club, Major General RED Newman award for Leadership, Mentorship, and Counseling, the Military order of Saint Christopher, and the Recruiter Medallion of Excellence.
Command Sergeant Major Ponder is the author of the books Not for the Weak or Fainthearted Marching and Running cadence book and Lessons Learned Army Recruiting book. He is happily married with one daughter.