53rd Quartermaster General

Colonel Kirklin. a native of Lexington, Mississippi, graduated from Mississippi Valley State University as a Distinguished Military Graduate. He holds a Masters Degree in Adult and Continuing Education from Kansas State University and a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. His military education includes the Quartermaster Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Command and General Staff College, and the United States Army War College.

Kirklin’s military service began in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fulda, Germany, where from 1987 to 1991, he served as Platoon Leader, General Supply Officer, and Squadron S4, Combat Support Squadron. After graduating from the Advanced Course, he was assigned to the 5th Infantry Division, Ft Polk, LA, from 1992 to 1993, as Class IX Accountable Officer. From 1993 to 1996, he was assigned to the 124th Main Support Battalion, 2nd Armored Division, Ft. Hood, TX, as the Supply and Services Officer, Support Operations Officer, and later as the Light Maintenance Company Commander. After completion of Company Command, he served as the Task Force XXI Combat Systems Manager, 4th Infantry Division.

From 1996 to 1999, Kirklin was assigned to Hohenfels, Germany, where he functioned as Combat Service Support Observer/Controller on the Grizzlies and Timberwolves Maneuver Teams, and later as Operations Group S4. From 1999 to 2000, he was a student at the Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, KS. Kirklin was then assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division, Ft Hood, TX, from 2000 to 2002, where he was the Executive Officer in the 215th Forward Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and 1st Cavalry Division DISCOM S3. His following assignment was as Course Director, Combined Captains Career Course, Ft. Lee, VA, from 2002 to 2004.

In 2004, Kirklin returned to Ft. Hood, TX, and was again assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division DISCOM, as Deputy Commander while deployed to Taji, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. After re-deployment in March 2005, Kirklin assumed Command of the 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, Ft. Hood, TX, on 14 July 2005. As commander, he deployed the battalion to Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08, Diyala Province, Iraq, and then re-deployed the unit back to Ft Hood, TX.

After relinquishing Battalion Command in March 2008, he attended the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA. After graduating from the War College in 2009, Kirklin returned to Ft. Hood, TX, and assumed command of the 4th Sustainment Brigade on 14 July 2009. He deployed as the 4th Sustainment Brigade to Tallil, Iraq, in support of Operation New Dawn in February 2011. Kirklin redeployed the Brigade from Tallil, Iraq in December 2011, after serving as the final Sustainment Brigade to close out sustainment and retrograde operations to end Operation New Dawn. In January 2012, Kirklin was assigned to the United States Central Command J4, Tampa, FL, as Chief of Current Operations.

Kirklin became the Commandant of the U.S. Army Quartermaster School on 9 Jun 2014.

His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal (2 oak leaf clusters), the Meritorious Service Medal (4 oak leaf clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (2 oak leaf clusters), the Army Achievement Medal (1 oak leaf cluster), the National Defense Service Medal with star, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon (4th Award), the Combat Action Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.