 Mr. Samuel B. Retherford is the Director for Officer and Enlisted Personnel Management in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness where he oversees programs such as retention management, awards and decorations, separations, disability system management, leave and liberty, officer and enlisted personnel utilization and assignments, and professional military education.
Mr. Retherford retired as a colonel from the Army after 26 years of service. He is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College and the National War College. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Botany from the University of Washington, a Masters of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a Masters in National Security Strategy from the National Defense University. In his military career, Mr. Retherford served in a variety of human resource staff positions at the Division, Corps, and Department levels. He also commanded company, battalion and brigade organizations. Mr. Retherford finished his military career as the Senior Military Assistant to the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel Readiness in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Prior to becoming the Director, he was the Deputy Director for Officer and Enlisted Personnel Management for policy issues where he led a comprehensive effort to implement a disability pilot program and a number of policy revisions that improved the Disability Evaluation System in terms of efficiency, transparency, and simplicity.
His military awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (oak leaf cluster), Meritorious Service Medal (silver oak leaf cluster), Army Commendation (five oak leaf clusters), Army Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, NATO Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon Third Award, Army Superior Unit Award, and the Senior Parachutist Badge.
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