CSM Pearson entered the United States Army on 2 March 1977 and completed Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
After Basic Training, he attended Advanced Individual Training and Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia.
His first assignment was with Alpha Company, 1/505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division as Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he served as an Infantryman until August 1979.
His next assignment was with the 588th Engineer Battalion, Fort Polk, Louisiana where he served as a team leader, squad leader and operations sergeant until January 1983.
He moved to the 237th Engineer Battalion, Federal Republic of Germany where he served as a platoon sergeant until April 1995.
He returned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he served with the 307th Engineer Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division as a platoon sergeant until April 1998.
He was selected to serve at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC), Fort Chaffee, Arkansas as an Observer Controller for the Plans Exercise Maneuver Control Center (EMCC) on Demolitions Effects Systems (DES), which was incorporated into the current demo manual. CSM Pearson served as JRTC until March 1993. His next duty station was the 44th Engineer Battalion, Camp Howze, Korea where he served as First Sergeant of B Company and Headquarters and Headquarters Company until August 1996. After Korea, he moved to Fort Belvior, Virginia, where he was the First Sergeant for Headquarters and Headquarters Company 249th Prime Power Battalion until July 1997.
He attended the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA), at Fort Bliss, Texas. His next assignment was with the 1st Cavalry Division Engineer Brigade as the S3 Sergeant Major from June 1998 to December 1998. In January 1999, he deployed to Bosnia and assumed the duties and responsibilities of the 20th Engineer Battalion Command Sergeant Major. In August 2000, CSM Pearson deployed with the 20th Engineer Battalion, (Task Force Lumberjack) to fight fires in the Lolo National Forest in Montana. He served with the 20th Engineer Battalion until 13 June 2001. On 29 June 2001, he assumed the duties as the 1st Cavalry Division Engineer Brigade CSM (SAPPERS), where he served until October 2003. CSM Pearson was selected to serve as the Engineer Regimental Command Sergeant Major, U.S. Army Engineer School Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He served as the Regimental Command Sergeant Major until April 2008.
CSM Pearson is currently serving as the CSM of the 249th Engineer Battalion, Prime Power at Fort Belvior, Virginia.
CSM Pearson holds an Associates Degree from Park University, His military education includes the Primary Noncommissioned Officer Course MOS 11B, Primary Noncommissioned Officer Course MOS 21B, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course, U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy Class 48, Battle Staff Course, Air Assault School, Airborne School, Jumpmaster Course, Ranger School, French Commando School, and Honduran Airborne Course and Jungle Warfare.
CSM Pearson’s awards include the Legion of merit, Meritorious Service Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters), National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Air Assault Badge, Jumpmaster Badge, Ranger Tab, Honduran Jump Wings, and French Jump Wings.