Command Sergeant Major
United States Africa Command

Command Sergeant Major Mark S. Ripka became United States Africa Command's senior enlisted leader in November 2007. He previously served as command sergeant major of United States Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia.

Command Sergeant Major Ripka holds the highest-ranking enlisted position in the command, serving as the principal enlisted advisor to the commander.

Ripka was born in Peoria, Illinois, and graduated from Springfield High School, Springfield, Illinois in 1975. He entered active duty on 15 July 1975 at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

His assignments include: Fire Direction Computer, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Chief Computer and Section Sergeant, 2d Battalion, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany; Instructor, III Corps NCO Academy (PNCOC/ BNCOC), Fort Hood, Texas; Senior Drill Sergeant, 4th Battalion, 2d Infantry Training Brigade, Fort Benning, Georgia; Mortar Platoon Sergeant, 4th Battalion, 21st Infantry, 7th Infantry Division (Light), Fort Ord, California; First Sergeant, HHC 4th Battalion, 17th Infantry and Company A 3d Battalion, 17th Infantry, 7th Infantry Division (Light), Fort Ord, California; Commandant, Light Fighter Cadre, 7th Infantry Division (Light), Fort Ord, California; Operations Sergeant, 5th Battalion, 9th Infantry, 6th Infantry Division (Light), Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Command Sergeant Major, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Command Sergeant Major, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Command Sergeant Major, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Light), Fort Lewis, Washington; Division Command Sergeant Major, 25th Infantry Division (Light) and United States Army Hawaii, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Command Sergeant Major, United States Joint Forces Command, Norfolk, Virginia. Currently serves as the Command Sergeant Major, United States Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany since November 2007.

His awards and decorations include: Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit (2d Award); Meritorious Service Medal (5th Award); Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal (4th Award); Army Achievement Medal (5th Award); National Defense Service Medal (2d Award); Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Good Conduct Medal (10th Award); Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 4); Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Ribbon (Numeral 3); Joint Meritorious Unit Award (3d Award); Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Ranger Tab; Airborne and Air Assault Badges; Combat Infantry Badge; Expert Infantry Badge; and the Drill Sergeant Badge. Additional awards include the Eugene Famigliette Award and the Stephen Ailes Award for selection as the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant of the Year in 1985.

His military education includes: Primary Noncommissioned Officer Course "RECONDO" (Distinguished Graduate); Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course; Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course (Distinguished Honor Graduate); United States Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Course, Gunter Air Force Base, Alabama (Distinguished Graduate); Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer Course and the First Sergeant Course, USASMA, Fort Bliss, Texas; Army Management and Staff College, Garrison Sergeant Major Course; National Defense University, Keystone Course; Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Joint Services Warrant Officer Course; Drill Sergeant Course (Distinguish Leadership Graduate); Ranger School (Darby Memorial Award, Merrill's Marauder Award, Distinguish Enlisted Graduate, and Distinguish Leadership Award); Airborne School; Air Assault School; and NBC School.

His civilian education includes: Bachelor of Science Degree, Resource Management (Magna Cum Laude), Troy State University, Alabama, and Master of Science Degree, Business Organization Management, University of La Verne, Orange County, California.