Lt. Col. William "Jake" Turner

Lieutenant Colonel William (Jake) Turner was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas. In 2006, he was commissioned into the Armor Branch through Texas Tech University Army ROTC. His first assignment was in the 5th Brigade, 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, Texas. He was an assistant battalion logistics officer, rifle platoon leader, and scout platoon leader. 

In 2011, Turner joined the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, where he deployed to Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) from 2011-2012. He served as the brigade assistant operations officer and brigade chief of operations.  

After completing the Maneuver Captains Career Course, he was assigned to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. Turner served as the squadron logistics officer assigned to the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment. In 2014, he assumed command of Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment. Following troop command, he was assigned to the Air Cavalry Leaders Course at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where he served as a cavalry instructor and course manager. 

Turner is a graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College Officers Course and the Advanced Military Studies Program at the School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Following staff college, he was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas, where he served as a division plans officer and as the battalion executive officer for the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team. While with the 1st Infantry Division, he deployed to Poland and South Korea to support combatant commands as part of a forward-deployed, regionally aligned operational force. 

He was then assigned to the Futures and Concepts Center, United States Army Futures Command, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, where he served as an HQ, G-3/5/7 staff operations officer. Currently, Turner is a professor of military science at the University of Richmond. 

Turner earned a B.S. in agribusiness from Texas Tech University. He also holds an M.S. in adult learning and leadership from Kansas State University and an M.A. in military operations from the United States Army Command and General Staff College. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Combat Action Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.