MAJ Derrick Burden is from Vicksburg, Mississippi. He enlisted in the military on May 02 1989. His enlisted assignments included 1-7 Field Artillery, Fort Drum, New York, 1-8 Field Artillery, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii and 1st Howitzer Battery, 2nd ACR, Fort Polk, Louisiana. He earned his commission from the Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia in January 2001. He completed the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in June 2001.

MAJ Burden’ first assignment as an U.S. Army Officer was with Charlie Battery 1-6 FA in Bamberg, Germany. He was assigned to Charlie Battery 1-6 Field Artillery where he served as a Battery Fire Direction Officer, and a Platoon Leader. He also served in the 1-6 FA Battalion as a Colts/Striker Platoon Leader. He deployed to Baquba, Iraq in the position of Colts/Striker Platoon Leader and served in various locations throughout the 1st Infantry Division’s Area of Operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom 2. MAJ Burden then returned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma and completed the Field Artillery Captain’s Career Course in November 2005.

MAJ Burden arrived to Fort Hood in November 2005 and was assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, where he served as the Battalion Fire Support Officer for 2-8th Cavalry Battalion. He also served on the 1st Cavalry Division Staff as an Effects Officer, and as the Battery Commander of Bravo Battery 2-82 FA. On 15 Feb 2010, MAJ Burden reported as the Brigade S3, Operation Officer to 5th Brigade JROTC Headquarters at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, which was his final duty station. He retired on 30 June 2013.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters, MSM two oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal two oak leaf clusters, Good Conduct Medal six oak leaf clusters, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Humanitarian Service Ribbon, Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Air Assault, Parachutists Badge and the Combat Action Badge.

MAJ Burden is married to the former Mrs. Frances Renee Brooks from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He has three children a son Alexander, 33, a daughter Nadia, 27 and a son Neil, 24.

Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Elvin J. Nuells is a graduate of Excelsior College where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Science.  He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Webster University and is a graduate of the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy (Class 66). 

Command Sergeant Major Nuells has served in many positions during his Army career. He received his Basic Training at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma and Advanced Individual Training as an Administration Specialist at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina.  He served as Post Master (COPE) at Camp Red Cloud, Korea.  Command Sergeant Major Nuells also served in many different positions at New Orleans Military Entrance Processing Station to include Testing NCOIC, Travel NCOIC and Operations NCOIC. Command Sergeant Major Nuells change is Military Occupational Specialty to Recruiter. He mastered his recruiting skill sets for nine years throughout rural and metropolitan areas within the San Antonio and Houston Recruiting Battalions.  He served as Los Angeles Recruiting Battalion Command Sergeant Major and Operation Sergeant Major. 

Command Sergeant Major Nuells received numerous military awards and decorations to include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters) Joint Service Commendation Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster) Global War on Terrorism Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait).

After his military retirement in November 2020, Command Sergeant Major Nuells joined the Pleasanton High School Faculty so he could continue to help guide our community's future leaders.