Command Sergeant Major Jose A. Escobedo serves as the State Command Sergeant Major for the Texas Army National Guard. As the State Command Sergeant Major, CSM Escobedo assists and advises the Deputy Adjutant General – Army (DAG-Army) in exercising and executing their command responsibilities and advises on all enlisted Army matters. He also works with the Chief of the Joint Staff to prepare the state for contingency operations in either a federal or state emergency, to include manmade or natural disasters, and federal military mobilizations.
CSM Escobedo enlisted in the active Army in 1990 and completed his first term in 1997. CSM Escobedo’s leadership positions include Rifle Team Leader, Squad Leader, Assistant OPS SGT, Team NCOIC, Senior OPS SGT, First Sergeant, Senior Enlisted Advisor, BN/BDE and Division CSM. CSM Escobedo’s deployments include Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Multinational Force and Observers mission, and the Coronavirus 2019 pandemic response. CSM Escobedo was also assigned to the Texas Military Department (TMD) Joint Forces Headquarters (JFHQ) J35 and J55 as the Region VI Regional Plans NCO. His civilian education consists of a Master of Education from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at Brownsville.
EDUCATION
1993 Primary Leadership Development Course, 7th Army NCO Academy, Grafenwoehr, Germany
2008 Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Camp Blanding, Florida
2009 Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course, Camp Swift, Texas
2012 Security Force Assistance Course, Camp Bowie, Texas
2014 Company Level Pre-Command Course, Camp Mabry, Texas
2018 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II
2020 United States Army Sergeant Major Course, Fort Bliss, Texas
2021 Brigade Pre-Command Course, US Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
2022 Nominative Leaders Course (NLC), US Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
2023 National Guard Joint Planners Course, Temple Army Readiness Center, Arlington, Virginia
2024 Keystone Joint Operations Module Course, Fort McNair, Arlington, Virginia
2024 General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar (GFOS), Harvard University Kennedy School, Cambridge, Massachusetts
ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 1991 – June 1992, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, Colorado
2. July 1992 – May 1995, 3d Infantry Division, Rose Barracks, Schweinfurt, Germany
3. June 1995 – November 1997, 370th Transportation Company, Brownsville, Texas
4. August 2003 – May 2007, Team Leader, Alpha Company, 3d Battalion 141 Infantry Regiment, 72d Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Weslaco, Texas
5. June 2007 – April 2011, Squad Leader, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion 141 Infantry Regiment, 72d Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
6. May 2011 – May 2012, Assistant Operations Sergeant, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 72d Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Houston, Texas
7. June 2012 – September 2013, NCOIC, Security Forces Assistance Team, 72d Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Kandahar, Afghanistan
8. October 2013 – April 2014, Assistant Operations Sergeant, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 72d Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Houston, Texas
9. May 2014 – January 2017, First Sergeant, Bravo Company, 3d Battalion 141 Infantry Regiment, 72d Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Laredo, Texas
10. February 2017 – May 2018, Senior Enlisted Advisor, 6th CBRN Task Force, 136th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Round Rock, Texas
11. June 2018 – March 2019, First Sergeant, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 136th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Round Rock, Texas
12. April 2019 – March 2020, Battalion Command Sergeant Major, 3d Battalion 141 Infantry Regiment, 72d Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Weslaco, Texas
13. April 2020 – January 2021, Squadron Command Sergeant Major, 1st Squadron 112th Calvary Regiment, 72d Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Bryan, Texas
14. February 2021 – June 2022, Brigade Command Sergeant Major, 136th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Round Rock, Texas
15. July 2022 – October 2024, Division Command Sergeant Major, 36th Infantry Division, Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas
16. October 2024 – Present, State Command Sergeant Major, Joint Force Headquarters, Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
February 2021 – June 2022, Senior Enlisted Advisor, Joint Task Force COVID, Austin, Texas
September 2022 – March 2024, J35 HRF Planner, Joint Force Headquarters-Texas, Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas
March 2024- September 2024, J55 HRF Planner, Joint Force Headquarters-Texas, Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal (w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (w/4 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Achievement Medal (w/3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Good Conduct Medal (w/2 Bronze Knots)
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (w/3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal w/ Campaign Star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ Campaign Star
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (w/Silver Hourglass, M-Device, Numeral 4)
NCO Professional Development Ribbon (w/ Numeral 6)
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Ribbon (w/ Numeral 4)
NATO ISAF Medal
Multinational Force and Observers Medal
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Combat Infantry Badge
Order of Saint Maurice- Centurion
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Sergeant August 22, 2003
Staff Sergeant June 21, 2007
Sergeant First Class May 9, 2011
Master Sergeant/ First Sergeant March 26, 2014
Command Sergeant Major/ Sergeant Major December 18, 2018
(Current as of February 2025)