Leadership

Commandant

Command Sergeant Major Curtis C. Koehler was raised in Lyons, Nebraska and began his military career with the Nebraska Army National Guard in 1993 at the age of seventeen.  He has been deployed three times overseas; Operation Desert Spring Kuwait (2001), Operation Iraqi Freedom (2005-2006), Operation Enduring Freedom (2010-2011), as well as a domestic mobilization to the Southwest Border Mission (2021-2022).

CSM Koehler has served the Nebraska Army National Guard as a Tank Crew Member-Troop A 1/167^th Cavalry, Scout Squad Leader- Troop B 1/167^th Cavalry, Supply Sergeant- Troop B 1/167^th Cavalry, Battalion S-4 NCO- 734^th Transportation Battalion, 402^nd Military Police Battalion and 126^th Chemical Battalion. He has also served as the Senior Supply NCO- 92^nd Troop Command, First Sergeant for the 623^rd Engineer Company, G-4 Sergeant Major for Joint Forces Headquarters, as well as the 128^th Engineer Battalion Command Sergeant Major in Columbus, Nebraska.  CSM Koehler is currently serving as the Commandant of the 1-209th Regiment (NCOA).

CSM Koehler’s completed Non-Commissioned Officer Enlisted schools include Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Non-Commissioned Officers Course, Advanced Non-Commissioned Officers Course, Company Commander/First Sergeant Pre-command Course, United States Army Sergeants Majors Academy, Battalion Commander/Command Sergeants Major Pre-command Course, as well as the Commandant Pre-command Course.  His civilian education includes a Building Construction Associates Degree from Northeast Community College.

His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4), Army Commendation Medal (2), Army Good Conduct Medal (6), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (3), National Defense Medal (2), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (4), NCO Professional Development Medal (5), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, NATO Medal, Nebraska National Guard Commendation Medal, Nebraska National Guard Service Medal (5), Nebraska National Guard Emergency Service Medal (2), National Guard Meritorious Service Medal, Nebraska National Guard Homeland Defense Service Medal, Nebraska National Guard Individual Achievement Medal (2). 

CSM Koehler and his wife Stacy currently reside in Wahoo, Nebraska with their two children, daughter Rylee (19) and son Reid (16).

Deputy Commandant

SFC Tony Franklin enlisted into the United States Army in 2005 as an 18X (Special Forces Recruit) and attended One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was awarded the MOS 11B, Infantryman.  

SFC Franklin’s military and civilian education includes the following four levels of Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Professional Development System: Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC), Basic Non-commissioned Officer Course (BNCOC), Senior Leader Course (SLC), and Master Leader Course (MLC). He is also a graduate of the following military courses: Airborne School, Special Forces Qualification Course (18E), Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant’s Course (18F), Advanced Special Operation Techniques Course, Non-Conventional Assisted Recovery Plans and Operations Course, Marine Tactical Air Control Party Course, Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course, Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape (SERE) School (High Risk), Persian Farsi Language Training, and the Common Faculty Development Instructor Course (CFD-IC). SFC Franklin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the American Military University.

SFC Franklin’s previous assignments include: Junior and Senior Communications Sergeant, Special Forces Operational Detachment - Alpha (SFOD-A) 5332 and SFOD-Bravo 5330, Charlie Company, 3^rd Battalion, 5^th Special Forces Group, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Assistant Operations and Intelligence Sergeant and Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC), SFOD-A 5332; Electronic Warfare Specialist, 67^th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB), and Senior Small group leader with the 1/209^th Regional Training Institute (RTI) Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA). He is currently assigned as the Chief of Training for the Basic Leader Course at 1/209^th RTI (NCOA).

SFC Franklin’s awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal (1 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), Joint Commendation Service Medal (Combat Device), Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal (3 Knots), National Defense Service Medal, Operation Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal (1 Campaign Star), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal, Non Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 3), Army Service Ribbon, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (3 Campaign Stars), Nebraska National Guard Emergency Service Medal, the Nebraska National Guard Individual Achievement Medal, the Army Valorous Unit Award, the Army Meritorious Unit Commendation (1 OLC), and the Army Superior Unit Award (1 OLC). He also earned the Special Forces Tab, Parachutist Badge, Excellence in Competition Badge – Pistol, Excellence in Competition Badge – Rifle, Canadian Parachutist Badge, and the Master Army Instructor Badge.

SFC Franklin is married and has two sons and one daughter.

Chief of Training

MSG Lane Barnason enlisted into the United States Army in 2003 as a 15R (AH-64 Attack Helicopter Repairer) and attended Basic Combat Training (BCT) at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. Upon completion of BCT, MSG Barnason attended 15R MOS-Q at Ft. Eustis, Virginia, where he was awarded the MOS 15R.

MSG Barnason’s military and civilian education includes the following four levels of Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Professional Development System: Warrior Leader Course (WLC), Advanced Leader Course (ALC), Senior Leader Course (SLC), and Master Leader Course (MLC). He is a graduate of the following courses: 15U CH-47 Chinook Repairer Course, 42A Human Resources Specialist’s Course, Unit Movement Officer’s Course, Brigade/Battalion S-1 Course, Training NCO Course, Army Basic Instructor Course/Small Group Instructor Course, and Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Level II Course.

MSG Barnason’s previous assignments include: AH-64 Attack Helicopter Repairer, F Troop 1-167th Air Cavalry; AH-64 Attack Helicopter Repairer, D Troop 1-124th Air Cavalry; CH-47 Chinook Flight Engineer, Bravo Company, 2-135th General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB); CH-47 Chinook Repairer, Delta Company, 2-135th General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB); Human Resources Sergeant, HHC, 67th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade (BfSB); Small Group Leader, 1/209th Regiment Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA); Senior Human Resources Sergeant, HHC, 1-376th Aviation Regiment; Senior Small Group Leader, 1/209th Regiment (NCOA). He is currently assigned as the Chief of Training with 1/209th Regiment (NCOA).

MSG Barnason’s awards and decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (3 OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal (3 Knots), Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (3 OLC), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ “M” Device (Silver Hourglass), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Superior Unit Award, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 4), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Basic Aviation Badge, Basic, Senior, and Master Army Instructor Badge, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (1 Campaign Star), Nebraska National Guard Individual Achievement Medal, Nebraska National Guard Homeland Defense Service Ribbon, Nebraska National Guard Emergency Service Medal (1 OLC), and Nebraska National Guard Service Medal (XX Device).

MSG Barnason is married and has two daughters.

Quality Assurance Officer

MSG Ethan Dodd enlisted into the Nebraska Army National Guard in September 2008, and attend Basic Combat Training (BCT) at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he was awarded the Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) 74D, Chemical, Radiological, Biological, Nuclear (CBRN) Specialist.

MSG Dodd’s military education includes the following four levels of Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Professional Development System: Warrior Leader Course (WLC), Advanced Leaders Course (ALC), Senior Leaders Course (SLC), and Master Leaders Course (MLC). He is also a graduate of the following military courses: Airborne (SQI P), Civil Support Skills Course (SQI R), Confined Space Rescue, Radiological Response Techniques, Advanced Chemical and Biological Warfare Agent Course, Advanced Radiological Detection Training, Foundation Instructor/ Facilitator Course (FIFC), Small Group Instructor Training (SGIT), Unit Readiness NCO Course, Basic Military Police (MOS 31B), Company Commander/First Sergeant Pre-command Course. MSG Dodd holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management.

MSG Dodd’s previous assignments include: CBRN Specialist, 126th Chemical Battalion; Rifleman, Agricultural Development Team 3; CBRN NCO, 72nd Civil Support Team (CST); Small Group Leader, 1/209th Regiment Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA); Operations Sergeant, 754th Chemical Company; Operations Sergeant, 126th Chemical Battalion; Operations Sergeant, 67th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB); Chief of Training, 1/209th Regiment (NCOA). He is currently serving as the Quality Assurance NCO for Basic Leader Course at 1/209th Regiment (NCOA).

MSG Dodd’s awards include: Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (4 OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal (3 Knots), Army Reserved Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 4), Army Service Ribbon, Nebraska National Guard Commendation Medal, Nebraska National Guard Individual Achievement Medal, Nebraska National Guard Emergency Service Medal (5 OLC), Nebraska National Guard Service Medal. He has also earned the Basic Army Instructor Badge and Parachutist Badge.

MSG Dodd is married and has one son and two daughters.