Jeffrey W. Talley

Lt. Gen. & Mrs Talley at Louisiana State University (LSU)

Talley was born in St. Louis, Missouri, but moved at a young age to Northern Virginia. In 1977, he graduated from Yorktown High School in Arlington, Virginia. After spending his freshman year of college at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, he transferred to Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. While at LSU, he met his future wife, Linda R. Hall, of Mandeville, Louisiana. They were married on campus in 1981. Over the course of the next 35 years of active and reserve military service, they would move 26 times. They have three sons and a daughter, Christopher, Joshua, Matthew, and Ashley.

Talley’s love for the outdoors and strong interest in the environment led him to pursue undergraduate studies in the area of natural resource management. In 1981, he graduated from Louisiana State University (LSU) with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Forestry and began his career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Soon after his career began, he quickly decided he needed to combine his natural resource management skills with civil and environmental engineering.

While serving in his first Army assignment at Ft. Devens, Massachusetts, Talley sought to pursue studies in engineering, but these courses were not offered during a time that he could attend. Wanting to do something academically, he began taking graduate courses in humanities at nearby Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts. In 1985, he received a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Religious Studies.

Talley continued his academics interest at Washington University in St. Louis, while working for the St. Louis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. His still wanted to pursue an engineering degree, but the scheduling of engineer courses were not compatible with part-time study. To better himself with a broader education, he enrolled in a graduate program focusing on history and philosophy. In 1988, he received a Master of Liberal Arts (MLA) degree.

In 1991, Talley was assigned to the Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where he resumed his goal of obtaining an engineering degree. Realizing he needed to take significant undergraduate foundation courses in math, physics, and engineering to meet the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) requirements; he decided to leave the Regular Army, transitioned to the Army Reserve, and enroll in engineering classes at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1995, he received a Master of Science in Engineering (MSE).

In the fall of 1997, with the financial support of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Talley began his doctorate studies in engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Within 12 months, he had completed all his coursework and passed his oral/written comprehensive exams. He successfully defended his work in August of 2000, receiving a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering. His dissertation research won the U.S. Department of Defense’s Strategic Environmental Research and Development (SERDP) project of the year award.[4]  

Talley’s academic studies re-focused on military science with his selection to attend the U.S. Army War College Distance Education Program in 2001. Through a series of distance learning and resident sessions at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, he completed his studies in 2003 and was awarded a Master of Strategic Studies (MSS) degree.

Nearly seven years would pass before Talley would return to school as a student one final time. In 2010, he began an executive graduate program in business at the University of Oxford, England. Over the next 22 months, he would commute to and from England, while juggling his family, Army Reserve, and civilian work responsibilities. While at Oxford, he would also create a series of tech start-ups with one of his classmates, winning the Saïd Business School Venture Fund Competition for best new start-up. In 2011, he graduated from Keble College, University of Oxford, with an Executive MBA degree.

The Cadet Years (1978-1981)

Talley began his military career at Louisiana State University (LSU) on an Army ROTC Scholarship and was a Cadet of the Ole War Skul. As a cadet, he graduated from the U.S. Army Airborne School at Ft. Benning, Georgia and was Distinguished Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army Air Assault School at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. His senior year, he was the Commander of Pershing Rifles Company D-16 and an Officer in the Scabbard and Blade. He graduated from LSU in December of 1981 as a Distinguished Military Graduate, receiving a Regular Army commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (motto - Essayons - “Let us Try”).

The Regular Army (1981-1992)

Upon graduation and commissioning from LSU, Talley completed Engineer Officers Basic Course (EOBC) at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, and the U.S. Army Ranger School at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Afterwards, he reported to his first permanent duty assignment at Ft. Devens, Massachusetts, where he served with the 39^th Engineer Battalion (motto - “Fight, Build, & Destroy”) as 1^st Platoon Leader, Alpha Company, and later as Battalion Adjutant (S-1). In August of 1985, Talley was promoted to Captain, en-route to his next assignment with the St. Louis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where he worked in Construction Division on Lock & Dam 26 (Replacement), the largest civil works project in the U.S. at that time. Later, he would serve in both Engineering and Planning Divisions.

Following his assignment in St. Louis, Talley returned to Ft. Belvoir, VA for the Engineer Officers Advance Course (EOAC). Upon graduation, he volunteered to go to the Republic of Korea for an unaccompanied assignment with the 44^th Engineer Battalion (motto - “Builders of Freedom”), Eight U.S. Army (EUSA). After a short stint as Assistant Battalion Operations Officer (Assistant S-3) at Camp Mercer (vicinity Seoul), he took command of Bravo Company and Camp Nimble (Dongducheon), in support of 2^nd Infantry Division and its demilitarized zone (DMZ) mission.

After two years in Korea, Talley returned to the U.S. for Combined Arms Service Staff School (CAS3) at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where he worked in the Hazardous Toxic Radiological Waste (HTRW) Branch of Engineering Division. There, he supported the design and remediation of contaminated sites around the country, including the Times Beach Superfund project in Missouri, considered by many to be the most toxic site in America. In April of 1992, Talley resigned his Regular Army commission, leaving active duty as a senior Captain, and transferring to the U.S. Army Reserve.

The Army Reserve (1992-2012)

Talley’s first assignment in the Army Reserve was Assistant Operations Officer (Assistant S-3), 315^th Engineer Group (motto - “Building the Way”), New Cumberland Army Depot, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. In December of 1993, he was promoted to Major and subsequently serve as the Group’s Operations Officer (S-3). Following his assignment at the Group, he was assigned to the 365^th Engineer Battalion (motto - “Fast-Rugged”) in Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, where he served as the Battalion Operations Officer (S-3). While at the 365^th, he also graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC).

Talley relocated in April of 1996 to Vicksburg, Mississippi, to join the 412^th Engineer Command (motto - “Build to Serve”). While at the 412th, he served as the Commanding General’s personal Plans Officer, and later as Commandant. After two years in command, he returned to the 365^th Engineer Battalion to be the Battalion Executive Officer (XO), only to return to the 412^th Engineer Command a year later to serve as its Secretary General Staff (SGS). Selected early for battalion command, Major Talley left the 412^th Engineer Command in February of 1999 to take command of the 365^th Engineer Battalion. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in April of 2000.

While in battalion command, Talley was selected for Senior Service College, which he began through the U.S. Army War College’s (USAWC) Distance Education Program. Upon completion of command in February of 2002, Talley became the Deputy Operations Officer (Deputy G-3) at the 416^th Engineer Command (motto - “Serving by Building”) in Darien, Illinois. In December 2002, he was called to active duty and in February of 2003, he mobilized and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraq Freedom as Chief of Operations (CHOPS), 416^th Engineer Command, Coalition Joint Forces Land Component Command (CJFLCC). While in theater, Talley served as a critical staff officer for the planning and execution of hundreds of combat and construction missions throughout Kuwait and Iraq. He was awarded the Bronze Star. Upon his return, he resumed his studies at the  U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, receiving his diploma and Master of Strategic Studies (MSS) degree in July 2003.

Upon graduation from the U.S. Army War College, Talley served in the Pentagon as a Strategic Planner in the Deputy Directorate for the War on Terrorism, Strategic Plans & Policy Directorate (J-5), Joint Chiefs of Staff. Promoted to Colonel in February of 2005, he was subsequently reassigned to command the 926^th Engineer Group (motto - “Mission Above All”) in Montgomery, Alabama. The 926^th was the largest engineer group in the Total Army, with over 7,000 Soldiers scattered across multiple states. As part of an Army force structure change, the group was selected to reorganize and re-designate as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 926th Engineer Brigade. At that time, reserve brigades were one-star commands. Talley was selected to be its first General Officer and was promoted to Brigadier General in August of 2007. In January 2008, Talley was called to active duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as Commander, 926th Engineer Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (motto - “Steadfast and Loyal), Multi-National Division - Baghdad and the Baghdad Provincial Engineer. While in Iraq, Talley is credited with developing a military and policy strategy widely referred to as “Engineering the Peace” that aimed to reduce violence in destabilized communities by rapidly rebuilding infrastructure, schools and hospitals. His work is credited with reducing violence and terrorism in the militia stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad, and he was awarded two Bronze Stars - one for his efforts in rebuilding Baghdad, and the other for meritorious achievement in combat during the January 2009 planning and execution of security operations for the Baghdad provincial elections.

Upon return from Iraq, Talley assumed command of the 84th Training Command (motto - “Strike Hard”) at Ft. Knox, Kentucky in June of 2009 and was promoted to Major General. At the 84^th, he was responsible for training and assessing the readiness of units through Combat Training Center-like exercises in preparation for their upcoming combat deployments. While in command, he also served on the Secretary of Defense's Reserve Forces Policy Board. On March 20, 2012, President Obama nominated Talley to be the Chief of Army Reserve and Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command. Talley relinquished command of the 84^th Training Command in April of 2012 and was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal. He was subsequently reassigned to the Office of Chief of Army Reserve (OCAR) at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. On May 3, 2012, Talley was confirmed by the Senate for appointment to the rank of Lieutenant General and assignment as the Chief of the Army Reserve and Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command.

Chief of Army Reserve and Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command (2012-2016)

Talley was appointed to the rank of Lieutenant General in the Regular Army on June 9, 2012, at a ceremony at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Immediately after his appointment, he assumed command of the U.S. Army Reserve Command (USARC) and was sworn in as the 32^nd Chief of Army Reserve. General Raymond T. Odierno, 38^th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, officiated the appointment, the change of command, and the swearing-in ceremonies. As the Chief of the Army Reserve, Talley was the principal staff adviser to the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army on all Army Reserve Affairs. He developed Army Reserve budgets, training programs and policy decisions; managed the Army Reserve troop program units, individual mobilization augmentees, and the active guard/reserve program; and served as the appropriation director of all Army Reserve funds. As the Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command, Talley commanded all Army Reserve troops in the Continental U.S. and had administrative control over the Army Reserve troops overseas, with a total end strength of 205,000 Soldiers and over 12,000 civilians.

Lt. Gen. Talley addresses U.S. Chamber of Commerce

During Talley’s tenure, the Army Reserve mobilized over 62,000 Soldiers to over 30 countries, including continued support to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan; all while overcoming “unprecedented challenges, including the first reduction to the Reserve force since the end of the Korean War, severe budget cuts known as sequestration, a government shutdown and more. To improve the Army Reserve’s support to the Total Force, Talley developed the “Plan, Prepare and Provide” readiness model that placed Army Reserve Engagement Cells and Teams into every Army service component command and combatant command around the world. He also created the Reserve's Private Public Partnership program, which built partnerships with civilian companies and organizations and helps Soldiers and their families find employment or advance their careers in the private sector.

Talley relinquished command to General Robert B. "Abe" Abrams, the commanding general of U.S. Army Forces Command, on June 1, 2016, at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.

Retirement from the U.S. Army

Talley retired from the U.S. Army on June 30, 2016 at the rank of Lieutenant General, having served almost 35 years in active and reserve assignments. Talley and his wife Linda were honored at a Special Retirement Review at Conmy Hall at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia. The ceremony was conducted by the 3^rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) and hosted by General Mark A. Milley, 39^th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. Talley was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineer (1992-2001)

Talley began his civilian career upon leaving the Regular Army (active duty) in 1992. His initial work was as an Engineering Technician in the Hazardous Toxic Radiological Waste (HTRW) Branch of Engineering Division, Baltimore District. Upon completion of his engineering degree from The Johns Hopkins University in 1995, he was promoted to Environmental Engineer. Working with multiple government organizations and Architect Engineering (AE) firms, he directly supported the assessment and remediation of hundreds of hazardous waste sites. His activities ranged from field sampling, site characterization, remediation design, and the application of innovative technologies.

In 1996, Talley left the Baltimore District for a Research Environmental Engineer position at the Waterways Experiment Station (WES) in Vicksburg, Mississippi. At the time, WES was considered the largest research and development (R&D) engineering center in the nation. As the Bioremediation Team Leader, he created a competitive externally-funded R&D program focused on remediation of soil, sediment, surface water, and ground water. He also served as principle investigator (PI) on multiple projects, while advising numerous graduate students and post-doctorate fellows from various academic institutions. While at WES, he completed his Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.

University of Notre Dame (2001-2009)

In 2001, Talley accepted an Assistant Professor (tenure-track) appointment at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana. He taught undergraduate/graduate courses in engineering and science, while developing a very competitive externally-funded basic/applied research program focused on the characterization and remediation of contaminated soil, sediment, surface water, and ground water. He also served as principle [sic] advisor to multiple undergraduate/graduate students and post-doctorate fellows. After 5 years, including one year deployed to Kuwait/Southern Iraq as an Army Reservist, he was selected early for tenure and promoted to Associate Professor in 2006. He continued to advance his academic reputation, establishing himself as an excellent teacher and scholar. In 2008, he was deployed to Iraq to rebuild Baghdad as its first Provincial Engineer. In both deployments, he was able to directly apply his Notre Dame work in the area of environmental restoration.

Malcolm Pirnie (2005-2009)

To gain business experience in the practice of engineering and science, Talley began working part-time as an Associate at Malcolm Pirnie, while working full-time at Notre Dame. At that time, Malcom Pirnie was the largest privately-owned water/wastewater company in the U.S., with its corporate office in White Plains, New York. While at Pirnie, he provided environmental engineering and science consulting support to clients and projects nationwide, with emphasis on water and soil remediation. He was also able to receive support from Pirnie for his academic research. This allowed students to work with samples from real contaminated sites, while testing new and innovative technologies developed at Notre Dame.

Southern Methodist University (2009-2011)

In 2009, Talley continued his academic pursuits at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He held appointments as Professor (with tenure) and Chair, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Bobby B. Lyle Professor (endowed chair) of Leadership and Global Entrepreneurship and Founding Director of the Hunter and Stephanie Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity. As a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, he taught and conducted research on the characterization and remediation of pollutants. As Chair of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, he led significant growth and reorganized the department with emphasis on advancing scholarship and teaching. As the Bobby B. Lyle Chair of Leadership and Global Entrepreneurship, he taught seminars, lectures, and executed projects emphasizing leadership and entrepreneurship skills. As the Director of the Hunt Institute, he named and directed the first institute of its kind where engineering and humanities were integrated in theory and practice to address the issue of the global poor. He also served as principle [sic] advisor on multiple research projects while advising multiple undergraduate/graduate students and post-doctorate fellows.

Environmental Technology Solutions (2011-2014)

In 2011,Talley received a unique opportunity to create a series of startups companies organized around technologies he had developed with others. Leaving his full-time career in academia, he co-founded Environmental Technology Solutions (ETS) in Phoenix, Arizona. ETS was an engineering, research and services company that developed and commercialized innovative technologies to benefit society and the environment. As President & CEO, he provided leadership to position the firm, its subsidiaries, and associated partners, at the forefront of their respective industries.

Under his leadership, they developed multiple technologies: Green & Grow, soil conditioners that multiply favorable plant characteristics; SafeWaters, a real-time pathogen sensing for water; Nereus, a series of heavy metal remediation products for water, soil, and sediment; and SecureNet, a land-based change detection product that aids in locating improvised explosive devices and improving border security by pinpointing human and drug crossing sites. Green & Grow, developed in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, won numerous awards for best new and green technology. It also won University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School Venture Fund competition for best new startup. While at ETS, Talley completed his Executive MBA from the University of Oxford.

In the spring of 2012, Talley was nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, to become the 32nd Chief of the Army Reserve and Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command. This required him to return to the Regular Army (active duty) at the appointed rank of Lieutenant General (three-stars) for a four-year term and relocate to Washington, D.C. He resigned as President & CEO in the summer of 2012, but retained co-ownership of ETS, its subsidiaries, and technologies until they were acquired or transferred in 2014. He remained on Green & Grow’s Science Advisory Board until 2016.

The Johns Hopkins University (2011-2012)

To maintain a presence in academia while at ETS, Talley took a part-time appointment at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Working as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering, he commuted to/from Baltimore, where he taught seminars in environmental engineering, engineering for sustainable development, and entrepreneurship associated with technology. In 2012, he resigned in order to comply with senate confirmation rules for his appointment as Chief of Army Reserve.

Harvard University (2015-2016)

In the fall of 2015, during his last year on active duty as Chief of Army Reserve, Talley accepted an Advanced Leadership Initiative (ALI) Fellowship and appointment as the Cabot House Scholar-in-Residence, at Harvard University. Although initially commuting between Washington, D.C. and Harvard, he eventually moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts upon his retirement from the military in the summer of 2016. As an ALI Fellow, his focus was to learn, lecture, mentor, consult, reflect, and write about the integration of business, technology, and public policy to solve global problems. Specific emphasis was on exploring ways to improve partnerships between the public, private, and academic sectors. He also researched and advanced his understanding and application of principles to promote peace and stability as it relates to the global threats of climate, pollution, security, poverty, and migration. As the Cabot House Scholar-in-Residence, he met regularly with students to discuss current topics of the day and provide advice on careers. He also advised various students and faculty on their respective startup companies.

International Business Machines (IBM) (2016-Present) In the summer of 2016, while still at Harvard, Talley joined IBM as Vice President, Global Public Sector, and Global Fellow, IBM Center for the Business of Government (a business think tank). Upon completion of his Harvard Fellowship in November of 2016, he relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona. At IBM, he applies thought leadership across a variety of activities ranging from advising on strategic goals and issues to advancing business development. He leads multiple efforts worldwide on delivering solutions sets to clients that utilize big data integration with cognitive analytics for applications in defense and intelligence, cyber security, disaster and complex emergencies, infrastructure resilience, climate change and environment, business and government operations, and improved decision-making. As a Global Fellow, he researches and blogs about climate change, disaster management, veteran’s initiatives, and public private partnerships.

University of Southern California (2017-Present)

Wanting to return to academia in some capacity as an IBMer, Talley accepted a faculty appointment as Professor of the Practice, Price School of Public Policy and Viterbi School of Engineering, and Scholar-in-Residence, Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, California. Commuting to/from Los Angeles, he researches, teaches, and writes about Public Private Partnerships (P3), and the Management of Disasters and Complex Emergencies, with emphasis on the impact technology is having on society, business, and government.

BluMetric Environmental (2019-Present)

In 2019, Talley joined the Board of Directors for BluMetric Environmental, Inc., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, where he serves on the finance committee. BluMetric is a diverse water, earth, and energy company providing solution-oriented consultation, design, products, and construction services to clients with complex environmental issues in more than 60 countries. BluMetric is a publicly traded Canadian company (TSX-V: BLM).

• U.S. Army Senior Leader Bio. "Lieutenant General Jeffrey W. Talley". Archived from the original on 18 April 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.

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