Command Sergeant Major (CSM) John F. Sampa was appointed as the 12th Command Sergeant Major of the Army National Guard on 15 February 2018.

Also, since June 2022, he has been a Board Member of the Reserve Forces Policy Board, which serves as an independent advisor to Secretary of Defense on Reserve and National Guard matters.

He joined the United States Army in 1987 and served in the Army National Guard and the United States Army for nearly 35 years. He completed basic training as a Tank Armored Crewman at Fort Knox Army Post in Fort Knox, Kentucky. CSM Sampa was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major in 2009. Prior to becoming the Command Sergeant Major of the Army National Guard,

CSM Sampa served as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for the Texas Military Department. He also served as the Command Sergeant Major for the 36th Infantry Division.

CSM Sampa was mobilized three times and deployed overseas for combat operations in Bosnia and twice to Iraq. CSM Sampa served as a key leader in the Texas Army National Guard during the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia Search and Recovery Mission in East Texas.

CSM Sampa’s military and civilian education includes all levels of the Noncommissioned Officer Education System. He is a graduate of the National Defense University Keystone Command Senior Enlisted Leader Course and the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. CSM Sampa is also a graduate of the Texas Highway Patrol Academy. He will receive his Bachelor of Science Degree for Business Administration and Management in May 2022 from the University of the Cumberlands. He attended the University of Houston for Civil Engineering Technology and worked as a Structural Steel Draftsman prior to becoming a Texas State Trooper.

CSM Sampa was awarded numerous awards and decorations including the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (2nd Award), Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (4th award), Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2nd award), Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal (2nd award), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal w/Campaign Star, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Army Staff Identification Badge and other awards from the State of Texas.

He was employed with the Texas Department of Public Safety in the Highway Patrol Division for more than 27 years in concurrence with his military service. CSM Sampa and his wife, Carlette, have one son (John) and one daughter (Julia).

(As of June 2022)