top of page
Andrew M. Estes Jr.

Syracuse University IDD&E Graduate Student Biography

&

Personal Statement

Biography
Andy in military uniform.

Sergeant Major (SGM) Andrew M. Estes Jr. is a native of Mesa, Arizona. He attended Army Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, February 1997, Advance Individual Training at Fort Gordon, Georgia, May 1997, and earned the Military Occupation Specialty 31R, Multichannel-Transmission Systems Operator/Maintainer. In December 2006 he re-classed to 25S, Satellite Communication Systems Operator/Maintainer.

 

SGM Estes served in leadership positions ranging from Team Chief to  Battalion Operations Sergeant Major and his duty assignments are: Bravo Company, 125th Signal Battalion, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Bravo Company, 51st Signal Battalion, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; 208th Signal Company, 108th ADA Brigade and NCOA, Fort Bliss, Texas; HHD, 41st Signal Battalion, Camp Coiner, Korea; 56th Signal Company, 54th Signal Battalion, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait; 550th Signal Company, 25th Signal Battalion, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan; G-4, NETCOM, HHC and Charlie Company 40th ESB, Fort Huachuca, Arizona; U.S. Army Network Enterprise Center, 59th Signal Battalion, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; HHD, 25th Signal Battalion, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan; Intermediate Course Manager at the NCO Leadership Center of Excellence, Fort Bliss, Texas.

 

SGM Estes' military education include: Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic and Advance Noncommissioned Officer Courses, First Sergeant Course, United States Army Sergeants Major Course Non-Resident Class 44, Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Courses 1 & 2, Fundamentals of System Acquisition Management Course, Master Resilience Trainer Course, Contracting Officer Representative Course, SIPR/NIPR Access Point Course, Combatives Level 1, Common Faculty Development Instructor & Developer Courses, Common Faculty Development Instructor & Developer Train the Trainer Courses (T3), Senior Training Education Managers Course, Training Education Middle Managers Course, Asynchronous Distributed Learning Instructors Course, Blackboard 101 & 201 Courses, Total Army and Small Group Instructor Trainer Courses, Equal Opportunity Representative Course, Area NBC Defense Course, Field Sanitation Course, and Drivers Training Course.

 

SGM Estes earned a a Masters of Science in Instructional Design, Development & Evaluation (IDD&E) through Syracuse University (Sergeants Major Academy Fellowship Program, Cohort 6).   

 

SGM Estes' military awards include: Bronze Star (1 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (6 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC), Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2 Star), Iraq Campaign Medal (2 Star), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (1 Star), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, NATO Medal (1 Star), Presidential Unit Citation, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Citation (1 OLC), Army Superior Unit Award (1 OLC) and the Senior Army Instructor Badge (SAIB).

 

SGM Estes is married to SFC (retired) Merlyn J. Estes and they have one son named Devin.

 

SGM Estes' professional goals is to continue to influence positive change in the Army.

Personal Statement
Andy smiling with blue shirt and black hat.

My name is Andrew M. Estes Jr. and I am currently pursuing a Master of Science in Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation (IDD&E) from Syracuse University (SU) with an expected graduation date in June 2021.

​

I have been serving in the United States Army since February 1997 and currently hold a Bachelor of Science (Cum Laude) in Liberal Arts with a focus on Administration/Management Studies and History through Excelsior College.  While assigned to the Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Center of Excellence (NCOLCoE) on Fort Bliss, Texas, I was fortunate to be placed in the Directorate of Curriculum Development as the Intermediate Course Manager. During this time, there was an opportunity for a scholarship to pursue a Master of Science by applying for the NCOLCoE Fellowship Program, Cohort 6. Through this program, I was selected with nine other Sergeants Major to attend SU to pursue a Master of Science in IDD&E.  I realized the knowledge and experience I gained working in the Directorate of Curriculum Development and very strong encouragement from my leadership, this was what I wanted to do. Therefore, applying to attend SU was a no brainer.

​

After I complete SU’s Program, I will serve as a facilitator for three years at the Sergeants Major Course.  These three years will bring many opportunities to serve in other positions to assist in developing and improving curriculum for all the Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development courses that are so vital for the Army in developing future leaders.

​

Once my three-year commitment at the NCOLCoE is complete, I plan to continue to use my gained knowledge and experience to improve the Army in any capacity I am assigned next. At this time, I plan on to continue to serve in the Army until my retention control point of 30 years.

​

Once I retire from the Army, I desire to use my experience and knowledge to continue on serving as an educator. I am undecided at what level or where but with this M.S. IDD&E, the future is wide open with opportunities and I expected to have many options.

bottom of page