COL Gentry’s military career began when he commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Field Artillery on July 10, 1991 through the Reserve Officers Training Corps at Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina. His first assignment was as a Company Fire Support Officer in the 1st Battalion, 178th Field Artillery in the South Carolina Army National Guard. Upon transferring to the Georgia Army National Guard, COL Gentry served in the 1-214th FA, Joint Forces Headquarters, 122nd Rear Operations Center, 1-118th Field Artillery Regiment, and Headquarters, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. His duty assignments include Fire Direction Officer, Platoon Leader, Firing Battery Commander and BN Intelligence Officer in the 1-214th FA; State Education Officer and Deputy J1 at Joint Forces Headquarters; Fire Support Officer in the 122nd ROC; Operations Officer in the 1-118th FAR, Brigade Fire Support Officer in HHC, 48th IBCT and commander of 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery Regiment. COL Gentry’s deployed assignments include Effects Coordinator for Multi-National Force North West and Multi-National Division-Baghdad’s Task Force Thunderbolt, Iraq; Information Operations Coordinator for Task Force Phoenix IX and Current Operations Officer for the ISAF Joint Command’s Afghanistan Development Assistance Bureau, Afghanistan. COL Gentry is currently serving as Commander, 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.

COL Gentry is a graduate of the Army War College, Command and General Staff College, Combined Arms Service Staff School, Fire Support Coordinator Course, Joint Task Force Commander Course, Tactical Information Operations Course, Field Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Course, Basic Airborne Course, Anti-Terrorism Course, Surveillance Detection Course, Human Resource Management Course and the Paladin Commanders Course. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Presbyterian College, a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the Army War College and has completed coursework toward a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the American Public University in Washington, D.C. COL Gentry’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal 2 nd award, Army Achievement Medal 2 nd award, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal 8th award, National Defense Medal w/bronze star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/campaign star, Iraq Campaign Medal w/campaign star, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/M device 3rd award, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon  (with Numeral 2), Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, NATO Medal, Basic Parachute Badge, the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara and the Order of the Combat Spur.

COL Gentry’s civilian employment is with the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners serving as the Parks and Recreation Division Director in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

He is married to the former Katherine Pope of Washington, Georgia. They have two children, Anna age 18 and Caroline age 16.