Sgt. Maj. Frank Kammer Jr. assumed the role of Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany’s sergeant major on Feb. 9, 2024. His last post was the command senior enlisted leader of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa.
A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in February 1998. He attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and completed his primary occupation school at Kessler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, graduating as a precision measurement equipment calibration/repair technician.
His first assignment as a PME calibration technician was with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California. During his time at MALS 11, he graduated from Corporals Course and received both honor graduate and “Gung-Ho” awards. In 2001, he deployed in support of Operation Southern Watch with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 323 aboard the USS Constellation (CV-64) as the PME noncommissioned officer in charge.
Kammer was deployed during the 9/11 attack. He requested orders upon return to MCRD Parris Island where he served as a senior drill instructor and a Marine Combat Instructor of Water Survival. He was meritoriously promoted to the rank of staff sergeant in 2005 during his tour as a senior drill instructor. He later transferred to MALS 26 at MCAS New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina and served as the avionics quality assurance chief. He served as the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One road master in 2007 at MCAS in Yuma, Arizona.
He volunteered to deploy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with Marine Medium Helicopter 365 Squadron, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2008. During his deployment, he served as the avionics QA Chief for MALS 29. He was promoted to gunnery sergeant in 2009 and assigned as the avionics communication/navigation senior noncommissioned officer in charge for MALS 29.
Kammer requested and received orders to serve on his second special duty assignment as an assistant Marine officer instructor for University of Memphis Navy ROTC. During this assignment as a drill instructor he served as a platoon sergeant for "D","K" and "I" companies at Officers Candidate School and conducted two regional drill competitions across 15 universities throughout the United States.
He served as the senior inspector for JROTC drill programs and conducted multiple OCS preparatory events across three states. He was promoted to first sergeant in 2012 and received orders to 9th Engineer Support Battalion, Okinawa in Japan serving in "A" and H&S companies. He was assigned as the acting sergeant major, while still a first sergeant, for 9th ESB during the Korean Marine Exchange Program exercise in South Korea.
Kammer requested orders to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in 2015. He served in "F" company and deployed in support of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Africa. He led Marines during his deployment through exercises and operations across three continents. This was followed by the duties of acting sergeant major for the battalion during Mountain Warfare Training in Bridgeport, California.
Kammer was promoted to his current rank in October of 2017 and received orders as the sergeant major of Combat Logistics Battalion 8. He assisted in the planning and execution as the experimental battalion supported real-time parts manufacturing, unmanned aerial and vehicle exercises to support future combat operations.
He transferred to CLB 26 in Camp Lejeune as the battalion sergeant major in 2018 and later supported the 26th MEU aboard the USS Oak Hill (LSD-51) during fleet operations in 2019. After his deployment with the 26th MEU, he received orders to the Marine Aircraft Group 26 on MCAS New River. As MAG 26’s sergeant major, he effectively assisted in the leadership and management of six flying and two supporting Marine medium tiltrotor squadrons.
Kammer conducted his change of responsibility in October 2023 to become the command senior enlisted leader for Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti in support of combined and joint operations as a component command of U.S. Africa Command.
Kammer has an associates degree in computer science. His personal awards are Defense Superior Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star.