California State Guard Command Sergeant Major

Command Sergeant Major James D. Peterson
Command Sergeant Major
California State Guard

Senior Enlisted Advisor

Command Sergeant Major DeGeorge enlisted in the United States Army May of 1983, serving as an Artilleryman for almost 11 years with duty locations in Germany, Korea, Kuwait and various locations throughout the United States.  In December 1993, he was Honorably Discharged as Sergeant.

In the spring of 2000, Command Sergeant Major DeGeorge reenlisted in the California Army National Guard (CA ARNG) as an artilleryman, joining the full-time State Active Duty force later that fall.  He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major in 2010.  He has served in numerous challenging positions including Noncommissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) Veteran Honors Program; Senior Chaplain Assistant California National Guard; Joint Staff Sergeant Major; Strategic Communications Sergeant Major; Military Department Sergeant Major; and Man Power and Personnel (J1) Sergeant Major for the California Military Department.

In 2014, Command Sergeant Major DeGeorge retired from the CA ARNG and immediately enlisted in the California State Guard.  Command Sergeant Major DeGeorge served in training command and was the senior chaplain’s assistant prior to his selection as Command Sergeant Major of the California State Guard in 2017.

Command Sergeant Major DeGeorge is a graduate of the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course, Chaplain’s Assistant Course, and Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course.  Command Sergeant Major DeGeorge holds qualifications in Air Assault, Strong Bonds and ASIST Training for Trainers.

Command Sergeant Major DeGeorge’s awards include:  Legion of Merit; California Legion of Merit; Meritorious Service Medal, with one Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Commendation Medal, with one Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Achievement Medal, with six Oak Leaf Clusters and Air Force Achievement Medal, and Southwest Asia Medal, and Order of Saint Barbara.

Command Sergeant Major DeGeorge is married to his wife Jenivee and has six children, Katherine, Daniel Jr., Thomas, Sierra, Alexia, Bella and eight grandchildren.