Emily and Major Jess Howard attended a military ball in spring 2015. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON – Major Jess Howard served not once but twice during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In 2003, Howard was deployed to Ba’qubah, Iraq as 2LT Chemical Officer and Battle Captain during combat operations. In 2009, he deployed to Camp Buehring, Kuwait with 134rd Chemical Company of Alabama Army National Guard.

“I served as Company Commander responsible for providing security to northern camps in Kuwait and border security for all convoys passing between Kuwait and Iraq,” Howard said.

Howard entered the U.S. Army in 2002. His courses include Officer Candidate School, Chemical Officer, Military Police Captains Career, Composite Risk Management and Commanders Safety.

During active service, he also served as Chemical Officer and Platoon Leader at Fort Hood, Texas.

His list of U.S. decorations and badges include Bronze Star, Meritorious Service, Army Commendation, Army Achievement and National Defense Service medals; Iraq Campaign Medal with 1 Campaign Star; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; and Coast Guard Special Service ribbons.

Howard’s awards in Alabama are Distinguished Service, Commendation, Special Service and Faithful Service medals.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in psychology at Troy University. In 2007, he moved to Madison County with HPH Homes for work as a construction superintendent.

Currently, Major Howard serves as BN S3 (Operations Officer) in 203rd Military Police Battalion, Alabama Army National Guard, in Athens and full-time Administrative Officer, daily operations.

A native of Opelika, Howard is a member of Alabama National Guard Association, Military Police Corps Regimental Association, Chemical Corps Regimental Association, Emmaus Community and Board of Trustees for Ford’s Chapel United Methodist Church.

His wife Emily works as administrative assistant at Ford’s Chapel UMC. Their children are Megan Tooley, a student at Troy University; and Connor and Caleb, fifth-grader and first-grader, respectively, at Monrovia Elementary School.

“Both Emily and I have enjoyed our lives in Madison County,” he said. “This is a great community with lots of opportunities in both the civilian arena as well as family life.”

Major Jess Howard’s hobbies are golf, reading, youth sports (especially baseball) and traveling.