David Berrisford
JROTC
Hello Everyone!
My name is Sergeants Major Dave Berrisford and I am extremely proud and honored to be a member of the JROTC Department and the CDH faculty. I teach Leadership, Education, and Training (LET) 1 and 2 to our freshman and sophomore students. I am also a principal instructor for Leadership Lab's held every Wednesday. I am also a graduate of Cretin High School, Class of 1981.
Everyday, I look forward to teaching the students and interacting with parents who are enrolled or involved in JROTC. It is an honor "to motivate young people to become better citizens".
Please allow me to share a bit about my military career and my work history prior to coming to CDH as a teacher in July of 2008.
I am a 23 year veteran of the U.S. Army and retired from active service in July 2004. After my retirement, I worked for the Hennepin County Emergency Preparedness Division as a federal grants specialist. After working for Hennepin County, I accepted a position with the State of Minnesota working in the Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division. I was the Homeland Security Branch Director for two years prior to moving to CDH as a teacher
I joined the Minnesota Army National Guard in February of 1981. My first assignment was as a unit supply
specialist with CO A, 47th Aviation.
In 1985 I accepted a position as the unit
supply sergeant (active guard and reserve) and continued to serve in an active
guard and reserve status throughout my career. My
significant assignments have been: Assistant Operations Sergeant, HQ 34th
Aviation Brigade, Operations Sergeant for the 2-147th Aviation
Battalion, Operations Sergeant for the 134th Forward Support
Battalion, Operations Sergeant for the 834th Aviation Support
Battalion, Operations Sergeant and First Sergeant for the 55th Civil
Support Team (WMD), and finally as the 34th Infantry DISCOM Senior
Logistics Operations Sergeants Major.
My military education includes Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC), Basic Non-commissioned Officer Course (BNCOC) , Advanced Non-commissioned Officer Course (ANCOC)(distinguished graduate), Battle Staff Non-commissioned Officer Course (distinguished graduate), and the Sergeants Majors
Academy. I hold occupational
specialties in the chemical, aviation, both in maintenance and management, and
logistics fields. I have significant
training and experience in the Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical fields as well. In regards to the NBC field, my training and experience is rather significant. I have attended courses accounting for over 1,200 hours in the
classroom, not to mention hundreds of hours in training exercises as well as
operational missions. I am also a certified
Hazardous Material Specialist with an emphasis in mitigating biological and chemical hazards. I am also both a State of Minnesota and Federal Certified Emergency Manager.
My military awards and
decorations include the Legion of Merit,
Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, The Army Commendation Medal with
2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 1
Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Overseas Training Ribbon with 2 device, the National Defense Medal with 1 gold star, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Achievement Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Medal. My State of Minnesota awards include the Minnesota Medal
for Merit with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Minnesota Commendation Medal, and the State Service Medal.
I am married to my lovely wife Cheri, and have two daughters, Hayley, CDH Class of '06 and Erin, CDH Class of '08.
