8th Brigade Leadership

COLONEL GEORGE J. PLYS’s Biography

Colonel George J. Plys was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant from Washington State University in May 2001, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. He also holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University.

Col. Plys’ key assignments include: Truck Platoon Leader, 57th Transportation Battalion; 365th Movement Control Team Commander, 57th Transportation Battalion; 1st Maintenance Company Commander, 541st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion; SFAT Team Chief, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division; Brigade S-4, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division; Executive Officer, 46th Aviation Support Battalion, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade; Executive Officer, U.S. Army Garrison Alaska; Professor of Military Science, University of Alaska, U.S. Army Cadet Command; Commander 1- 315th Brigade Support Battalion, 174th Infantry Brigade; Transportation Branch Chief, Enlisted Personnel Management Directorate, U.S. Army Human Resources Command; and 673rd Air Base Deputy Wing/Joint Base Commander, Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson.

Col. Plys deployed as the Operations Officer of the 265th Movement Control Team, to Baghdad, Iraq from July 2003 to March 2004; Support Operations Transportation Officer, 541st CSSB in Baghdad, Iraq from September 2006 to August 2007; Plans Officer, 593rd Sustainment Brigade at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, from June 2009 to May 2010; SFAT Team Chief with the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division in Panjwai, Afghanistan from October 2012 to July 2013; and Executive Officer, 46th Aviation Support Battalion, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade in Kandahar, Afghanistan, from May to September 2014.

His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, and the NATO Medal.

CSM Keneti Pauulu’s Biography

Command Sergeant Major Keneti Pauulu is originally from American Samoa. He enlisted in the Army in 1996 as an Infantryman and attended one station unit training at Fort Benning, GA. CSM Pauulu’s assignments include C co 1st BN 24th IN, 1st BDE, 25th ID, Fort Lewis, WA. Scout Platoon, HHC, 1st BN 503rd IN, 1st BDE 2nd ID, Camp Casey, Korea. Team and Squad Leader, C co, 2nd BN, 27th IN, 3rd BDE 25th ID, Schofield Barracks, HI. Training NCO, 1st BN, 19th IN, Training Brigade, Fort Benning, GA. Platoon Sergeant, 1st BN, 38th IN, 4th BDE 2nd ID, Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA. First Sergeant, C co, 2nd BN 35th IN, 3rd BDE 25th ID. First Sergeant HHC, 1st BN, 14th IN and HHC First Sergeant of 2nd SBCT 25th ID. Operations Sergeant Major 1st BN 23rd IN and 1- 2 SBCT, 7th ID. Command Sergeant Major of 2d Squadron 2 CR, Rose Barracks Germany. He most recently served as the Command Sergeant Major of the 1st BN 196th IN BDE, Joint Pacific Multi National Readiness Center (JPMRC), the Training support Brigade for U.S. Army Pacific.

Pauulu deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Freedom 07-08; 09-10, NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Poland 20- 21.

Pauulu military education includes the Sergeant Major Academy, Master Resilience Course, Primary Leadership Development Course (Commandant’s List); Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course; Maneuver Senior Leaders Course (Commandants List) and First Sergeant Course. Other schools and courses include Airborne; Air Assault; Army Basic Instructor Course; Equal Opportunity Course; Jungle Operations Course; Combat Lifesaving Program, BN and BDE Pre-Command Course. He has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from Excelsior College and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Homeland security.

Pauulu awards and decorations include the Bronze Star (1 Oak Leaf Cluster); Meritorious Service Medal (4 Oak Leaf Cluster); Army Commendation Medal (5 Oak Leaf Cluster); Army Achievement Medal (9th Oak Leaf Cluster); Good Conduct Medal (8th Award); National Defense Service Medal (w/bronze star); Iraq Campaign Medal (w/bronze star); Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Korean Defense Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 5); Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; (Numeral 5); Combat Infantryman’s Badge; Expert Infantryman’s Badge; Parachutist Badge; and Air Assault. He is also a recipient of the order of Saint Maurice and order of Saint George.