Kelly Luster
Director of Communication
United States
Kelly C. Luster is the Director of Communication for Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. He has also worked as an Adjunct Professor, journalist, photojournalist and freelance photographer for more than 20 years and has had images published in newspapers, magazines and globally on the internet.
Luster retired as the command sergeant major from the 10th Battalion, 97th Training Brigade, 80th Training Regiment (OES), located in Owings Mills, Md. The unit’s primary mission is to teach senior captains and majors ILE, or Intermediate level Education, a course designed to prepare officers for leadership positions in Army, joint, multinational and interagency organizations executing full spectrum operations.
His civilian education includes Associate of Applied Science Degrees in Photography and Multimedia Technology from Westmoreland County Community College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Arts Degree in Adult Education and Communication Technology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Arts Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
He is a graduate of Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) program for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) Warfare Operations, Fort McClellan, Ala. Luster is an Honor Graduate of the Print Journalism Course at the Defense Information School at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. He is a graduate of the Primary Leadership Development Course, and Honor Graduate of the Basic and Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Courses. He graduated from the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy in 2008. In 2009 Luster graduated from the Public Affairs Qualification Course.
From 1986 until 1995 Luster held several positions in the 130th Chemical Company located in Johnstown, Pa., including Team Leader, Squad Leader, and NBC NCO. Due to several years of experience as a freelance photographer, in 1996 he transferred to the Public Affairs Office, 99th Regional Support Command, Oakdale, Pa., where he worked as a journalist and photojournalist. He then transferred to the 354th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment in Coraopolis, Pa., where he worked as a senior public affairs noncommissioned officer. In January 2004, he was promoted to Master Sergeant and transferred to the 214th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Richmond, Va., where he became the unit’s First Sergeant. Later that year he deployed with the unit to Baghdad, Iraq, where he assumed responsibilities as the First Sergeant of the Combined Press Information Center (CPIC). In August 2006 after returning from Iraq, he transferred to the First Army Public Affairs Office where he became the Senior NCOIC of the office and of the Mobile Training Team. In 2009 he was assigned as the noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the Public Affairs Office, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C. In 2010, he again deployed to Iraq where was the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the American Forces Network-Iraq, Commander. Command Sergeant Major Luster’s campaigns include Operation Enduring Freedom 2002-2003, Operation Iraqi Freedom 2004-2005, Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn 2010.
Luster’s efforts in journalism have garnered several honors, most notably is the Major General Keith L. Ware Award for Excellence in Journalism. Luster has won awards ten times in the categories of Community Relations, Print Journalism, Photojournalism, Feature News Writing, Stand Alone Photography, Magazine, Newsletter, and Field Expedient Newspapers.
Luster’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Good Conduct Medal, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (7th Award), the National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star Device, the Iraq Campaign Medal with three Bronze Star Devices, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Bronze ~M~ Numeral ~3~ and Silver ~X~ Devices, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral ~4~, the Army Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation.