Colonel Kyle R. Yates is a Distinguished Military Graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, where he earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences and commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

COL Yates’ past assignments include key command and staff positions with the 501st Signal BN and 101st Airborne Division Special Troops BN, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; command of HQ & A Co, 442nd Signal BN, Fort Gordon, Georgia; command of 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera), Fort Meade, Maryland; Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; J6, Combined Security Transition Command- Afghanistan/Special Operations Planning Liaison Element (CSTC-A/SOPLE), NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan/Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan (NSOCC-A/SOJTF-A), Camp Resolute Support, Kabul, Afghanistan; C4 Strategic Planner, J6, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany; Executive Officer to the USEUCOM Chief of Staff, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany; and Professor of Military Science, University of Kentucky. In his most recent assignment, COL Yates commanded the 41st Signal Battalion at Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea. He assumed commend of the Joint Communications Support Element on 28 June 2024.

COL Yates has deployed in support of operations in Bosnia- Herzegovina, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

COL Yates’ military education includes the Signal Officer Basic Course, Signal Captains Career Course, Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Joint and Combined Warfighting School at the Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. His civilian education includes a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences and Master of Public Administration from Stephen F. Austin State University.

COL Yates’ awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (1 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), Army Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award (2 OLC), Meritorious Unit Commendation, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Pathfinder Badge.

COL Yates is married to his wife, Kori, and they have a daughter, Charley (19), and son, Evon (16).