Retired Command Sergeant Major Martin Celestine to address Troy University graduates in January 20 ceremony

Retired Army Command Sergeant Major Martin Celestine, Vice President of Operations at the National Infantry Museum, will deliver the keynote address to Troy University graduates during the University’s Phenix City commencement ceremony on Jan. 20.

The ceremony, which will begin at 7 p.m. EST, will take place at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center. Close to 90 graduates are expected to participate in the ceremony.

Troy Alumnus, retired Army Command Sergeant Major Martin Celestine will deliver the keynote address.

Celestine, who earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from TROY, is a native of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 1990, and has served in every leadership position in the Infantry from Team Leader, Bradley Section Sergeant, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, Operations Sergeant Major, and Command Sergeant Major.

In his last assignment, Celestine was responsible for building and sustaining the Maneuver Force as the CSM of the Maneuver Center of Excellence.

Celestine is a graduate of the Bradley Master Gunner Course, Bradley Fighting Vehicle Evaluator Course, Drill Sergeant School, Ranger School, Airborne School, Battle Staff Course, Cadre Instructor Training Course, Master Fitness Training Course, Joint Professional Senior Enlisted Course, Combative Levels 3 graduate of the United States Sergeant Major Academy, Class 60 and the U.S. Army War College Nominative Leaders Course.

In addition to his bachelor’s degree from TROY, he earned a Certificate of Training in Homeland Security from Webster University. He also holds a Lean Six Black Belt Certification from Georgia Tech and a Project Management Certification from Syracuse University.

The National Infantry Museum emphasizes the values that define the Infantryman, as well as the nation he protects: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. It preserves and displays one of the greatest collections of military artifacts in the world, with 190,000 square feet of galleries standing on a 200-acre tract just outside the United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCoE) at Fort Benning, Georgia. The MCoE is one of the Army’s largest installations, the home of the Infantry and Armor schools, as well as Ranger School, Officer Candidate School, and Airborne School.