I was born and raised in Kingsport, Tennessee, where I was active in Church, participated in plays, Vacation Bible School, Royal Rangers, Boy Scouts, and school programs such as Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Course (NJROTC), Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA) (now known as SkillsUSA), and Drama. Growing up, I enjoyed family get-togethers, playing backyard sports, with my dogs, swimming, riding bikes, hanging out at the mall, cruising on weekends with friends and I refereed Optimist Club youth basketball. I also participated in organized and school league baseball, basketball, and football, lettering in multiple sports in middle and high school, and playing in two baseball leagues most years.
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On April 27th, 1996, while a senior at Sullivan North High School, I enlisted in the U.S. Army, officially becoming a Service Member on October 2nd, 1996. Early on I was recognized for my leadership and advanced through the ranks, spending 17 years, 2 months, and 11 days as a Noncommissioned Officer, and 11 years and 11 months as a Senior Noncommissioned Officer, holding numerous leadership positions, a Secret and subsequently a Top Secret/Secure Compartmented Information Clearance w/ Presidential level Yankee White access, retiring on October 31st, 2016 after 20 years and 29 days of faithful and honorable service.
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I served around the world including 6 ½ years at the White House Military Office, where I traveled under a Diplomatic passport outside the United States. I also served in Iraq on a Military Transition Team advising the Iraqi Army and Police Forces, in Afghanistan as a Platoon Sergeant with the 82nd Airborne Division, and as a Liaison to the Combined Joint Task Force-East during the 2012 “military surge.” Amongst my military and civilian awards and decorations are a Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, Presidential Service Badge, Letters of Appreciation from multiple Presidents, and an appointment as a Kentucky Colonel.
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Since 2016, in my post-military life, I've been active with Veterans Service Organizations, serving as an officer at various levels, and on local, state, and national boards, councils, commissions, and committees. Presently, I'm the American Legion Department of Tennessee's Senior Vice Commander, 1st Vice Commander of American Legion Hammond Post 3 in Kingsport, member (and past President April 1st, 2023-January 28th, 2025) of the Battle of Blountville Civil War Military Park Association, and since September 2023, I've hosted a monthly Veterans Coffee Roundtable, sponsor of a scholarship at West Ridge High School and a Tennessee Boys State scholarship, I volunteer with the Indian Springs Optimist Club and UT Hospice, as well as collecting Veterans Oral History stories, and I'm writing a few books, one about Veterans' suicide.
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I'm also active in local, state, and national politics, advising, assisting, and donating to candidates and conservative organizations. In 2017 & 2025, I volunteered with President Trump's Presidential Inaugural Committee, and in 2017, I served as a Tennessee delegate to the Young Republican National Convention. In 2018, I ran for Congress in TN-01, receiving more than 3x the number of votes the “experts” predicted. During the first Trump Administration, I served as a White House Staff Associate as an Advance Representative, where I traveled under an Official passport when traveling outside the country, and in 2020 I served as a Staff Lead for President Trump’s re-election campaign. From 2017 I’ve done some political commentary occasionally on NEWSMAX, and on the podcast and social media pages I hosted called the Todd McKinley Commentary (2020-2024), I also published articles, (2019-2023), and since May 12th, 2021, I've co-hosted a weekly radio show called the Common Sense Conservatives. Since March 2nd, 2023, I've served as a Member at Large on the Sullivan County (Tennessee) Republican Party Executive Committee, and as of September 1st, 2024, I represent District 5 on the Sullivan County School Board.​​
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My civilian and military education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Homeland Security, a Master of Science Leadership: Global Leadership from Duquesne University, Certificates in Executive Leadership from Cornell University, and Leaders of Learning from Harvard University. I'm also a member of a couple of National Honor Societies, alumni associations, and other organizations.
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Contact me here, email me at Todd@toddmckinley.com, or my school board email todd.mckinley@sullivank12.net, in the meantime look around.