Colonel William H. Poland was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Class 18-69, 12 May 1969. His first duty assignment was as a Training, Assistance, and Counseling (TAC) Officer, 94th Officer Candidate School (OCS), Fort Benning, Georgia. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Executive Officer, 94th Officer Candidate School (OCS) Company, Fort Benning, Georgia; Infantry Platoon Leader, Delta Company, 1/52nd Infantry, 198th Light Infantry Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division, Republic of Vietnam; Executive Officer, Charlie Company, 1/52nd Infantry, 198th Light Infantry Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division, Republic of Vietnam; Training Officer, Directorate of Plans and Training, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Assistant Operations Officer, 3rd Brigade, 30th Armored Division, Tupelo, Mississippi; Company Commander 155th Separate Armored Brigade, Tupelo, Mississippi; Operations Officer, 3rd Battalion, 109th Armor, 30th Separate Armored Brigade, Lebanon, Tennessee; Executive Officer, 3rd Battalion, 109th Armor, 30th Separate Act cored Brigade, Lebanon, Tennessee; Commander, 3rd Battalion, 109th Armor, 30th Separate Armored Brigade, Lebanon, Tennessee; Operations Officer, 30th Separate Armored Brigade, Jackson, Tennessee; Executive Officer, 30th Separate Armored Brigade, Jackson, Tennessee; Deputy Commander, 30th Separate Armored Brigade, Jackson, Tennessee; Commander, 117th Regiment (RTI/TMA), Smyrna, Tennessee; Chief of Staff Training, Tennessee Army National Guard, Nashville, Tennessee. | His military awards include: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf Cluster, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with three Stars, and Combat Infantryman Badge. | He is currently serving as owner of The Law Offices of William H. Poland, Clarksville, Tennessee. He also serves as Trustee of the Tennessee National Guard Group Life Insurance Trust and has served three years on the Board of Governors of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.