Command Sergeant Major J. D. Pendry, USA (ret.) is a native of West Virginia.  His military career spanned 28, culminating in his retirement in 1999.  Command Sergenant Major J. D. Pendry is the author of The Three Meter Zone: Common Sense Leadership for NCOs.

According to the book description of The Three Meter Zone: Common Sense Leadership for NCOs, “A pocket-sized guide to being a good leader, for non-commissioned officers (NCOs). Discusses US Army values in 'user-friendly' terms, from the perspective of a former member of the NCO core. Introduces three different types of leadership styles for 3-meter, 50-meter, and 100-meter soldiers.”

Command Sergeant Major Gilbert Duenas, USAF, said of The Three Meter Zone: Common Sense Leadership for NCOs, “The Three Meter Zone provides a comprehensive yet easy to follow review of several fundamental leadership principles for noncommissioned officers (NCO). Not only is the book a work of art, but also it has functional value for today’s NCO. The author addresses the principles of NCO leadership via personal and professional experiences, quotations from political and military leaders, historical military accounts, and extracts from US Army field manuals. Command Sergeant Major Pendry, USA, presents the material in such a way that NCOs in any military service can easily use it to take care of their people and accomplish the mission.

The book is essential reading for the junior, mid- level, and senior NCO, offering a practical prescription for tackling leadership issues in the twenty-first century. The author candidly discloses personal experiences—each striking anecdote lends clarity and realism to leadership concepts such as selfless service, integrity, trust, and confidence. In a sense, Pendry invites the reader into a very natural discussion about leadership philosophy, one that underlies the NCO’s role as mentor, disciplinarian, motivator, and communicator. He declares that an NCO’s influence is indispensable to the character and growth of the military organization, insisting that the NCO is the backbone of the US armed forces.”