Julius William Gates (born June 14, 1941) is a retired United States Army soldier who served as the eighth Sergeant Major of the Army. He was sworn in at the Pentagon in July 1987 and served until his term ended four years later in June 1991.
Gates was born in North Carolina on June 14, 1941 and raised on a farm northwest of Carrboro, North Carolina.
Gates entered the United States Army at the height of the Cold War on August 12, 1958, and attended initial training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. First assignment was to the U.S. Army Berlin Brigade in the divided city in 1959. Later as a member of the 101st Airborne Division, he and his unit were called on by President John F. Kennedy to enforce racial integration at southern universities. Earning his qualification as a paratrooper and an Army Ranger, he went on to serve as the First Sergeant of Company A of the then newly activated 1st Ranger Battalion. He served three tours in Germany and a tour of duty in the Republic of Korea.
Gates' stateside assignments include duty with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the United States Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, the 1st Ranger Battalion at Fort Stewart, Georgia, the Virginia Military Institute of Lexington, Virginia and Fort Bliss, Texas. Gates served in numerous noncommissioned officer leadership positions, including as first Commandant of the 24th Infantry Division NCO Academy at Fort Stewart, Georgia. Before being appointed as the Sergeant Major of the Army he served as command sergeant major of the 2d Armored Division (Forward), the 3d Infantry Division (Mechanized), the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, and of United States Forces, Korea.
2005 recipient of the Doughboy Award from the National Infantry Association.