Mr. Jack E. Lechner, Jr. was appointed as the President & Chief Executive Officer of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in January of 2016. Immediately upon entering his position, Mr. Lechner convinced the board of trustees to adopt Carver's Governance Model for Non-Profits. By implementing Carver's governance model, Mr. Lechner began the process of turning around the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. Currently the college is on a firm financial footing and successfully implementing the initiative to Transform Death Care Education which included adding an Education Cremation Center to the CCMS campus.
Immediately prior to his arrival at CCMS, he was the Integrated Logistics Systems Division Chief at Headquarters, Department of the Army, Pentagon where he was responsible for ensuring the integrated logistics support for the entire lifecycle of all Army's combat platform acquisitions costing more than $480 million during any one fiscal year or a total procurement of more than $2.79 billion for the life of the program.
One day after his retirement ceremony from the Army, Colonel Jack E. Lechner, Jr. was summoned to the office of the Secretary of the Army and asked to revoke his retirement orders to Arlington National Cemetery. Five days later, he reported in June 2010 as part of a new leadership team empowered to restore honor to Arlington National Cemetery following a serious scandal uncovered by the Department of the Army Inspector General in 2010. COL Lechner served as the Executive Officer, Cemetery Administrator, Deputy Superintendent, and culminated his five-year tenure by serving as Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery until 10 August 2015 as a member of the Senior Executive Services (SES).
During Mr. Lechner's leadership, Arlington National Cemetery was restored to its rightful position of honor as a national shrine. Automated systems were developed for scheduling/record keeping, a geospatial mapping system was created to assign and track grave/niche assignments, and the most stringent chain of custody system in the federal system of cemeteries was established to ensure every family received peace of mind about the grounds where their loved ones have been laid to rest. An award-winning app was developed that provided families and the 3.1 million tourists per year with the ability to find any grave, or tour the cemetery using their smart phone. Mr. Lechner also recognized the need for bereavement skills training program to ensure all staff members could provide world class service, in compassionate and caring manner, earned by our nation's heroes and their families. When Mr. Lechner departed Arlington National Cemetery the $71.8 million Millennium Project (adding 27 acres and 27,282 interment/inurnment opportunities) was on budget and on time to be completed in June 2016. The $247 million Southern Expansion Project was well underway, and the Army had taken possession of approximately 40 contiguous acres to the south with the project's $70.8 million annual budget being executed as planned.
COL Lechner came to Arlington National Cemetery from the Joint Staff, Pentagon, where he was responsible for the logistical support to all deployed forces and Joint Supply Chain Architecture (JSCA). Prior to his arrival on the Joint Staff, COL Lechner was the Chief of Staff for the 316th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) headquartered in Balad, Iraq for one year during the surge (2007-08). This 650 Soldier headquarters and its seven brigades of 20,000 Soldiers were responsible for all logistical support in the Iraqi theater of war. COL Lechner was assigned to the 316th at the end of the unit's deployment buildup. The success of all military operations in the Iraqi Theater of War depended on the 316th, an Army reserve unit. COL Lechner was assigned as the only active duty member of the unit to ensure its success in the battlespace.
Mr. Lechner earned an associate degree (1975) and mortuary science certificate (1976) from Mercer County Community College, became a licensed practitioner of Mortuary Science in New Jersey, where he was the co-founder and licensed manager of South Jersey Funeral Associates, Inc. He is a Certified Funeral Service Planner (CFSP), life member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice (APFSP), a member of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), Association of Death Education and Counseling (ADEC), International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA), and is a licensed funeral service provider in Ohio. He is nationally board certified as a funeral director and embalmer, is a Certified Crematory Operator, Certified Thanatology by the Association of Death Education and Counseling, and a Certified Celebrant. For several years, Mr. Lechner taught the practice portion of a course on sterile eye enucleation techniques at Willis Eye Hospital and preformed eye enucleations for the Delaware Walley Eye Bank. He was also a licensed life, accident, and health insurance producer and licensed in real estate.
Mr. Lechner earned a Bachelor of Mortuary Science degree (Summa Cum Laude), from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science (1990). He holds a Master of Science degree in Logistics Management, Florida Tech (1993) and a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy (Supply Chain Management Concentration), National Defense University, Washington, DC (2007). He is a graduate of Supply Chain Operation Reference (SCOR) model training (2008), LOGTECH Program for Executives in Logistics and Technology, Kenan-Flager Business School, University of North Carolina (2009) and the US Army Senior Executive Education Program, at the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia. Mr. Lechner successfully completed the Comprehensive Bereavement Skills Training Course at the Center for Life Loss and Transition, Fort Collins, Colorado and the General Officer/Senior Executive Service training course at Fort Belvoir, VA.
Mr. Lechner was a practicing funeral director for 10 years before enlisting in 1983 as an Infantryman in the United States Army. He was commissioned as an officer upon graduating from Officer Candidate School in 1985. His military education includes the Quartermaster Officer Basic and Advance Courses, Mortuary Affairs Officer Course (Distinguished Graduate), Logistics Executive Development Course, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and Industrial College of the Armed Forces (Supply Chain Management Concentration), National Defense University. He is also a graduate of the Airborne School , Aerial Delivery and Material Management Course (Rigger), Ranger Course, Jumpmaster Course, Support Operations Course, and the Army Force Management Course.
He commanded and deployed the 1,000 Soldiers of the Regimental Support Operation Squadron, 2d Armored Calvary Regiment (2001-2003) to Operation Iraqi Freedom in Baghdad, Iraq. He also commanded in the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment, Fulda, Germany (1987-1989). He has served in the 75th Ranger Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, Defense Logistics Agency, Human Resources Command, and as an instructor at the US Army Aerial Delivery and Material Management Course (Rigger). He has worked within the Army and Joint Military Affairs system at various levels.
His military awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Bronze Star Medals, three Defense Meritorious Service Medals, five Meritorious Service Medals and various other awards. He is authorized to wear the Joint Staff Identification Badge, the Army Staff Identification Badge, Expert Infantrymen Badge, Rigger Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Combat Action Badge and the Ranger Tab.
Mr. Lechner serves on the Board of Trustees of the International Cemetery, Crematory, and Funeral Association, Educational Foundation. His past leadership positions include: President of Pennsauken-Merchantville Rotary Club, President of Woodbridge Crew Association, and Board Member of the Prince William County Crew Association. Jack is also a Level III US Rowing certified coach. Mr. Lechner was inducted into the U.S. Army Quartermaster Hall of Fame. He and his wife, Debbie, have two children: Stephanie of Denver, CO and Jack III of Fairfax, VA.
