Col. Bill Irby commissioned through Southeast Missouri State University ROTC Program in 1992 where he earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He earned his master’s degree in criminal justice from Central Missouri State University in 2001 and a master’s in strategic studies from the United States Army War College in 2023.  Previous military education includes Engineer Officer Basic Course, Engineer Officer Advanced Corse, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, United States Army Command and General Staff College, United States Army War College and Dual Status Commander.

Col. Irby is currently assigned as the Chief of Staff, Army, Joint Force Headquarters Missouri Army National Guard. His previous assignments are 110^th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Commander; Chief of Staff, Joint Force Headquarters Missouri National Guard; Assistant Chief of Staff/G3 35th Infantry Division; Division Engineer, 35^th Infantry Division; Commander, 1140th Engineer Battalion; S3, 35th Engineer Brigade; Assistant Operations Officer, 35th Engineer Brigade; Executive Officer, 1140th Engineer Battalion; S3, 1140th Engineer Battalion; S3/SIMS Officer, 135th Rear Operations Center; Plans Officer , HHD, Engineer Brigade 35th Infantry Division; S1 Officer , HHD, Engineer Brigade 35th Infantry Division;  Operations Officer, HHC, 135th Engineer Group; Commander, HHC, 135th Engineer Group; Platoon Leader, CO C, 1140th Engineer Battalion; and Platoon Leader, Det-1, CO C, 1140th Engineer Battalion.  
 
Col. Irby’s operational assignments include Resident Engineer, US Army Corps of Engineers, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Babil, Iraq from June 2005-May 2006 and Assistant Chief of Staff/G3, 35th Infantry Division, Operation Spartan Shield, Arifjan, Kuwait from February 2022-November 2022.
 
Col. Irby’s awards, decorations, and badges include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Service Star), Iraq Campaign Medal (with 2 Campaign Stars), Global War on  Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hourglass, “M” device, and Arabic Numeral 2), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (with  Arabic Numeral 2), Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (with Arabic Numeral 6), and Army Meritorious Unit Commendation (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster). Col. Irby has received the Silver Order of the DeFleury Medal from the Army Engineer Association, the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara from the Army Field Artillery Association and Honorable Order of Saint Maurice from the Army Infantry Association.

Col. Irby retired as supervising U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officer, Eastern District of Missouri.