Colonel John Dee Suggs Jr. is a native of North Carolina. He is a graduate of the US Army Infantry School, the US Army Logistics School, the Curso Oficial del Estado Mayor - Argentine Combined Arms and Services Staff College and the US Army War College. In addition to a Bachelor's Degree in Government, he has earned an Associate’s Degree in the Spanish Language, a Bachelor's Degree in History, a Masters of Business Administration, and a Masters of Latin American Studies from Vanderbilt University. As a War College Fellow, he researched Defense Security Cooperation in the 21st Century at the University of Texas (Austin).

Colonel Suggs is currently the Chief of Security Cooperation at the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies. His previous security cooperation assignments include serving as: the National Capitol Region representative for the Commander of US Southern Command; the Commander of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC); Chief of Security Cooperation at US Army North; the Army Mission Chief and US liaison to the Commander of the Peruvian Army at US Embassy, Peru; the Army Attaché in the Pluri-national State of Bolivia; as a military student with the Argentine Army in Buenos Aires, Argentina; and as Deputy Commander of a Military Transition Team, living with and advising an Iraqi Infantry Brigade engaged in combat operations.

His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star for Valor, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal for Valor, Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Meritorious Unit Award with Oak Leaf Cluster, among others. He has additionally been awarded the Combat Action Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Master Parachutist’s Wings, Pathfinder Badge, Rigger Badge, and Air Assault Badge.

He has received both multi-national and foreign awards from military, civilian, police, and non-governmental organizations, to include: The Argentine Army, the Association of Police Chiefs of Latin America, the Bolivian Army, the Brazilian Army, the Colombian Army, the Colombian National Police, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Panamanian National Police and the Peruvian Army, Navy, and National Police. He is additionally qualified to wear Thai Army Airborne Wings.

Colonel Suggs is married to Trenny Leigh Suggs, née Warren of Wichita, Kansas. They have three children. Danielle is a practicing attorney, Maria is a 1L at UGA Law, and John III is a freshman at UVA.