Kern is a native of
West Orange, New Jersey, and attended
West Orange High School in his hometown. He was commissioned in 1967 as an Armor officer following graduation from the
United States Military Academy. In 1973 he earned
master's degrees in both mechanical and
civil engineering from the
University of Michigan. Kern served two tours in
Vietnam with the
11th Armored Cavalry Regiment as a platoon leader and troop commander, and was a battalion operations officer with the
3rd Armored Division in Germany. He also commanded the 5th Battalion, 32nd Armor,
24th Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia; commanded the
2nd Brigade, 24th Infantry Division at Fort Stewart and during Desert Shield/Desert Storm; and was the Assistant Division Commander of the 24th Infantry Division after redeployment to Fort Stewart. Kern also served as the Commander,
4th Infantry Division (Mechanized). He was also the senior military assistant to the
Secretary of Defense and
Deputy Secretary of Defense; military staff assistant, Defense Research and Engineering for Test and Evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense; and Director of Requirements (Support Systems), Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans. Kern also served as Team Chief,
Light Combat Vehicle Team, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development and Acquisition, and as the Program Branch Chief,
Bradley Fighting Vehicle Systems,
Warren, Michigan. He taught weapon systems and automotive engineering at the
United States Military Academy and was the department's research officer. In June 2004 Kern was chosen to head the internal military investigation of the
Abu Ghraib torture scandal, also referred to as the
Fay Report. ==Awards and decorations==