Jim Sparkman is widely known in Salem real estate circles as the owner and principal broker of HomeSmart Realty Group. But a recent Legion of Merit presentation put a different part of his career into focus: more than three decades of military service that culminated in one of the U.S. military’s highest honors for exceptionally meritorious service.
In Salem, Sparkman is a business figure tied to a well-known brokerage. In the Army Reserve, he serves as command sergeant major of the 7th Psychological Operations Group, a senior enlisted leadership position responsible for standards, readiness and soldier development across the unit. The award reflects service at a level the military reserves for unusually consequential leadership.
The Legion of Merit is not handed out for doing a job well. Federal regulations set a higher bar, requiring exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service. For U.S. personnel, the distinction is meant for service that clearly stands apart from normal expectations and is tied to duties of real significance.
Sparkman’s career helps explain why the award stands out locally. He is identified by the Army Reserve as the command sergeant major of the 7th Psychological Operations Group. He enlisted in 1994, later moved into Psychological Operations in 1999, and has spoken publicly about deployments tied to Afghanistan, the Balkans and Iraq. In 2013, he and his partners opened a HomeSmart franchise in Salem, and that same year he was also selected as a command sergeant major.
Many in Salem know Sparkman through real estate without realizing he has spent years balancing civilian business leadership with a senior Army Reserve role. The award gives that second career public visibility in a way a routine biography never would. Don Sturgeon, a longtime friend and business partner, said, “Having worked alongside Jim Sparkman, I’ve seen firsthand the combination of integrity, vision, and determination that defines his leadership. He doesn’t just inspire the people around him, he elevates them. This recognition is well-deserved, and I can think of no one more worthy of such a prestigious honor.”
He has built and led a recognizable brokerage operation in Salem while continuing to serve in a demanding national-security role. The story is not just about ceremonial recognition. It is also about the uncommon overlap between business leadership and military leadership. Andrew Holbert, Executive Director of Courtney Place Veterans Housing, said, “This recognition comes as no surprise. Command Sergeant Major Jim Sparkman has led with discipline, humility, and an unwavering sense of duty throughout his military career, and he brings those same qualities to Courtney Place Veterans Housing every day. The leadership required to earn the Legion of Merit reflects sustained excellence, accountability, and a deep commitment to those he serves. Jim continues to model those standards on our board, helping guide our mission and strengthen the support we provide to veterans. We are better because of his continued leadership and commitment.”
The recognition places a highly selective military honor on a Salem business leader with a long, senior Army Reserve record.
One of Salem’s visible real estate executives has also spent much of his adult life in service at a level the military considers exceptional.
