Preston is a native of Mount Savage, Maryland, and entered the United States Army on June 30, 1975.

Since August 2011, Preston has volunteered as the co-chair of the Chief of Staff of the Army's Retired Soldier Counsel.

Severely wounded veterans in need of a specially adapted home as qualified by the VA predominantly spend all or part of their daily life in a wheelchair.

Preston has served as the Vice President of noncommissioned officer and soldier programs at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) since May 2013.

This article incorporates public domain material from Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston.