Between February 1992 and February 1994, General Ross served as commanding general for the U.S. Army Materiel Command. For four and one-half years prior, he was the deputy chief of staff for logistics for the U.S. Army and, before that the commanding general of the U.S. Army Depot System Command and the chief of staff for the U.S. Army Materiel Command, respectively. His many decades of service also include being commander of the Military Ocean Terminal, Bay Area, commanding the 4th Transportation Brigade and 2nd Support Command, VII Corps in Germany, and serving as the director for transportation, energy and troop support in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, HQDA.

General Ross served two combat tours of duty in Vietnam. His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, two Air Medals, the Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster). He has also been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Ranger Tab, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.

General Ross holds a Master’s degree in business administration from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. General Ross' military education includes the Basic Officer Course at the Infantry School, the Transportation Advanced Officer Course, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.