Brigadier General Sean Gainey (Past Speaker)

Brigadier General Sean A. Gainey graduated from Georgia Southern University in 1990 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Defense Artillery. His professional military education includes the Air Defense Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Command and General Staff College (CGSC), and Senior Service College at the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security. He holds a Bachelors in Business Administration, an MS in Personnel Management from Central Michigan University and an MS in National Security and Resource Strategy from the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security. 

Brigadier General Gainey's first duty assignment was in 5th Battalion, 2nd Air Defense Artillery, Bamberg, Germany where he served as a Chaparral/Stinger Platoon Leader, Avenger Battery Executive Officer and Assistant Operations Officer. He was then assigned to 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery, Fort Bliss, Texas, where he served as an Assistant Operations Officer and Commander of Charlie Battery. While in command, he deployed his battery to Bahrain in support of Operation Southern Watch. He was then assigned to the Combat Maneuver Training Center, Hohenfels, Germany where he served as an Air Defense Artillery Observer Controller and G3 Plans Officer. He was later assigned to 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery where he served as the Battalion Executive Officer and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I. Brigadier General Gainey then served as the Brigade Operations Officer for 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. Brigadier General Gainey was then assigned to the United States Army Human Resources Command, Alexandria, Virginia, where he served as the Lieutenant Colonel Assignment Officer and Executive Officer to the Director of Officer Personnel Management Directorate. 

He commanded 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery, Kaiserslautern, Germany. While in command, he deployed his battalion in support of Joint Task Force East. Following command, he served as the Chief of Air and Missile Defense Division, United States Army Europe. Brigadier General Gainey commanded 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade at Fort Bragg, NC. During his command he deployed his brigade in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Following command, he served as the Chief, Global Force Management Division, Joint Staff, J3, Joint Operations Division. Brigadier General Gainey's previous assignment was as the Deputy Commanding General for the United States Army Cadet Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky. 

Awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (w/4 OLCs), Army Commendation Medal (w/3 OLCs), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (w/1 OLC), Air Force Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, and Parachutist Badge.