MG Sean Gainey
Director, Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office Director, Fires Headquarters Department of the Army
Major General Sean A. Gainey is the Director, Joint C-UAS Office (JCO) and Director, Fires in the G3/5/7, HQ Department of the Army. The JCO is a newly established Executive Agent office for all C-UAS activities by order of the Secretary of Defense. As the Fires Director, he is responsible for the training and equipping of all Air Defense and long range artillery activities for the Army.
General Gainey graduated from Georgia Southern University in 1990 and was commissioned 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 Bachelor of Business Administration, a Master of Science (MS) in Personnel Management from Central Michigan University and a MS in National Security and Resource Strategy from the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security.
General Gainey's first duty assignment was in 5th Battalion, 2d Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Bamberg, Germany, where he served as a Chaparral/Stinger Platoon Leader, Avenger Battery Executive Officer and Assistant Operations Officer. He was then assigned to 3d Battalion, 43d Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 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. His next assignment was 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, U.S. Army Europe, where he served as the Battalion Executive Officer and later Brigade Operations Officer while also deploying in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.
General Gainey was then assigned to the U.S. 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. Next, he commanded 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery, Kaiserslautern, Germany. While in command, he deployed his battalion in support of OPERATION JOINT TASK FORCE-EAST. Following command, he served as the Chief of Air and Missile Defense Division, U.S. Army Europe. He then served as Commander, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. During his command, he deployed his brigade in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. Following his brigade command, he served as the Chief, Global Force Management Division, Joint Staff, J3, Washington, DC. General Gainey served as the Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Cadet Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Commanding General, 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. Prior to this assignment, he served on the Joint Staff as the Deputy Director for Force Protection, J-8, overseeing the Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Organization, the Joint Requirements Office for CBRN Defense, and the Force Protection Division.
General Gainey’s awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (w/1 OLC), 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.