General Gordon R. Sullivan

32nd Chief of Staff of the Army

June 1991–July 1995

Gordon R. Sullivan is a native of Quincy, Massachusetts. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Norwich University in 1959 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the armor branch. He holds a Master of Arts degree in political science from the University of New Hampshire. His professional military education includes the U.S. Army Armor School Basic and Advanced Courses, the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College.

As the chief of staff of the Army, Gen. Sullivan oversaw the establishment of the Battle Staff NCO Course at USASMA in 1991 — a course that has trained thousands of NCOs. During his tenure he helped usher in video teletraining, first used in 1995 in the Primary Leader Development Course. He was responsible for the Sergeants Major Course changing from a six-month to a nine-month course of instruction that placed more emphasis on battle staff training for division- and corps-level battle staff assignments.

As the president and chief operating officer of the Association of the United States Army, Gen. Sullivan spearheaded the creation of its NCO and Soldier Programs division, a program dedicated to the advancement of Soldier and family issues, training, mentoring and Soldier excellence. Each year he conducts a professional development session for the entire student body of the Sergeants Major Course on lessons learned during his more than 50 years of service to the nation as a Soldier and citizen. In this way, he touches the lives of thousands of senior noncommissioned officers from all military services and many students from partner nations.

He continues to serve by ensuring students are invited to and participate in the annual Space and Missile Defense Command professional development symposium attended by senior military leaders and captains of industry. He also provides support for many events conducted by the Academy, including the annual Nominative Sergeant Major and Senior Enlisted Advisors Conference hosted by the sergeant major of the Army and attended by hundreds of senior NCOs from across the Army. Gen. Sullivan also helped create a forum where student research papers could be published in a world-class magazine read by hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the world and established an award for the student group that submitted the best research paper.

He also authorized a subchapter of AUSA at the Academy to support students and activities of family members and created a means where issues could be forwarded through the chapter to AUSA National Headquarters.

Gen. Sullivan is married to Miriam Gay Sullivan (née Loftus) also of Quincy, Massachusetts. They reside in Alexandria, Virginia. He has three children and three grandchildren. He is an avid reader and amateur historian.