SMA Michael A. Grinston

16th Sergeant Major of the U.S. Army

October 1987 – Present

Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) Michael A. Grinston was sworn in as the 16th Sergeant Major of the Army on August 9, 2019. SMA Grinston has held every enlisted leadership position in Artillery, ranging from Cannon Crewmember to Command Sergeant Major.

As Sergeant Major of the Army, SMA Grinston is the Army Chief of Staff's personal adviser on matters affecting the enlisted force. He devotes the majority of his time traveling throughout the Army to observe training and talk with Soldiers and their Families. He sits on a variety of councils and boards that make decisions affecting enlisted Soldiers and their Families and is routinely invited to testify before Congress.  SMA Grinston is the public face of the U.S. Army's Noncommissioned Officer Corps, representing the NCO Corps to the American people in the media and through business and community engagements.

He is a native of Jasper, Alabama. He enlisted in the Army in October of 1987, and attended Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training as an Artilleryman at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. SMA Grinston’s deployments include Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, Inherent Resolve, Enduring Freedom, and Kosovo. As the 1st Infantry Division Command Sergeant Major, SMA Grinston served as the senior enlisted leader for the Army’s first deployment of a division headquarters in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. He also served as the I Corps Command Sergeant Major, and as the command sergeant major for U.S. Army Forces Command.

SMA Grinston’s military education includes all levels of the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development. He is a graduate of Ranger School, Airborne School, Drill Sergeant School, Air Assault School, How the Army Runs Course, the Equal Opportunity Leaders Course, and the Keystone Course.  SMA Grinston holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Maryland University College. 

His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (2nd award), Legion of Merit (2nd award), Bronze Star Medal with Valor (2nd award), the Bronze Star medal (3rd award). He has earned the Ranger tab, Master Parachutist badge, Air Assault badge, Drill Sergeant Identification badge, and the Combat Action Badge.

SMA Grinston and his wife, Alexandra, have two daughters.