Gordon R. Sullivan

Gordon R. Sullivan
General Gordon R. Sullivan
Born	September 25, 1937 (1937-09-25) (age 74) Boston, Massachusetts
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1959-1995
Rank	General (Retired)
Commands held	Chief of Staff, U.S. Army
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Army Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Purple Heart
Other work	President, Association of the United States Army

General Gordon Russell Sullivan is a retired Army general officer, who served as the 32nd Chief of Staff of the United States Army and as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Background and education

Sullivan was born September 25, 1937 in Boston, Massachusetts and raised in Quincy. He was commissioned a second lieutenant of Armor and awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Norwich University in 1959. 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.

Career

Sullivan retired from the United States Army on 31 July 1995 after more than 36 years of active service. He culminated his service in uniform as the 32nd Chief of Staff—the senior general officer in the Army—and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As the Chief of Staff of the Army, he created the vision and led the team that transitioned the Army from its Cold War posture. In August 1993, President Bill Clinton assigned the duties and responsibility of Acting Secretary of the Army to General Sullivan who continued to serve as Chief of Staff.^[1]

He is the co-author, with Michael V. Harper, of Hope Is Not a Method (Random House, 1996), which chronicles the enormous challenges encountered in transforming the post-Cold War Army through the lens of proven leadership principles and a commitment to shared values. He serves on the boards of several major corporations, including Newell Rubbermaid. He is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Norwich University; a director of the Institute of Defense Analyses, and the Chairman Emeritus of the Marshall Legacy Institute. Sullivan is also the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Association of the United States Army, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. He assumed his current position at the Association in February 1998. For his work with AUSA, he was awarded the prestigious Sylvanus Thayer Award by the United States Military Academy in 2003.

During his Army career, Sullivan also served as Vice Chief of Staff; Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans; Commanding General, 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Riley, Kansas (June 1988-July 1989); Deputy Commandant, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas (March 1987-June 1988); and Assistant Commandant, U.S. Army Armor School, Fort Knox, Kentucky (November 1983-July 1985). His overseas assignments included four tours in Europe, two in Vietnam and one in Korea.

Sullivan is married to Miriam Gay Sullivan (nee Loftus) of Quincy, Massachusetts; they currently reside in Alexandria, Virginia. He has three children and three grandchildren. He is an avid reader and amateur historian.

Decorations and awards

•   Defense Distinguished Service Medal
•   Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
•   Defense Superior Service Medal
•   Legion of Merit
•   Bronze Star
•   Purple Heart
•   Meritorious Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
•   Joint Service Commendation Medal
•   Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
•   Army Achievement Medal
• Combat Infantryman Badge
• Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
• Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
• Army Staff Identification Badge

References

1. ^ "Secretary of the Army Accused of Shoplifting", Stephanie Griffith and Bill Miller, The Washington Post, August 28, 1993

External links

• The Sullivan File, archive.org snapshot of NU webpage.
• TESTIMONY BEFORE THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE , SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

Military offices
Preceded by Gen. Robert W. RisCassi	Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army 1990 – 1991	Succeeded by Gen. Dennis Reimer
Preceded by Carl E. Vuono	Chief of Staff of the United States Army 1991–1995	Succeeded by Dennis J. Reimer

Persondata
Name	Sullivan, Gordon
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1937-09-25
Place of birth	Boston, Massachusetts
Date of death
Place of death