William Gainey

Infobox Military Person
name=William Joseph (Joe) Gainey


caption= Command Sergeant Major William J.Gainey
born=27 May 1956
Nickname= Joe
placeofbirth= Jacksonville, Fla
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Army
battles= OIF II
serviceyears=1975-2008
rank=Command Sergeant Major
awards=Army Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star with V
Command Sergeant Major (Retired) William J. (Joe) Gainey was the first Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (SEAC). He retired April 25, 2008.

Command Sergeant Major William J. Gainey was the first Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a newly created position established to advise the Chairman on matters of professional development of enlisted personnel for a joint environment. Sergeant Major Gainey was the first person selected to serve in this position beginning October 1, 2005.

Sergeant Major Gainey enlisted in the Army under the Delayed Entry Program in 1974 and entered basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky on 17 June 1975. Since then, he has served in every leadership position from gunner to Command Sergeant Major. He retired after 33 years of service to the nation on April 25, 2008.

Sergeant Major Gainey's assignments include: Driver, Loader, Gunner, and Tank Commander in the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor (Tiger Brigade), 2nd Armored Division, Ft Hood, Tx.; Gunner, Tank Commander, and Platoon Sergeant in the 4th Battalion, 73rd Armored, 1st Infantry Division, Böblingen, Germany; Platoon Leader in the 2nd Battalion, 70th Armored, 24th Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.; Drill Sergeant and Senior Drill Sergeant in the 19th Battalion, 4th Training Brigade, Ft Knox, Ky.; Platoon Sergeant and Operations Sergeant in the 3rd Battalion, 73rd Armor, 82nd Airborne Division, Ft Bragg, N.C.; Platoon Sergeant and First Sergeant in the 1st Battalion, 509th Infantry Airborne, Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC), Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.; Senior Enlisted Armor Advisor, Ft Jackson, S.C..

Sergeant Major Gainey has served as the Command Sergeant Major for the 2nd Battalion, 68th Armored Regiment, and 1st Battalion, 35th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany; Eagle Base, Bosnia and Herzegovina; 1st Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Polk, La.; 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.; 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Polk, La.; The United States Army Armor Center, Fort Knox, Ky; and most recently as the Command Sergeant Major for the III Corps and Fort Hood at Fort Hood, Texas.

Sergeant Major Gainey has served in Operation Joint Endeavor (IFOR), Operation Joint Guard (SFOR 3) and Operation Joint Forge (SFOR 8) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He served as the Command Sergeant Major for the Combined Joint Task Force-7 (CJTF-7), Multinational Force Iraq (MNF-I), and the Multi-National Corps Iraq (MNC-I) in Operation Iraqi Freedom II.

Sergeant Major Gainey has attended numerous military schools and training programs to include: the Drill Sergeant School; Airborne School; Jumpmaster School; Air Movement Officer's Course; Observer Controller Course; First Sergeants Course; Pathfinder School; and the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Class 41. Sergeant Major Gainey holds an Associates Degree in Applied Science from Vincennes University and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from TUI University..

Awards and decorations

*Army Distinguished Service Medal
*Defense Superior Service Medal
*Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster (2 awards)
*Bronze Star with Valor device
*Meritorious Service Medal with 1 silver and 2 bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (8 awards)
*Army Commendation Medal with 1 silver and 2 bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (8 awards)
*Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster (2 awards)
*Army Good Conduct Medal with 1 silver and 4 bronze oak leaf clusters (10 awards)
*National Defense Service Medal with 2 service stars (3 awards)
*Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with 2 service stars (3 awards)
*Iraq Campaign Medal
*Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
*Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
*Armed Forces Service Medal
*NCO Professional Development Ribbon with "4" award numeral
*Army Service Ribbon
*Army Overseas Service Ribbon with "4" award numeral
*Joint Meritorious Unit Award
*Superior Unit Award
*Combat Action Badge
*Master Parachutist Badge
*Pathfinder Badge
*Expert Rifle Badge
*Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
*Drill Sergeant Identification Badge

Sergeant Major Gainey is also a recipient of:
*Bronze Medallion of the Honorable Order of Saint George, United States Armor Association
*Ancient Order of Saint Barbara, Air Defense Artillery Association

Foreign decorations and awards

*NATO Medal with 2 service stars (3 awards)
*German Armed Forces Badge of Marksmanship (Schützenschnur in Bronze)

Personal life

Sergeant Major Gainey is married to the former Lucinda (Cindy) Chunn and they have a son and daughter. Their son is Captain Ryan J. Gainey, currently stationed overseas; their daughter is Erin E. Gainey-Roberts, currently stationed at Fort Hood, Texas with her husband, Staff Sergeant Jeff Roberts.

ee also

References

* [http://www.jcs.mil/bios/bio_gainey.html Official Site]
* [http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46514 Gainey Wraps up Korea Visit, Announces Plans to Retire]
* [http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=46446 Top NCO Shares Laughs, Hope with Troops in Korea]
* [http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49616 Senior Enlisted Advisor Approaches Retirement With New Outlook