Sean MacFarland

{{Infobox military person

|image= Lt. Gen. Sean B. MacFarland.jpg

|name= Sean MacFarland

|image_size=

|alt=

|caption= Lieutenant General Sean MacFarland in April 2017

|nickname=

|birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1959|2|12}}

|birth_place= Albany, New York, United States

|death_date=

|death_place=

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|allegiance= United States of America

|branch= United States Army

|serviceyears= 1981–2018

|rank= Lieutenant General

|unit=

|commands= Deputy Commander, TRADOC
III Corps
1st Armored Division
1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division
2nd Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment

|battles= Gulf War
Iraq War

Battle of Ramadi

War in Afghanistan
Military intervention against ISIL

|awards= Defense Distinguished Service Medal with "C" device
Army Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Defense Superior Service Medal (3)
Legion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star Medal (3)
Meritorious Service Medal (5)

|relations=

|laterwork=

}}

Sean Barry MacFarland (born February 12, 1959) is a retired three-star lieutenant general who served in the United States Army.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5aopAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Sean+Barry+Macfarland%22 |title=Register of Graduates and Former Cadets, United States Military Academy |date=1984 |language=en}}{{cite web|title=Major General Sean B. MacFarland (USA) |url=http://www.isaf.nato.int/about-isaf/leadership/major-general-sean-b.-macfarland-usa.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121231063120/http://www.isaf.nato.int/about-isaf/leadership/major-general-sean-b.-macfarland-usa.html |archivedate=31 December 2012 }}

In 2015 MacFarland, then commanding III Corps, was selected as commander of the coalition against ISIS in Syria and Iraq.{{cite web |url= http://www.nationaljournal.com/s/91436/army-lt-gen-sean-macfarland-lead-u-s-fight-against-isis?mref=skybox |title= MacFarland leads the coalition against ISIS |work= Nationaljournal.com |accessdate= 2015-10-30 }} MacFarland and III Corps thus became responsible for Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR).{{cite web |work= www.centcom.mil |url= http://www.centcom.mil/en/news/articles/iii-corps-assumes-operation-inherent-resolve-mission |title= CJTF-OIR changes command |accessdate= 2015-11-01 }} MacFarland was selected as one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in 2016, handing over command to Lieutenant General Stephen J. Townsend and the XVIII Airborne Corps in August 2016.{{cite web |work= army.mil |url= http://www.army.mil/article/164519/Department_of_the_Army_announces_deployment_of_Fort_Bragg_based_units/ |title= Dept of Army announces deployment of XVIII Airborne Corps |accessdate= 2016-03-18 }}[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWFFn9yXdnw LTG Terry, Pentagon Briefing On Operation Inherent Resolve]

[https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/647924/department-of-defense-press-briefing-by-gen-macfarland-via-teleconference-in-th/ LTG MacFarland Press Briefing][http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/aug/10/sean-macfarland-departing-us-commander-sees-turnin/ Departing U.S. commander sees turning point in Islamic State fight]{{Cite web |date=2016-08-22 |title=New Operation Inherent Resolve commander continues fight against ISIL |url=https://www.army.mil/article/173729/new_operation_inherent_resolve_commander_continues_fight_against_isil |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=www.army.mil |language=en}} He became deputy commanding general and chief of staff for the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command in April 2017,{{cite web|url=http://www.tradoc.army.mil/SitewideContent_TRADOC/docs/Leader_Bios/LTG_MacFarland_bio.pdf|title=Lieutenant General Sean B. MacFarland|website=U.S. Army|date=20 April 2017 |accessdate=2 May 2017 |archiveurl=https://www.tradoc.army.mil/SitewideContent_TRADOC/docs/Leader_Bios/LTG_MacFarland_bio.pdf |archivedate=14 August 2017}}{{Cite web |date=2017-05-17 |title=TRADOC welcomes MacFarland as new deputy commanding general |url=https://www.army.mil/article/187929/tradoc_welcomes_macfarland_as_new_deputy_commanding_general |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=www.army.mil |language=en}} and retired from active duty 27 February 2018.{{Cite web |last=Burge |first=David |title=Lt. Gen. Sean B. MacFarland, former Fort Bliss commander, retiring after three decades |url=https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/military/ft-bliss/2018/02/27/lt-gen-sean-b-macfarland-former-fort-bliss-commander-retiring-after-three-decades/375221002/ |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=El Paso Times |language=en-US}}

Career

MacFarland was commissioned into the United States Army in 1981 and has served in armor and cavalry units throughout his career. He was a cavalry platoon leader and troop executive officer in 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Ft. Bliss, Texas, the Squadron S4 and the commander of A Troop, 3rd Squadron, 12th Cavalry in Buedingen, Germany, S3 and XO of 3rd and 1st Squadrons, respectively, of the 4th Cavalry in Schweinfurt, Germany and in Bosnia. He commanded 2nd Battalion, 63rd Armor in Macedonia and Vilseck, Germany. He also commanded 1st Brigade Combat Team (Ready First), 1st Armored Division in Friedberg, Germany and in Iraq, where the Ready First fought in Tal Afar, Sinjar, Hit and Ramadi. Most recently, he was Commanding General of Fort Bliss, Texas and the 45th Commanding General of the 1st Armored Division (Old Ironsides).

Other assignments included: US Army's lead action officer for combat development of National Missile Defense interceptors at Ft. Bliss, Deputy Regimental S3 of 3rd ACR during Desert Shield/Storm, Deputy G3, 1st Infantry Division in Wuerzburg, Germany; Chief of the 3rd Army Commander's Initiative Group at Ft. McPherson, Georgia and in Kuwait during Operation Desert Thunder; Aide de Camp for the US Army Europe CG in Heidelberg and Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina; Chief of Future Operations for Combined/Joint Task Force 7 in Baghdad, Iraq; G3 of V Corps in Heidelberg, Germany; Chief of the Joint Staff J5's Iraq Division in Washington, DC; Commanding General of Joint Task Force North at Ft. Bliss, Deputy Commanding General for Leader Development and Education and the Deputy Commandant of the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and was dual-hatted as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations for the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and the Deputy Commanding General for Operations for US Forces Afghanistan.

Awards

MacFarland is a graduate of the United States Military Academy, the Command and General Staff College, the School of Advanced Military Studies, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He also earned a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Tech. In 2016 He was named by Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World.

100px

|Combat Action Badge

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|Basic Parachutist Badge

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|Air Assault Badge

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|Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

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|1st Armored Division Combat Service Identification Badge

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|3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia

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|9 Overseas Service Bars

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=60}}8px Defense Distinguished Service Medal with "C" device

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}14px14px Army Distinguished Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}14px14px Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=60}} Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Bronze Star ribbon|width=60}}14px14px Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}14px14px14px14px Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Service Commendation ribbon.svg|width=60}} Joint Service Commendation Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}14px14px14px14px Army Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg|width=60}}14px14px Joint Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=60}} Navy Unit Commendation

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Superior Unit Award ribbon.svg|width=60}} Army Superior Unit Award

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg|width=60}}11px11px Southwest Asia Service Medal with two campaign stars

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|name=KosovoRib|width=60}} Kosovo Campaign Medal with campaign star

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|name=Afghanistan Campaign ribbon|width=60}} Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}}11px11px11px Iraq Campaign Medal with three campaign stars

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg|width=60}} Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg|width=60}} Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=Armed Forces Service Medal ribbon|width=60}} Armed Forces Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Service Ribbon.svg|width=60}} Army Service Ribbon

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=numeral|ribbon=Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg|width=60}}11px Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 4

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=NATO Medal ISAF ribbon bar.svg|width=60}} NATO Medal for Service with ISAF

60px Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)

60px Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Commands

He commanded 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division during the Iraq War and the Battle of Ramadi in 2006.{{cite news|last=Michaels|first=Jim|title=An Army colonel's gamble pays off in Iraq|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-04-30-ramadi-colonel_n.htm|work=USA Today|date=1 May 2007|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20070503005940/http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-04-30-ramadi-colonel_N.htm|archive-date=3 May 2007|url-status=dead|access-date=19 October 2024}} He is the former Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations for the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. MacFarland was previously the Commanding General of Fort Bliss and the 1st Armored Division,{{cite web|title=Leadership ISAF Headquarters |url=http://www.isaf.nato.int/about-isaf/leadership/3.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121223074143/http://www.isaf.nato.int/about-isaf/leadership/3.html |archivedate=23 December 2012 }}{{cite web|url=http://fortblissbugle.com/1st-ad-changes-command-post-bids-farewell-to-macfarland-welcomes-twitty/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810193627/http://fortblissbugle.com/1st-ad-changes-command-post-bids-farewell-to-macfarland-welcomes-twitty/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 10, 2014|title=1st AD changes command Post bids farewell to MacFarland, welcomes Twitty – Fort Bliss Bugle|accessdate=7 September 2014|publisher=}} and the Commanding General of III Corps at Fort Hood.