Meet the General

United States Army
Major General
Kathleen M. Gainey

Major General Kathleen M. Gainey received her commission as a Second Lieutenant in ROTC in 1978, after graduating from Norfolk, Virginia’s Old Dominion University, and receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education.

Currently, MG Gainey is Commanding General, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, IL.

Her previous commands include 5th Heavy Boat Company, Ford Island, Hawaii; 6th Transportation Battalion, Fort Eustis, VA; 7th Corps Support Group, Bamberg, Germany; and Defense Distribution Center, New Cumberland, PA.

In 1987, she attended Babson College, Wellesley, MA, to complete her MBA. In July 1989, she attended the Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS, and she is a 1997 graduate of the Army War College.

MG Gainey's other assignments include Chief, Container Freight Branch, Military Ocean Terminal Bay Area, MTMC Western Area, Oakland, CA; Program Analyst, Unites States Armament, Munitions and Chemical Command, Rock Island, IL; Executive Officer, 2d Area Support Group, 22d Support Command; S-2/S3, 702d Transportation Battalion, Saudi Arabia; Division Transportation Officer, 24th Infantry Division (Mech), Fort Stewart, GA; Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff, Army, Washington, DC; Chief Joint Operations Division, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, IL; Director, Force Projection and Distribution, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, Washington, DC; Deputy Chief of Staff, Resources and Sustainment, Multi-National Force-Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Her awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster; Meritorious Service Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters; Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters. Her badges include the Army Staff Identification Badge.