Gordon R. Sullivan

Gordon Russell Sullivan (September 25, 1937 – January 2, 2024) was a United States Army general, who served as the 32nd Chief of Staff of the Army and as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Sullivan also served as acting Secretary of the Army.

After retiring from the Army, Sullivan served as the president and chief executive of the Association of the United States Army for 18 years, from 1998 through June 30, 2016. He also served as the chairman of the board of trustees of Norwich University until 2016. He served as chairman of the boards of The Army Historical Foundation and the Marshall Legacy Institute.

Early life and education
Sullivan was born in Boston, Massachusetts on September 25, 1937, the son of Russell E. Sullivan and Penuel E. (Gordon) Sullivan. He was raised in nearby Quincy, and he graduated from Braintree's Thayer Academy in 1955. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Norwich University in 1959. Sullivan took part in the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps while at Norwich and at graduation he received his commission as a second lieutenant of Armor.

Sullivan held a Master of Arts degree in political science from the University of New Hampshire. His professional military education included the United States Army Armor School Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the United States Army War College.

Military career
During his army career, Sullivan served as: Assistant Commandant, United States Army Armor School at Fort Knox, Kentucky from November 1983 to July 1985; Deputy Commandant, United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas from March 1987 to June 1988; Commanding General, 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Riley, Kansas from June 1988 to July 1989; Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans; and Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1990 to 1991. After a tour in Korea from June 1961 to August 1962, he volunteered for Vietnam. After a six-week course of Military Advisor Training and Assistance (MATA) course at Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty), North Carolina, he was sent to Vietnamese language training at Defense Language Institute, Presidio of Monterey, California. In January 1963, he arrived for his first tour in Vietnam. His overseas assignments included four tours in Europe, two in Vietnam and one in Korea.

Sullivan culminated his service in uniform as the 32nd Chief of Staff of the United States Army—the senior general officer in the army—and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As the Chief of Staff of the Army, Sullivan 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 Sullivan, who continued to serve as chief of staff.

Sullivan retired from the United States Army on July 31, 1995, after more than 36 years of active service. The military march "Architect of Victory" was dedicated to him on the occasion of his retirement.

Post-army career and later life
Sullivan was the co-author, with Michael V. Harper, of Hope Is Not a Method (Random House, 1996), which chronicles the enormous challenges encountered in downsizing and transforming the post-Cold War army.

Sullivan served as the chairman of the board of trustees of Norwich University, the Army Historical Foundation, and the Marshall Legacy Institute, as well as a member of the MITRE Army Advisory Board, the MIT Lincoln Laboratory Advisory Board, and a Life Trustee of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. He was also the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of the United States Army, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia from February 1998 through June 2016. Sullivan was an Advisory Board Member of Spirit of America, a 501(c)(3) organization that supports the safety and success of Americans serving abroad and the local people and partners they seek to help.

In recognition of his military career and his work with AUSA, Sullivan was awarded the prestigious Sylvanus Thayer Award by the United States Military Academy in 2003, and the AUSA General George Catlett Marshall Medal, the Association's highest honor, in October 2016.

CNA Military Advisory Board
Gen. Sullivan served as the first Chairman of the CNA Military Advisory Board, the first group of retired generals and admirals to examine the national security implications of climate change. Founded in 2006 by Sherri Goodman, the CNA Military Advisory board brought together military leaders from the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. The landmark report of the CNA Military Advisory Board, National Security and the Threat of Climate Change, established the concept of climate change as a “threat multiplier.” General Sullivan stated in 2007 that the time had arrived to end the debate about climate and take action. When asked about the risk he remarked, “We never have 100 percent certainty. We never have it. If you wait until you have 100 percent certainty, something bad is going to happen on the battlefield.” General Sullivan compared the climate and nuclear threats, stating, “Climate change is exactly the opposite. We have a catastrophic event that appears to be inevitable. And the challenge is to stabilize things—to stabilize carbon in the atmosphere. Back then, the challenge was to stop a particular action. Now, the challenge is to inspire a particular action. We have to act if we’re to avoid the worst effects.”

Personal life and death
Sullivan was married to Miriam Gay Loftus until her death in 2014. He subsequently married Lori Boyle and lived in Falmouth, Massachusetts. Sullivan had three children and three grandchildren. He was an avid reader, historian, sport fisherman, and sailor.

Sullivan died on January 2, 2024, at the age of 86. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with military funeral honors on May 10, 2024.

Awards and decorations
Sullivan's awards and decorations included: