Deputy Commanding General retires at Fort Sill

The Fires Center of Excellence at Fort Sill had a Retirement Ceremony for Joe E. Gallagher, Deputy to the Commanding General, at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

As Deputy to the Commanding General, Gallagher helped in the development and execution of organizational goals, objectives and policies to ensure all needs of his units were met, according to his bio.

“I’ve been here for 12 years,” Gallagher said. “I helped the CG with the business side of running the installation, running the schoolhouse, executed procedures, guidance and directive, led and supported the almost 3,000 DA civilians we have here on the installation.”

He has served for 42 years active duty and was selected for the Senior Executive Service in Nov. 2009, the bio said. Originally from El Paso, Texas, and raised in Connecticut, Gallagher graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He had several assignments over 27 years in the military including a tour during Desert Shield/Storm and another tour in Iraq. In 2006, he earned his Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College. He has been married for 43 years to his wife Luanne and has 4 children and 11 grandchildren.

Gallagher decided to enlist in the Army due in part to his father and with the help of the ROTC at the University of Connecticut.

“Three years later, I decided this was still fun,” Gallagher said. “Then I became an SES. I continued serving and it just seemed like a fun thing to do. You go out, run around the woods, blow things up? Yeah, I can do that for three years. You also meet people and learn stuff and how they act, see things. That’s why I stayed.”

During the ceremony, Gallagher and his family entered and exited through a carriage ride given by the Fort Sill Half Section. After Major General Winston P. Brooks gave his remarks, they presented multiple awards to Gallagher and his family. Gallagher gave his remarks soon after.

Gallagher’s most memorable experiences are the ones with the people he’s met.

“It didn’t matter if it was a four star general who was chief of staff in the Army, the Secretary of the Army or if it was the most junior soldier or DA civilian, you can always learn something from everybody,” Gallagher said. “The opportunity to interact with them, learn stuff, see things through their perspective, really neat. That’s the highlight for me.”

For anyone considering joining the armed forces, Gallagher warns not to take it lightly.

“It’s great for those who learn to like it,” Gallagher said. “I can’t think of doing anything else or having done anything else in my history. For those that fit, it’s great. You will learn something from the people around you, what the Army teaches you. Great opportunity to go places, but it’s serious.”

The road ahead stretches on for Gallagher.

“I’m 65 and a half, so now we’re gonna travel, we’ve got an RV,” Gallagher said. “I want to golf. When I drive into work at 8:30 in the morning and they’re on the golf course, I want to be that guy.”