General Sullivan is a former president and CEO of the Association of the United States Army, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. After assuming his position in 1998, Sullivan oversaw the transformation of the association into a dynamic member-based organization that represents soldiers, families, and the defense industry.

His responsibilities encompassed both daily business operating and strategy planning for the largest Army-oriented nonprofit association. The association promotes and advocates programs for soldiers and their families, creates opportunities for Army-Industry and professional dialog; advocates public awareness of Army and national security issues through its educational mission and maintains an outreach program to national leadership on critical issues pertinent to Army readiness.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, and raised in Quincy, he was commissioned a second lieutenant of Armor and awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Norwich University in 1959. He holds a Master of Arts degree in political science from the University of New Hampshire. His professional military education includes the US Army Armor School Basic and Advanced Courses, the Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. In addition to his many awards on active duty, he is also the recipient of the West Point Association of Graduates’ Sylvanus Thayer Award and a member of the Sergeants Major Academy’s Hall of Honor.

Sullivan retired from the Army on 31 July 1995 after more than 36 years of active service. He culminated his service in uniform as the 32nd Chief of Staff—the senior general officer in the Army—and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is the co-author of Hope Is Not a Method (Random House, 1996), which chronicles the enormous challenges encountered in transforming the post-Cold War Army through the lens of proven leadership principles and a commitment to shared values. He is the chairman of the board of trustees of Norwich University and the Marshall Legacy Institute as well as a member of the MITRE Army Advisory Board and a life trustee of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

Sullivan is married to the former Gay Loftus of Quincy, Massachusetts; they currently reside in Alexandria, Virginia. He has three children and three grandchildren. He is an avid reader, amateur historian, and active sailor and sport fishing enthusiast. Sullivan is currently a member of the Spirit of America advisory board.