Lt. Gen. Sean M. Farrell is Deputy Commanding General for U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. He ensures the readiness of joint special operations forces and, as directed, conducts operations worldwide.
Lt. Gen. Farrell was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Florida State University. He is a command pilot with over 3,500 flight hours in the AC-130H Spectre, AC-130W Stinger, AC-130U Spooky and C-130E Hercules aircraft. He has commanded at the wing, group, and squadron levels.
Prior to this assignment, he served as the Deputy Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Liberty, North Carolina.
EDUCATION
1990 Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee
1993 Master of Science, Applied Behavioral Science, Communications Systems technology, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio
1998 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2004 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2009 Air War College, Maxwell AFB Ala., by correspondence
2012 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, The Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 1991–February 1992, student, undergraduate pilot training, Williams Air Force Base, Ariz.
2. February 1992–December 1993, student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
3. December 1993–November 1994, Program Manager for International Cooperation, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
4. November 1994–March 1997, C-130E Pilot, Training Officer, Moody AFB, Ga.
5. March 1997–April 1998, AC-130H Pilot, Chief of Flight Safety, 16th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
6. April 1998–April 2000, Instructor Pilot, Chief of Squadron Safety, 16th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
7. April 2000–April 2001, Evaluator Pilot, Flight Commander, 16th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
8. April 2001–April 2002, AC-130H, Chief Pilot, Standardization and Evaluation, 16th Operations Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
9. April 2002–April 2003, AC-130H/U, Chief Pilot, Standardization and Evaluation, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
10. April 2003–February 2004, Chief, Standards and Evaluations AC-130 Branch, Headquarters AFSOC, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
11. February 2004–March 2006, Operations Officer, Readiness Division, J-3, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
12. March 2006–January 2008, Operations Officer, 16th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
13. January 2008–June 2009, Commander, 16th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla., and Cannon AFB, N.M.
14. August 2009–September 2009, Deputy Commander, 1st Special Operations Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
15. September 2009–April 2010, C-130J Program Element Monitor, Secretary of the Air Force, Acquisitions, Global Reach, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
16. April 2010–December 2010, Chief, Tactical Airlift Branch, Secretary of the Air Force, Acquisitions, Global Reach, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
17. December 2010–April 2011, Chief, Tactical Airlift, Special Operations Forces and Trainer Division, Secretary of the Air Force, Acquisitions, Global Reach, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
18. August 2011–June 2012, Student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
19. June 2012–June 2013, Senior Analyst, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
20. June 2013–January 2015, Commander, 27th Special Operations Group, Cannon AFB, N.M.
21. January 2015–June 2016, Commander, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
22. June 2016–July 2018, Director, Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements, AFSOC, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
23. July 2018–June 2019, Director, Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation Directorate, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
24. June 2019–June 2021, Director, Force Structure, Requirements, Resources and Strategic Assessments, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
25. June 2021 – March 2024, Deputy Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Liberty, N.C.
26. March 2024 – present, Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 2004–March 2006, Operations Officer, Readiness Division, J-3, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a major
2. June 2012–June 2013, Senior Analyst, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
3. June 2019–June 2021, Director, Force Structure, Requirements, Resources and Strategic Assessments, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla., as a major general
4. June 2021 – March 2024, Deputy Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Liberty, N.C., as a major general
5. March 2024 – present, Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla., as a lieutenant general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: more than 3,500
Aircraft Flown: T-37, T-38, C-130E, AC-130H, AC-130W, C-146A, PC-12, U-28, MC-130J, CV-22 and AC-130U
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross with “V” device
Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
(Current as of April 2024)