Sergeant Major of the Army Daniel A. Dailey, U.S. Army retired is a native of Palmerton, Pennsylvania. Dailey enlisted in the Army in 1989. He attended basic training and advanced individual training as an 11B (infantryman) at Fort Benning, Georgia. During his career, Dailey held every enlisted leadership position in the mechanized infantry, ranging from Bradley Fighting Vehicle commander to command sergeant major. Dailey has served with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Infantry Divisions stateside and overseas. In March 2009, he was selected as the 4th Infantry Division command sergeant major, where he served as both the command sergeant major of Fort Carson, Colorado, and U.S. Division-North, Iraq. In 2011, Dailey was selected to serve as the command sergeant major of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). Dailey was sworn in as the 15th sergeant major of the Army on Jan. 30, 2015, and relinquished the position on Aug. 9, 2019.
In addition to four tours in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn, Dailey deployed in support of Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield. He earned the Bronze Star with Valor for his leadership during the 4th Infantry Division’s two-month Battle for Sadr City in 2008.
Dailey’s military and civilian education include all levels of the U.S. Army Noncommissioned Officer Education System, the Bradley Master Gunner Course, the Force Management Course, and the Keystone Course. Dailey is a graduate of class 54 of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, the Command Sergeants Major Course, the U.S. Army War College Senior Leader Seminar, and the Ranger Course. Dailey holds a Bachelor of Science (Summa Cum Laude) from Excelsior College.
Dailey has been married to his wife, Holly, for 27 years. They have one son, Dakota.