Lieutenant General (Retired) Sean MacFarland currently serves as a US Army War College senior mentor for general officers, is a senior fellow at the Association of the US Army’s Institute for Land Warfare and is a non-resident senior fellow of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University. From 2018 to 2022, he was Vice President of Weapons Programs at General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems Group.
From 1981 to 2018, LTG (Ret) MacFarland commanded armor and cavalry units at every echelon from platoon through command of the Army’s 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss, Texas followed by command of III (Armored) Corps and Fort Hood, Texas. He served multiple tours in Germany, the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan, culminating in leading all coalition forces in the war against ISIS in Iraq and Syria from 2015 to 2016. During this time almost half of ISIS controlled territory was liberated, earning him a place on TIME Magazine’s 2016 list of the “100 Most Influential People in the World.” His numerous decorations include the Combat Action Badge, Parachutist and Air Assault Wings, the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, three Army Distinguished Service Medals, and 22 other medals for his achievements in peace and war.
LTG (Ret) MacFarland currently resides with his wife Lynda in the hill country north of San Antonio, Texas.