Major General Schanely was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 28 May 1986 through the United States Military Academy. For over 31 years, Major General Schanely has served both active and reserve units in the United States Army.
Major General Schanely served as Platoon Leader of Vertical and Horizontal Construction Platoons, as well as Company Executive Officer in the 94th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) in Darmstadt, Germany, completing troop construction projects in Aschaffenburg, Darmstadt, and Rhein Main Air Force Base. After completing the Engineer Officer Advanced Course, she served as Company Commander, Battalion S1 and Battalion Assistant S3 in the 536th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) at Fort Kobbe, Panama during humanitarian construction deployments to Honduras, Guyana, Uruguay, El Salvador, and the "interior" of Panama.
Upon transitioning to the U.S. Army Reserve in 1993, Major General Schanely held several staff positions in the 98th Division (Institutional Training) and the 78th Division (Training Support). Her command assignments have included the 2/313th Regiment (Logistical Support) of the 78th Division at Fort Drum, the 6th Brigade (Professional Development) of the 98th Division in Syracuse, and the 3rd Battle Command Training Group of 2/75th Division at Fort Dix. As Support Division Chief for the Office of the Program Manager – Facilities Security Forces in Riyadh from 2010-2011, she oversaw essential administrative and logistical staff support functions to a new strategic partnership with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Interior and Facilities Security Forces. Upon return from Southwest Asia, Major General Schanely served as Chief of Staff of the 416th Theater Engineer Command in Darien, Illinois, and then as Deputy Commanding General of the 412th Theater Engineer Command, headquartered in Vicksburg, Mississippi. She most recently served as Commander of the 102nd Training Division (Maneuver Support) and Deputy Commanding General, Mobilization and Training, of the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence, both headquartered at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
Major General Schanely is a graduate of the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the Army Command and General Staff College, the Army War College, Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, and CAPSTONE. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management from the U.S. Military Academy, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Rochester, a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, and a Master of Arts in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University.
Major General Schanely’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Service Medal (with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster), the Army Commendation Medal (with Silver and Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Achievement Medal, the Parachutist Badge, and the Jungle Expert Badge.
In her civilian career, Major General Schanely is the Executive Director of the State University of New York (SUNY) North Country Consortium, a partnership of six SUNY campuses that collaborate to bring a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs to Fort Drum and the Northern New York community.