Command Sergeant Major Donald J. Gallagher II was born in Rockford, Illinois. He enlisted in the United States Army upon graduation from Ohio High School in Ohio, IL and completed Basic Training at Fort Sill, OK and Advanced Individual Training in the Military Occupational Specialty of 14J (Air Defense Tactical Operations Center Operator/Maintainer) at Fort Bliss, Texas.
He has held leadership positions as a Sensor Team Chief, Sensor Section Sergeant, Engagement Control Shift Leader, Engagement Control Team Leader, Station Commander, First Sergeant, and Command Sergeant Major. He has also held positions as a Systems Evaluator, Battalion Retention NCO, Battalion Schools NCO, G-3 Training NCO, Training Management NCOIC, and Recruiting Department SGM.
CSM Gallagher has served in various units throughout the United States and overseas to include 1st Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Division in Germany; 4th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, Texas; Bravo Detachment, 1st Space Company, Space and Missile Defense Command in Fort Bliss, Texas; HHC 316th Expeditionary Sustainment Command in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania; the Altoona Recruiting Station in Altoona, PA, the Bloomsburg Recruiting Station in Bloomsburg, PA, and the Hazleton Recruiting Station in Hazleton, PA all part of the Harrisburg Recruiting Battalion; Indy Metro South Recruiting Company of the Indianapolis Recruiting Battalion; the Recruiting and Retention College, Fort Knox, KY; and the Milwaukee Recruiting Battalion.
His military education includes Sergeant Major Course Class 66 (Commandant’s List), Master Resilience Trainer Course, Senior Training and Education Managers Course, Recruiting Company Leadership Course, Station Commander Course (Distinguished Graduate), Systems Approach to Training Basic Course, Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course (Distinguished Graduate), Joint Tactical Ground Station Course, Total Army Instructor Trainer Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Total Army Retention Course, Master Fitness Trainer Course, Primary Leadership Development Course (Honor Graduate).
His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (2 Silver OLC, 1 Bronze OLC), Good Conduct Medal (6th Award), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with bronze star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer’s Development Ribbon with Numeral 5, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the NATO Medal. He has earned the German Army Marksmanship Badge (Silver). He has been awarded the Air Force Space and Missile Badge as well as the Army Space Badge. He has also earned the Gold Recruiter Badge with three sapphires and the Master Recruiter Badge. CSM Gallagher was inducted as a member of the prestigious Sergeant Audie Murphy Club in 2002.
CSM Gallagher holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Accounting from Saint Leo University in Tampa, FL and a Master of Arts Degree in Leadership Studies from the University of Texas at El Paso in El Paso, TX.
CSM Gallagher and his wife have two sons and one daughter.