USTRANSCOM deputy closes 35-year Army career

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. – Lt. Gen. Kathleen M. Gainey, U.S. Transportation Command deputy commander, ended her 35-year Army career, Oct. 18, with a farewell ceremony at the Scott Air Force Base, Ill. command.

“It has been a wonderful 35 years,” Gainey said.  “There have been a couple things I definitely would do differently, (but) I have no major regrets.  I would do it all over again.”

It’s not hard to see why Gainey chose a military career over that of a special education teacher for which she studied at Virginia's Old Dominion University.

“Both my grandfathers served in the military, in World War II,” Gainey said.  “My dad was in the military as an enlisted man and then became a commissioned officer, so I was an Army brat. 

“My two brothers are also in,” Gainey continued.  “All three of us said we would never, never ever join the military.  We would never drag our kids around.  All three of us joined up.  It’s been great.”

Gainey feels the she is leaving the military in good hands.  “I’m just thankful we’ve got the wonderful young men and women that are just filling our footsteps,” she said.  “Our nation should be very, very proud that it has so many young men and women willing to step up on a volunteer basis.”

Gainey’s assignments have been many, but she says her favorite was her command at 6th Transportation Battalion, Fort Eustis, Va.

“It was very diverse, (we) had a real day-to-day mission,” Gainey said, “and I was able to really get to know and impact nearly all of my soldiers, NCOs and officers.”

According to Gainey, the most memorable event of her career was deploying to Desert Storm and Desert Shield.

“It was a real turning point for me,” Gainey said.  “It was my first time in combat and I learned so much and how to do without a lot of basics.  Improvisation was how I survived.

“For eight months I was the deputy commander for 2^nd Area Support Group at KKMC King Khalid Military City,” Gainey continued, “and then the S3 (operations) for 702^nd Transportation Battalion in Ad Damman for seven months.”

Gainey commanded the Army Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command from September 2006 to May 2008 and helped bring the command to Scott Air Force Base.

After a stint as director of Logistics, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C., Gainey came to USTRANSCOM as the deputy commander in October 2011.  She had been assigned at the command from July 2000 to July 2002 as the Joint Operations Division chief.

Gainey says what she will remember most about USTRANSCOM is the resiliency, dedication, perseverance and innovation of its workers.  “They are the world’s best at what they do,” she said.

Gainey plans to take some time off with husband, Army Brig. Gen. (retired) Ed Donnelly, before starting her new position with Cypress International.  “It’s a very small consulting firm in Old Town, Alexandria,” she said.  “I will be the logistician on the staff.”

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