Sergeant Major of the Army
Michael A. Grinston, U.S. Army

Sergeant Major Michael A. Grinston

16th Sergeant Major of the Army

U.S. Army, Retired

Inducted 2023

Michael A. Grinston is a native of Jasper, Alabama, and enlisted in the Army in October 1987. He attended Basic and Advanced Individual Training as an artilleryman at Fort Sill. Grinston’s military education includes all levels of the Noncommissioned Officer Education System. He is a graduate of Ranger School, Airborne School, Drill Sergeant School, Air Assault School, How the Army Runs Course, the Equal Opportunity Leaders Course, and the Keystone Course. Grinston holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Maryland University College. Grinston’s deployments include Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, Inherent Resolve, Enduring Freedom, and Kosovo. Grinston has held every enlisted leadership position in artillery, ranging from cannon crewmember to command sergeant major. As the 1st Infantry Division Command Sergeant Major, Grinston served as the senior enlisted leader for the Army’s first deployment of a division headquarters in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. He also served as the I Corps Command Sergeant Major and as the Command Sergeant Major for the U.S. Army Forces Command. His awards and decorations include the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (2nd award), Bronze Star Medal with Valor (2nd award), and the Bronze Star Medal (3rd award). He has earned the Ranger tab, Master Parachutist badge, Air Assault badge, Drill Sergeant Identification, and Combat Action Badges. Sgt. Maj. Michael A. Grinston was sworn in as the 16th Sergeant Major of the Army on August 9, 2019.  As the Sergeant Major of the Army, Grinston was the Army Chief of Staffs personal advisor on matters affecting the enlisted force. He devoted the majority of his time traveling throughout the Army to observe training and interact with Soldiers and their Families. He sat on a variety of councils and boards that make decisions affecting enlisted Soldiers and their Families and is routinely invited to testify before Congress. Grinston served as the public face of the U.S. Army's Noncommissioned Officer Corps, representing the NCO Corps to the American people in the media and through business and community engagements. SMA Michael A. Grinston retired after 36 years of patriotic service to his country on August 3, 2023.