U.S. Army Maj. Gen. (Retired) Gary L. Harrell will be the keynote speaker at ETSU’s spring commencement exercises, scheduled at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, in Memorial Center (the Mini-Dome).
When he graduated from ETSU with a degree in industrial technology in 1973, Harrell also received his commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army through the university’s ROTC program. He reported to Fort Bragg, N.C., where he served as a Rifle Platoon Leader with the 82nd Airborne Division.
In 1977, after completing the Special Forces Qualification Course and earning the coveted Green Beret, Harrell was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group headquartered in Fort Gulick, Panama, where he served as commander of a SCUBA team and an assault team. Returning to the 82nd Airborne, he deployed in 1981 as a member of the first multinational force to the Sinai Peninsula.
Harrell was sent to Grenada during “Operation Urgent Fury.” In 1984, he was assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Devens, Mass., and then, from 1985-1991, he served as a Troop Commander at Fort Bragg, with part of that time spent in Panama during “Operation Just Cause.”
During “Desert Shield” and “Desert Storm,” Harrell was sent to the Middle East. In 1992, he was deployed to Colombia, and then to Somalia, where he was wounded by mortar fire while helping with United Nations relief efforts.
As Central Command Joint Security Director from 1999-2001, Harrell was responsible for the protection of U.S. forces in 25 nations surrounding the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. In response to the attack on the USS Cole, Harrell deployed to Yemen. In 2001, Harrell became Assistant Division Commander for the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan.
During “Operation Iraqi Freedom,” Harrell commanded the largest special operations force assembled since World War II – more than 20,000 personnel.
After retiring as the Deputy Commanding General, United States Army Special Operations Command, Harrell returned to and settled in the Johnson City area.
Harrell is a graduate of the Airborne Course, Ranger Course, Special Forces Underwater Operations Course, Military Free Fall Course, Pathfinder School, Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Course, Special Forces Qualification Course, Special Operations Training Course, the Armed Forces Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College.
Among his awards and decorations, Harrell earned the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal (with V-device for valor and two Oak Leaf Clusters), a Purple Heart for wounds received in Somalia, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters) as well as numerous service and campaign medals. He also earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Master Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, SCUBA Diver Badge, Special Forces Tab, and Ranger Tab.
In 2001, Harrell was honored with ETSU’s Distinguished Alumnus in the Armed Forces Award, and, in 2004, he received an ETSU College of Business and Technology Lifetime Achievement Award.
Harrell’s wife of 36 years is the former Jennifer Lee Counts, a Johnson City native. Her advocacy for military families facing hardships and long deployments led to her service as president of the Family Readiness Group.
The Harrells have three adult children – Andrea Burchette, Chad Harrell and Amanda Schwamburger – and two grandchildren.

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