Sean C. Bernabe

Lieutenant General (Retired) Sean Bernabe is a senior executive and strategic advisor with more than three decades of experience leading large, complex organizations through periods of transformation, crisis, and sustained operational demand. He is the founder and chief executive officer of SCB Strategic Advisory LLC, where he advises senior leaders across the corporate, government, academic, and nonprofit sectors on strategy, organizational design, crisis leadership, and executive development.

General Bernabe retired from the United States Army in late 2025 after more than 33 years of distinguished service as an Infantry officer. He commanded at every echelon from company through corps and is widely recognized as a results-oriented leader who drives organizational change, develops leaders, and builds cohesive, high-performing teams in demanding environments. He also served as senior commander of three major Army installations—Fort Stewart, Georgia; Fort Bliss, Texas; and Fort Hood, Texas—where he implemented data-informed approaches to improve readiness, operational effectiveness, and quality of life for soldiers, civilians, and families.

Throughout his career, General Bernabe operated extensively in multinational environments alongside U.S. allies and partners. He deployed overseas seven times, including combat tours to Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as operational deployments to Bosnia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and the Republic of Korea. He spent seven years stationed in Germany, working closely with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and contributing to alliance-wide operational planning and execution.

In his final assignment, General Bernabe served as Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, where he helped lead a combined workforce of more than 43,000 military and civilian personnel across 133 locations in Europe and Africa. As second-in-command of the Army’s forward presence on two continents, he managed a $3.5 billion annual budget, oversaw major infrastructure and modernization initiatives, and chaired enterprise boards responsible for force protection, readiness, and facilities management. He also led efforts to modernize headquarters operations through advanced data analytics, digital transformation, and the integration of artificial intelligence to enable faster, more informed decision-making.

In this role, he also led NATO’s Multi-Corps Land Component Command in support of the Alliance’s Regional Plans, helping NATO divisions and corps prepare for large-scale combat operations under newly established defense frameworks. His leadership supported alliance readiness during a period of heightened geopolitical tension along NATO’s eastern flank and continued allied support to Ukraine.

Previously, General Bernabe served as Commanding General of III Armored Corps and Fort Hood, Texas, where he directed the training, readiness, and welfare of more than 95,000 soldiers and family members while overseeing one of the Army’s largest and most complex installations. Under his leadership, the organization advanced modernization initiatives integrating emerging technologies, data-driven decision systems, and disciplined change-management practices.

Earlier in his career, as Commanding General of the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss, Texas, General Bernabe led the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic and a historic humanitarian mission to shelter and process more than 10,000 Afghan refugees. His leadership during this period demonstrated his ability to unify interagency partners, local communities, and international stakeholders in high-pressure, rapidly evolving environments.

General Bernabe holds a Master of Science degree in Military Art and Science from the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies and a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy from the National Defense University. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and is a certified instructor at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, where he previously served as Director of Academic Operations and Curriculum.

His awards and decorations include three Army Distinguished Service Medals. He is Ranger qualified and has earned the Combat Action Badge and the Expert Infantryman Badge. A second-generation Army officer and Eagle Scout, General Bernabe continues a lifelong commitment to service, leadership, and the development of future leaders.