SgtMaj David K. Devaney

David Devaney was born in Geneva, New York. He graduated from Geneva High School in 1980. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in April of 1983.

David attended recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina, from December 1983 to March 1984. He reported to his first FMF duty station at Company I, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii where he was assigned as a rifleman, Fire Team Leader, Squad Leader and Scout Sniper. He deployed on one West Pac, three Unit Deployment Program (UDP) to Okinawa and two deployments with 1st Special Forces Group. In August 1989, Devaney transferred to Drill Instructor School at Parris Island, South Carolina. He graduated in October and then reported to the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion and served as a drill instructor and senior drill instructor. During October 1991, Sergeant Major Devaney was reassigned to Scout Sniper Platoon, 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. He deployed twice on UDP to Okinawa. During December 1994, Devaney was transferred to the Special Operations Training Group, III MEF as an Instructor and then Chief Instructor of the Helicopter Rope Suspension Training course. During August 1996, he was reassigned as Chief Instructor, Reconnaissance and Surveillance and Urban Sniper courses. He deployed with Joint Task Force 510 (CT) to Operation Bevel Edge, 31st MEU (SOC) Operation Desert Thunder, 5th Special Forces Group Operation Desert Fox, and 1st Special Forces Group for Operation Vector Balance Mint. In January 2001, Sergeant Major Devaney was reassigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines at 29 Palms, California for duty as Company Gunnery Sergeant and then Company First Sergeant. He deployed on one UDP to Okinawa, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom twice. During March 2004, Devaney transferred to Inspector Instructor (I-I) Staff, 2nd Beach and Terminal Operations Company, 4th Landing Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, Savannah, Georgia for duty as the I-I First Sergeant. In April 2007, Devaney transferred to Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4 as the Squadron Sergeant Major, where he deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom - twice. In March of 2010, Devaney transferred to his present duty station at Weapons Training Battalion, Quantico Virginia. David retired from the Marine Corps in 2014. His personal military decorations include the Legion of Merit Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Marine Corps Achievement medal with three gold stars, the Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.

David Devaney has an associate’s degree in liberal arts from Saint Leo University and a B.S. degree in Social Psychology from Park University. Sergeant Major Devaney is also the author of two books: “Surviving Combat” and “They Were Heroes.” David is married to the former Gosol Ahrjan of Salt Lake, Hawaii and they have one son, Geoffrey, a NASA engineer.