The American Veterans Ball (AVB2022) is PROUD to Announce Sergeant Major Bryan Battaglia (USMC-Retired) will be our PASSION & PURPOSE Speaker for AVB2022 on Friday May 20th, 2022 at the MGM National Harbor, MD. Marine Sergeant Major Bryan B. Battaglia is the former Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, (SEAC). Designated as the U. S. Armed Forces senior ranking Noncommissioned Officer, his tenure spanned from October 2011 through December, 2015. In this capacity, he served as the principal military advisor to two Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Martin Dempsey and Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford and three Secretaries of Defense, Leon Panetta, Chuck Hagel, and Ashton Carter, on all matters involving joint and combined total force integration, utilization, health of the force and joint development for enlisted personnel and military families.

Prior to this assignment, Battaglia served as the Sergeant Major for U.S. Joint Forces Command under then Gen. James Mattis, USMC and Gen. Raymond Odierno, USA. Battaglia was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana and following High School, he joined the Marine Corps in September 1979 as an infantryman. Following Boot Camp and Infantry Training, PFC Battaglia served as a Security Guard at Marine Barracks London, Detachment II, RAF, St. Mawgan, England. Meritoriously promoted to Corporal in November 1981, he transferred to Company I, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines as a Fire Team Leader. Completing Squad Leaders School, Water Survival Instructor School and Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defense School, he was reassigned as an infantry Squad Leader. Meritoriously promoted to Sergeant on October 2, 1982, he shifted to Weapons Platoon as the 60mm Mortar Section Leader.

Completing various deployments, in February 1984, he was transferred to Parris Island, S.C., for duty as a Drill Instructor with Company I, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion and the Field Training Unit as the Rappel Master and Swim Instructor. In June 1986, he returned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, as a Platoon Sergeant completing various Landing Force 6th Fleet deployments. In October 1987, he attended the Senior Noncommissioned Officer Career Course, served as the Battalion Career Planner and Regimental Career Planner with 2nd and 6th Regiments.

In January 1990, he deployed to Norway followed by an August 1990 deployment to Southwest Asia in support of the Gulf War. Combat meritoriously promoted to Gunnery Sergeant on December 2, 1990 and upon return from the Persian Gulf War in April 1991, he completed the SNCO Advanced Course, Airborne Parachutist School and assumed duties as Company Gunnery Sergeant. In March 1993, he transferred to the United Kingdom for assignment to the British Royal Marine Exchange where he graduated the Royal Marines Commando Course and served with the Commandos in Lympstone, England.

In July 1995, First Sergeant Battaglia transferred to Service Company, 2d Force Service Support Group and in October 1995, he reassigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marines and deployed to Cuba in support of Joint Task Force 160, Cuban refugee crisis. Returning during December 1995, he was reassigned as the First Sergeant, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group from 1996 to 1998. During that deployment, Battaglia conducted unit operations in Bosnia.

Promoted to Sergeant Major in March 1998, he joined Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, MCAS, Cherry Point until September 2001. Transferring to Quantico on September 11, 2001, he assumed duties as Sergeant Major, Weapons Training Battalion, Quantico, Va., and further assigned as Sergeant Major, Marine Barracks, 8th and I, Washington, D.C., from 2002 to 2004. During 2004, he was reassigned as the Sergeant Major, Regimental Combat Team 8 and deployed to Fallujah, Iraq supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom from January 2005 to February 2006.

During June 2006, he assumed duties as Sergeant Major, 2d Marine Division, and returned to Iraq, as II MEF (Fwd) and Multi-National Force West-Iraq, from February 2007 to February 2008. During March 2008, he transferred to Norfolk, Va., assuming duties as the Sergeant Major, U.S. Joint Forces Command, from April 2008 to August 2011 where he prepared to assume duties as the 2d SEAC. His personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars with Combat “V” device, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal x 2, Navy Achievement Medal x 3, and the Combat Action Ribbon.

He is married to Lisa Contway from Hardin, Montana, also a Marine veteran. He retains a Bachelor’s Degree from Excelsior College and serves as a Senior Advisor to the World War I Commemoration Commission, Senior Advisor for the Special Operations Medical Association (SOMA), and Advisory Council Member for the South Alabama YMCA. Bryan has been an avid Rugby player during most of his military career and enjoys golf, jogging, outdoor activities, but mostly enjoys taking care of America’s troops, veterans, and military families.