Colonel Stephen A. Fairless
Chief of Staff
COL Fairless was commissioned as an Armor Officer in 1997 following graduation from the United States Military Academy. His first assignment was with the 2nd Battalion, 72nd Armor, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Korea from 1998 to 1999, serving as a Battalion S1 and a Tank Platoon Leader. He then served in 1st Battalion, 9th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas as a Mechanized Infantry Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and as a Support Platoon Leader from 1999 to 2000; he also deployed with the Battalion to Kuwait for 4 months in support of Operation Intrinsic Action.
Following graduation from the Armor Officer Advanced Course, COL Fairless served with 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division in Fort Benning, Georgia from 2001 to 2006, as a Brigade Assistant S-3 (Planner). He deployed to Kuwait for 7 months in support of Operation Desert Spring and to Iraq for six months during Operation Iraqi Freedom. While deployed to Iraq, he took command of D Troop, 10th U.S. Cavalry Regiment. He then served as Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry from 2004 to 2005 and deployed with the Brigade to Iraq for 12 months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.
He was a Small Group Leader at the Aviation Captain’s Career Course at Fort Rucker, Alabama from 2006 to 2009.
After completing the Air Force Air Command and Staff College in Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, COL Fairless joined 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division as a Brigade Assistant S-3 for 4 months while it was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom / Operation New Dawn. From 2011 to 2013, COL Fairless served as the Squadron S-3 and Squadron Executive Officer of 3rd Squadron, 7th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division in Fort Stewart, Georgia. While assigned as the Squadron XO, he deployed with the Squadron to Regional Command (North), Afghanistan for 9 months beginning in 2012.
From 2013 to 2014, COL Fairless served as the Speechwriter to the Commanding General, United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. COL Fairless then served as the Aide de Camp to the Commanding General, FORSCOM for 19 months from 2014 through 2015. COL Fairless completed his assignment to FORSCOM as a Plans Officer, G-3, FORSCOM in 2016.
COL Fairless took command of 4th Squadron, 9th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, Texas on 13 May 2016 and relinquished command on 17 May 2018. He assumed responsibility as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G3 (Operations) for 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss, Texas on 04 June 2018. He then attended the United States Army War College for Academic Year 2019-2020 in the Army Strategic Art Program. Colonel Fairless commanded the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, Texas from 24 July 2020 to 21 July 2022. Colonel Fairless served as the Country Director for Egypt and Jordan in the Middle East office of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, International Security Affairs from 02 August 2022 to 04 June 2024. Colonel Fairless assumed responsibility as the Chief of Staff for 3rd Infantry Division and Fort Stewart on 24 Jun 2024.
COL Fairless’ military training and education includes the Air Assault Course, the Basic Airborne Course, the Armor Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the Modern Army Combatives Level I and II Courses, the Survival, Escape, Resistance, and Evasion (Level C) Course, the Air Command and Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College.
His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (1 OLC), Bronze Star Medal (2 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (4 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (4 OLC), Expert Infantryman Badge, and Combat Action Badge.
COL Fairless’ civilian education includes a Bachelor of Science in International Politics from the United States Military Academy, a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from the United States Air Force Air University, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.