Lieutenant General Brett G. Sylvia is the Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy, J-5, Joint Staff, and the Senior Member of the United States Delegation to the United Nations Military Staff Committee. Prior to this, he served as the Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell, KY from July 2023 to May 2025.
His previous assignments include Vice Director for J-5, Joint Staff; Deputy Commanding General (Maneuver) for the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, and in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, Poland; Chief of Staff for the III Corps at Fort Hood; and Chief of Staff of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), including a deployment in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel in Afghanistan.
His operational deployments and combat assignments also include Commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during Operation Inherent Resolve, Iraq; Commander of the 307th Engineer Battalion during Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan; and multiple earlier deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bosnia.
His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, five Legion of Merits, six Bronze Star Medals (one with Valor), Purple Heart, three Defense Meritorious Service Medals, four Meritorious Service Medals, and Army Commendation Medal with Valor. He has also earned the Combat Action Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Ranger Tab, and the identification badges for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Army Staff.
Lieutenant General Sylvia is a graduate of the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. He holds a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri - Rolla and a Master of Military Arts from the School of Advanced Military Studies. He was also a Senior Service College Fellow at the United States Institute of Peace.
Lieutenant General Sylvia and his wife have five children, two daughters-in-law and two wonderful grandsons.