Finance and Comptroller names first Sgt. Maj.

By David LakinMarch 2, 2020

Sgt. Maj. Darnell O. Cabell
Sgt. Maj. Darnell O. Cabell (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

When Darnell O. Cabell was growing up in Flint, Michigan, he wanted to play for the Detroit Pistons in the NBA and never thought about the Army.

Now he's the first U.S. Army Finance and Comptroller (FC) Sergeant Major (SGM), assigned to the Army's senior military finance and comptroller position, at the three-star level.

Sergeants Major are non-commissioned officers in the United States Army and are the highest-ranking enlisted Soldiers in the Army.

"I was a pretty good basketball player, but not a good student," SGM Cabell said. "I thought about my future and realized being a Soldier could be the most rewarding job for me, so I enlisted in the Army."

He is joining Lieutenant General (LTG) Thomas A. Horlander, Army Comptroller and Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management & Comptroller) who is responsible for the Finance & Comptroller operations of the Army.

"SGM Cabell is a full-spectrum Finance & Comptroller Soldier and will be an invaluable asset to the Army and our finance profession," LTG Horlander said. "He will not only provide advice to FC senior leaders and provide guidance and leadership to the Army's FC NCO (Non-Commissioned) and enlisted Corps, but will advise the SMA (Sergeant Major of the Army) about the Finance & Comptroller profession to include helping manage the talent of our senior NCOs."

SGM Cabell is also charged with implementing the strategic vision and innovation and is the subject matter expert in all areas of FC operations to include personnel manning, force structure, financial systems capability, and training.

He comes to the Pentagon from Fort Shafter, Hawaii where he served as Senior Financial Management Advisor at U.S. Army Pacific from 2018 to late 2019.

SGM Cabell enlisted in the Army in 1992 and his first assignment was as a Finance Specialist (73C) in the 1st Finance Battalion at Fort Riley, Kansas until 1995.

"When I was assigned to Fort Riley it was my first time away from home, but I was so proud to wear my uniform. I knew the Army was the right place for me and wanted to make it a career," he said.

From 1999 to 2017, SGM Cabell had consecutive assignments of increasing responsibility with the U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, NC. In 2017 he was the G-3 SGM at the U.S. Maneuver Support Center of Excellence at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.

"I was at risk as a young man after high school and needed some direction," SGM Cabell said. "The closer I looked at the Army, the more sense it made to me."

"Where else could I get an education, training, travel, great benefits and wear the best uniform in the world," he asked.

"In the United States Army!"

Related Links:

Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller)