FORT CAVAZOS, Texas — The Army thanked Lt. Gen. D. Scott McKean for 33 years of service during a retirement ceremony at Fort Cavazos on Jan. 19.
The ceremony, hosted by Army Futures Command (AFC) with support from III Armored Corps, highlighted McKean’s dedication to Army teamwork and how much his colleagues have appreciated and learned from his exemplary leadership.
“Just being around you is a leader development experience – for everybody,” said AFC Commanding General Gen. James E. Rainey, who presented remarks on McKean’s outstanding career, character and accomplishments.
“You role modeled that service to your country,” Rainey said.
Retired Gen. James D. Thurman, a mentor and friend to McKean, also spoke at the ceremony, extolling McKean’s consistent ability to build trust and confidence in his Soldiers.
“This man understands what it means to raise that right hand and swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America,” Thurman said, referring to McKean as a “Soldier’s Soldier.”
“There is none better,” he said.
Thurman added that McKean’s wife, Kim, provided extensive support to myriad Army efforts over the years as a mental health nurse, community volunteer and military spouse leader.
“Kim has a big heart, and she has been there in peace and war to always lend that helping hand to Soldier spouses and families,” he said.
McKean additionally had an opportunity to share insights about his Army career and motivations to serve with his family, friends and supporters, who attended the event in person and via livestream from locations around the country.
“Our Army’s leadership and Soldiers, at all levels, are what separate us from others and continues to make us the greatest Army in the world,” McKean said.
“If there’s one thing I hope I accomplished in my career, it’s that I helped – in some way or manner – to inspire our next generation of tankers and cavalrymen to be ready to win wherever we fight next.”
McKean grew up in San Jose, California, where his parents settled after arriving to the U.S. from El Salvador. He commissioned as an Armor officer in 1990 upon graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and went on to serve in several leadership roles domestically and abroad, completing five deployments to Iraq, one deployment each in Jordan and Kuwait, and three tours in the Republic of Korea (ROK).
McKean’s career included roles as deputy commanding general (operations) of the 1st Armored Division; 49th chief of armor and commandant of the United States Armor School; chief of the Office of Security Cooperation – Iraq; commanding general of the 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division; and chief of staff of United States Central Command.
He most recently served as deputy commanding general of AFC and director of the Futures and Concepts Center, where he led coordinated efforts to design and evaluate future Army warfighting concepts.
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