Army Public Affairs

Sergeant Major Stephanie L. Carl became the 11th Sergeant Major of Army Public Affairs on 1 July 2021.

As the Army’s senior public affairs enlisted Soldier, SGM Carl advises the Chief of Public Affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Army, on all matters affecting the career field. She also devotes time to proponency issues, providing guidance and direction on current and future doctrine, force structure and the training and equipping needs of public affairs personnel and units across the Army.

Born in Allentown, Pa., SGM Carl entered the Army as a 46Q (Print Journalist) in 1998 under the delayed entry program. She attended Basic Training at Fort Jackson, S.C., and Advanced Individual Training at Fort George G. Meade, Md.

Throughout her Army career, SGM Carl has held leadership positions at every level including First Sergeant. Prior to her selection as the Sergeant Major of Public Affairs, she was the Garrison Command Sergeant Major for Natick Soldier Systems Center in Natick, Mass., which followed assignments as the Public Affairs Sergeant Major at Army Central Command, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.; Public Affairs Enlisted Branch Career Advisor, Fort Knox, Ky. and as a First Sergeant at the Warrior Transition Battalion, Fort Campbell, Ky.

SGM Carl’s military education includes all levels of the Army Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development System. She is a graduate of Non-Resident Class 43 of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. SGM Carl has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Thomas Edison State University in Trenton, N.J. She also maintains a civilian certification in organizational resilience as a Resilience Building Leader Program Trainer.

Her military awards include the Bronze Star (2nd award), the Meritorious Service Medal (4th award), the Joint Service Commendation Medal (2nd award), the Army Commendation Medal (5th award), the Joint Service Achievement Medal (2nd award), the Army Achievement Medal (5th award), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award (2nd award), the Army Meritorious Unit Award (2nd award), the Army Good Conduct Medal (7th award), the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal (with three campaign stars), the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon (5th award), the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon (4th award), the Army Service Ribbon and the NATO Medal. She is also a 2011 recipient of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Award and a past recipient of the AUSA SGM Dawn Kilpatrick Memorial Scholarship.