Captain Sean M.Hennessy
Captain Sean M. Hennessy, of Columbia Falls, Montana, enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1992, graduating from MCRD San Diego, platoon 2107 in 1993 where he was meritoriously promoted to Lance Corporal. After attending Marine Combat Training and Infantry Training School, Camp Pendleton, CA, he was assigned to the special boat unit Weapons Platoon, A Co, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines Camp Pendleton, CA, as Heavy Machine Gunner. In 1993, he attended the Regimental Enhanced Training Center, Assault Climber’s Course, SERE school, and a number of other PME schools. In 1994, Lance Corporal Hennessy deployed with his unit aboard the USS Cleveland to South West Asia with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, (MEU) in support of operatio
ns Southern Watch, Vigilant Warrior, and Support Hope. Promoted to Corporal, he was reassigned to 3rd platoon and became a Basic Infantryman where he deployed aboard the USS Duluth with the 11th MEU in support of Southern Watch South, Vigilant Sentinel, and Desert Strike South.
Sergeant Hennessy then transferred to Weapons Field Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Edson Range and completed the Range Coaches Course in 1997. He attended the Primary Marksmanship Instructor Course in March of 1998 and received the MOS designation 8531. In December of that same year, he applied for and was accepted to the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training School (BOOST) and transferred to Newport, Rhode Island. Upon successful completion of BOOST, he was accepted to the University of Idaho for the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program, completed a BS degree in Industrial Technology Education, Secondary Education graduating with a 3.91, and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant.
After attending the Basic School in Quantico, VA in 2003, 2nd Lt Hennessy reported to Naval Air Station, Pensacola for Pilot flight training with VT-3 (Red Knights) and VT-6 (Shooters). In April 2005, 1st Lt Hennessy was designated as an Aviation Maintenance Officer and reported for duty to Marine Air Logistics Squadron-29 (Wolverines) and subsequently to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-365 (Blue Knights) for duty. He deployed with the 24th MEU aboard the USS Iwo Jima in support of OEF in 2006 and subsequently performed the evacuation of over 15,000 US citizens from Bruit, Lebanon during the Hezbollah/Israeli conflict. Returning from deployment, Captain Hennessy transferred to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron-464 (Condors) in March of 2007 and in August 2008, deployed 6 CH-53Es to South America and surrounding Caribbean countries aboard the USS Kearsarge flying over 900 hours for four months in support of Mission Continuing Promise, a humanitarian aid/disaster relief mission bringing medical assistance to impoverished countries. He conducted ship-to-shore operations delivering over 1.3 million pounds of humanitarian aid and over 2500 personnel ashore in Haiti in the wake of Hurricane Ike, personally flying over 60 hours as an aerial observer/gunner.
Upon return, Captain Hennessy was assigned as the Marine Officer Instructor to the NROTC Unit at the University of Idaho in 2009.
His personal decorations include the Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal with 2 bronze stars, and the Humanitarian Assistance Medal with 2 bronze stars. He is married to the former Dawn Fanger and they have 4 children Caitlin, Paige, Michael, and Samantha with a son due in December.
