Lieutenant General Gary Brito assumed duties as the U.S. Army’s 49th Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1 3 August 2020. He is responsible for developing, managing, and executing manpower and personnel plans, programs, and policies for the total Army. Prior to this assignment, he served as the Commanding General, Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCoE) and Fort Benning.
Lieutenant General Gary Brito is a native of Hyannis, Massachusetts and was commissioned an Infantry Officer through Penn State University and entered active duty in March 1987. He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced courses, Airborne and Ranger
Schools, Combined Arms Staff Services School, Command and General Staff Officers Course, and Senior Service College at the Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS), Norfolk, Virginia. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Studies from Penn State University, a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Troy State University, and a second Master’s degree in Joint Strategy and Campaign Planning from the Joint Advanced Warfighting School. He is also a graduate of the MIT Seminar XXI Program.
Lieutenant General Brito has served in a variety of command and staff assignments throughout his career. Previous assignments included: Commanding General, Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) and Fort Polk; Deputy Commanding General for Sustainment, then later Operations, 25th Infantry Division; Director, Force 2025 and Beyond, US Army Capabilities and Integration Center (ARCIC), Training and Doctrine and Command (TRADOC); and Operations Officer (G3) for III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas. In that capacity, he deployed and served as the Deputy Director, Afghanistan National Security Forces (ANSF) Development, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Joint Command in Kabul, Afghanistan; Commander, 120th Infantry Brigade, First Army; Commander, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Brigade, 3d Infantry Division; Operations Officer (S3), 2d Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment; and later as the Brigade Operations Officer (S3), 2d Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. Additionally, he served as the Aide-de-Camp to the III Corps Commanding General, Fort Hood, Texas; and Chief, Commander’s Planning Group (CPG) and interim Executive Officer to the Commanding General, TRADOC. He has twice served at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California: first as a Company/Team and Battle Staff Observer/Controller and later as a Senior Battalion and Brigade Combat Team Trainer. He served in multiple company grade positions at Fort Benning, Georgia, and has deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan.
His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), Legion of Merit (with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster), Bronze Star Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal for Valor, Army Commendation Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), and Combat and Infantryman Badges.
Lieutenant General Brito is married to the former Michelle Harper of Washington, DC. They have two sons, Matthew and Patrick.