Home Town News Release - Maj. Chao

Photo By Spc. Abigail Graham | U.S. Army Maj. Sean Chao, Special Operations Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (SOJTF-OIR), talks about his family at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, May 11, 2020. Chao is currently on a nine month deployment in support of SOJTF-OIR mission in Iraq is to assist Iraqi Special Operations Forces to deliver an enduring defeat of Daesh within the sovereign borders of Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Abigail Graham)  

KUWAIT

05.15.2020

Story by Spc. Abigail Graham 

Combined Special Operations Joint Task Force - Levant

It is another sweltering hot day on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, with the oppressive heat beating down. Sean Chao, a Major in the U.S. Army, finds the only shaded spot to talk about himself. A man of humble beginnings, Sean grew up in Columbus, Ohio, but chose to settle down in Fort Washington, Maryland, with his wife, Dr. Yan Xu and daughters Evelyn, Elaine and Elise.

He enlisted in the military in 2006, later commissioning as an officer in 2009. During his tenure in the armed forces, Sean has been stationed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio and the National Security Agency on Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, and also participated in the 2015 exercise, Ulchi Freedom Guardian, in Korea.

“Back home I am a business entrepreneur and owner in the financial services industry and I have plans to branch out into other service sectors,” confided Sean.

Chao has earned the following college degrees: Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence at National Intelligence Security; Master of Business Administration from Grantham University; Master of Public Administration from the Ohio State University; Bachelor in Security and Intelligence from The Ohio State University; Bachelor in East Asian Studies from The Ohio State University; Bachelor in Political Science from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor in Chinese from The Ohio State University during his quest for knowledge.

“My team and I are committed to making it work, we are doing good things here,” Chao says confidently. “As much as I’d like to return home, I know there is meaning to our mission.”

Sean is currently serving in his first deployment at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, in support of Special Operation Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve as the Chief of Targets. His job consists of the decision process that the joint environment uses to identify and to deliberate the removal of threats to our forces, allies and partners. Chao is a highly motivated individual and is excited for the opportunity to serve his country.

“My family is what keeps me going during his nine month deployment,” Chao states passionately. “I can’t wait to see them when I get home.”

For more information on Special Operations Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, please visit us on social media at facebook.com/SOJTF, twitter.com/SOJTFOIR, or using the social media handle @SOJTFOIR.

• Date Taken: 05.15.2020
• Date Posted: 05.15.2020 11:01
• Story ID: 370050
• Location: KW