Retired from the U.S. Army in DEC 2017 after over 36 years of military service, which culminated as the Commander for U.S. Army South, where he was responsible for the conduct and support of U.S. Army multinational operations and security operations in Latin America and the Caribbean.  Prior to this assignment, Major General Chinn served in various roles including Deputy Commander for United States Army Special Operations Command, Senior Commander at Fort Bragg / Deputy Commander XVIII Airborne Corps, and Commanding General at Fort Polk, LA. 

Major General Chinn is a 1981 graduate of the United States Military Academy and holds a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. He has served as an Infantry officer, commanding at every level, with extensive time serving with Airborne / Ranger units. Currently residing in Honolulu, Hawaii, Major General Chinn has been assisting United States Army Pacific with their Regional Leader Development Program – Pacific where he continues to coach, mentor and build cohesive, collaborative, networked teams to lead change at the tactical, operational and strategic level. 

As a Lieutenant, he served in 2nd Battalion, 75th Infantry (Ranger) and in October of 1983, he conducted his first combat parachute jump onto the island of Grenada during OPERATION URGENT FURY.  As a Captain, he commanded two Ranger Companies, HHC and Company A in 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.  In December 1989, he conducted his second combat parachute jump, this time at night, into Torrijos-Tocumen Airfield, Panama during OPERATION JUST CAUSE.  

As a Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel, he served as the Deputy Commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment where he participated in the initial combat operations into Iraq during OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF). He also participated in combat operations in Afghanistan in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF). 

As a Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel, he commanded the Ranger Training Brigade and the 4th Ranger Training Battalion responsible for training Army Rangers for our Nation.  As the Ranger School Commander, he trained Soldiers on teamwork, leadership and problem solving.  

As a Colonel, he served as the Chief of Current Operations at the Center for Special Operations at the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and as a Major General served as the Deputy Commanding General for the United States Army Special Operations Command.  

As a Colonel and Brigadier General, he was the Chief of Staff for the 82nd Airborne Division and deployed to Afghanistan in support of OEF as the Chief of Staff for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Joint Command (Provisional) before becoming the Deputy Commanding General (Support) for CJTF-82 in Afghanistan and then the Deputy Commanding General (Support) of the 82nd Airborne Division.  

As a Brigadier General, he was the Commanding General of the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk responsible for training teams of 2-3000 Soldiers on how to fight and win in complex environments like Iraq and Afghanistan.  He then served in Afghanistan as the Deputy Commanding General CJTF-101 for Afghan National Security Forces Development South of Kabul as an advisor/senior mentor to the 203rd Afghan National Army Corps Commander, Afghan National and Border Police Commander’s for providing security in six key provincial regions.   

As a Major General, he served as the Task Force Bragg Commander, responsible for leading Fort Bragg, a $11 Billion dollar industry annually for North Carolina with visionary planning.     

Prior to his retirement in December of 2017, he served as the Commander of US Army South, Fort Sam Houston, TX, responsible for all Army actions, operations and exercises in 31 countries in Central/South America and the Caribbean. 

K.K. and Val have been married for 35 years and have 2 children Ashley, an Army CPT/doctor/surgeon; Jared, a PGA Latin America Tour member.