Command Sgt. Maj. George Stepanenko is a native of Hialeah, Florida. He graduated from Monsignor Edward Pace High School in Opa-Locka, FL. He enlisted on September 15, 2001, and completed one station unit training (OSUT) at Fort Sill, Oklahoma where he was awarded the MOS 13B, Cannon Crewmember.
Upon completion of OSUT, Stepanenko was assigned to Bravo Battery 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK. He served in the positions of Ammunition Chief and Gunner and deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom in 2003.
In April 2005, Stepanenko was assigned to USAREC, Columbia Recruiting Battalion. His first assignment was as a Recruiter at the Asheville Recruiting Station. In 2008, he reclassified to the MOS 79R. His follow-on assignment was as the Station Commander of the Hendersonville Recruiting Station, Asheville Company. In November of 2010, he was assigned as the Station Commander of the South Park Recruiting Station, Charlotte Company.
Stepanenko’s next assignment was to 4th Battalion, 1st Capabilities Integration Group, Alexandria, VA in 2012. During his assignment he served as a Recruiter, Recruiting NCOIC, Unit Jumpmaster, Jumpmaster Instructor, and First Sergeant. In September 2018, was assigned to Columbus Recruiting Battalion, Columbus, OH, as the Senior Guidance Counselor at the Columbus Military Entrance Processing Station. In June 2020, CSM Stepanenko was assigned to the Milwaukee Recruiting Battalion as the Operations Sergeant Major. In 2022, he served as the 6th Brigade Operations Sergeant Major. His last assignment was as the CSM of Central California Recruiting Battalion.
Stepanenko is a graduate of the Sergeants Major Course Class 70, all levels of NCOES, Common Faculty Development Instructor Course, Guidance Counselor and Operations Course, SERE High Risk, Jumpmaster Course, Advanced Marksmanship Course, Advanced Drivers Course, Station Commander Course, Army Recruiter Course, Field Sanitation Team Course, Combat Life Saver Course, Unit Armorer Course, and Basic Airborne Course.
Command Sgt. Maj. Stepanenko’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (4th award), Army Commendation Medal (7th award), Army Achievement Medal (5th award), Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Superior Unit Award, Good Conduct Medal (6 awards), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (w/ 2 stars), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, NCOPD Ribbon (numeral 5), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon (numeral 2), Gold Recruiter Badge with three Sapphires, the Gold Recruiter Ring, the Glen E. Morrell Award for Recruiting Excellence, Senior Parachutist Badge, and Drivers Badge. Additionally, he has earned Latvian International Jump Wings. Stepanenko was inducted as a member of the prestigious Sergeant Audie Murphy Club in 2009.
He earned a Bachelor of Science from Post University in Business Administration- Marketing.