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Next Mission: From Sergeant Major of the Army to CEO of Army Emergency Relief with Tony Grinston
Episode 4 • 24th February 2026 • Tango Tango • Supply Chain Now
00:00:00 00:52:10

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Do the right thing, even if you never get the credit. That mindset guided a 36-year Army career and continues to drive service beyond the uniform.

In this episode of the Tango Tango podcast, host Lloyd Knight speaks with retired Sergeant Major of the Army Tony Grinston, who now serves as CEO of Army Emergency Relief. He reflects on growing up in Jasper, Alabama, joining the Army for a two-year enlistment, and serving more than three decades in uniform, including multiple combat deployments and leadership at the highest enlisted level.

They discuss his path to becoming the 16th Sergeant Major of the Army, the demands of advising senior leaders and testifying before Congress, and his approach to tackling suicide, sexual assault, and quality of life by improving how the Army treats its people. Grinston also shares his transition out of uniform, his role leading Army Emergency Relief, and why continuing to serve off the battlefield remains his greatest calling.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(00:33) Welcome to Tango Tango with Tony Grinston

(01:48) Growing up in Jasper, Alabama

(05:26) From college scholarships to Army enlistment

(07:05) The unexpected path to SMA

(09:50) Choosing artillery over an infantry career path

(11:21) Fort Sill basic training shock

(16:01) Earning a degree during deployments

(19:55) Combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan

(21:12) Inside the SMA selection process

(24:21) Addressing suicide and linked Army challenges

(27:25) Family sacrifices behind the promotion

(30:02) Public scrutiny and protecting the family

(33:48) Helping soldiers with immediate impact

(36:48) Securing barracks funding for soldiers

(42:11) From Army service to AER leadership

(47:02) Emergency grants for military families

Additional Links & Resources:

  1. Learn more about Tango Tango: https://supplychainnow.com/program/tango-tango
  2. Connect with Lloyd Knight: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloydknight
  3. Connect with Tony Grinston: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-grinston/
  4. Learn more about Army Emergency Relief: https://www.armyemergencyrelief.org/
  5. Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk

Tango Tango is proudly sponsored by Supply Chain Now. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/next-mission-sergent-major-army-ceo-army-emergency-relief-2tt4

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