Full Name
General Seán Clancy
Company
Chair of the European Union Military Committee
Speaker Bio
General Seán Clancy is the first Irish Chief of Staff to hold the office of Chair of the European Union
Military Committee. He has 42 years’ service in the Irish Defence Forces. He is the first Airman in the
Irish State to serve as Chief of Staff, having previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) and
General Officer Commanding Irish Air Corps and Director of Military Aviation.
General Clancy joined the Irish Defence Forces in 1984 as a cadet and commenced his flight training
in 1986. His service as a pilot has been unique in that he has flown both rotary and fixed wing
platforms accumulating 5,000 flight hours.
General Clancy has been a driver of change and a champion for innovation within the Defence
Forces. He played a central role in the development of the Ireland’s first Emergency Aeromedical
Service established in 2012. He has been a strong advocate for Leadership and was the co-author of
the Defence Forces Leadership Doctrine published in 2016. He also led the team who developed the
current vision and values-based strategy for the Defence Forces post the publication of the White
Paper on Defence.
General Clancy served as Squadron Commander, Wing Commander, Senior Staff Officer Operations,
Senior Staff Officer Personnel, Chief of Air Staff Support in Air Corps Headquarters and Director of
Strategic Planning Branch and Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) in Defence Forces Headquarters. Prior
to promotion to Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) he served as General Officer Commanding, Irish Air
Corps and Director of Military Aviation.
General Clancy is a recipient of the Marine Medal for Meritorious Service (2002) which he earned
during his career as a Search and Rescue pilot.
General Clancy has served for a year with the European Union Force in Bosnia as the Military Advisor
to the Force Commander and spent two years as air advisor to the permanent element of SHIRBRIG,
the UN standby Brigade.
He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Trinity College, Dublin and a Masters in Military
Leadership and Defence Studies from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. He is a graduate
of the Defence Forces Command and Staff College where he was the recipient of the Lt Gen Tadgh
O’Neill Award. In 2017 he completed a Diploma in Advanced Management Performance with Smurfit
Business School.
General Clancy was born on 03 June 1966 in Cork, Ireland. He is married to Caroline. They have three
children and currently reside in Dublin.
Military Committee. He has 42 years’ service in the Irish Defence Forces. He is the first Airman in the
Irish State to serve as Chief of Staff, having previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) and
General Officer Commanding Irish Air Corps and Director of Military Aviation.
General Clancy joined the Irish Defence Forces in 1984 as a cadet and commenced his flight training
in 1986. His service as a pilot has been unique in that he has flown both rotary and fixed wing
platforms accumulating 5,000 flight hours.
General Clancy has been a driver of change and a champion for innovation within the Defence
Forces. He played a central role in the development of the Ireland’s first Emergency Aeromedical
Service established in 2012. He has been a strong advocate for Leadership and was the co-author of
the Defence Forces Leadership Doctrine published in 2016. He also led the team who developed the
current vision and values-based strategy for the Defence Forces post the publication of the White
Paper on Defence.
General Clancy served as Squadron Commander, Wing Commander, Senior Staff Officer Operations,
Senior Staff Officer Personnel, Chief of Air Staff Support in Air Corps Headquarters and Director of
Strategic Planning Branch and Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) in Defence Forces Headquarters. Prior
to promotion to Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) he served as General Officer Commanding, Irish Air
Corps and Director of Military Aviation.
General Clancy is a recipient of the Marine Medal for Meritorious Service (2002) which he earned
during his career as a Search and Rescue pilot.
General Clancy has served for a year with the European Union Force in Bosnia as the Military Advisor
to the Force Commander and spent two years as air advisor to the permanent element of SHIRBRIG,
the UN standby Brigade.
He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Trinity College, Dublin and a Masters in Military
Leadership and Defence Studies from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. He is a graduate
of the Defence Forces Command and Staff College where he was the recipient of the Lt Gen Tadgh
O’Neill Award. In 2017 he completed a Diploma in Advanced Management Performance with Smurfit
Business School.
General Clancy was born on 03 June 1966 in Cork, Ireland. He is married to Caroline. They have three
children and currently reside in Dublin.
