Brigadier General, U.S. Army/U.S. Army Reserve (Ret.)
The brilliant military career of Karlynn Peltz O’Shaughnessy began at LSU in 1979 when, after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in political science, she earned a commission as an Army second lieutenant through the LSU ROTC program. Karlynn joined the 82nd Airborne and excelled, becoming a platoon leader and serving in staff and leadership positions for the next four years at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. She was a parachutist and jump master.
In Seoul, Korea, with the 8th Army, she earned honors as Deputy Chief of Staff, G5 and Chief, G2, Plans and Readiness Division. Her next assignment was with the 322nd Civil Affairs Brigade, Ft. Shafter, Hawaii. Soon, Karlynn was traveling again, this time to MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, with the U.S. Operations Command. She returned to Ft. Bragg with the U.S. Army Special Operations Command and Psychological Operations Command. In 2008, she was promoted to Brigadier General.
Along the way, she added an MBA degree from the University of Kansas, an accounting certificate from the University of Virginia and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.
O’Shaughnessy’s military honors include the Master Parachutist Badge, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Accommodation Medal and the Joint Meritorious Unit Citation. Her husband, U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel John F. O’Shaughnessy (Ret.), was also a jump master in the 82nd Airborne.
Brigadier General Karlynn O’Shaughnessy’s reserve assignments included Deputy Commanding General of the 108th Training Command and Commander of the 6th Brigade in the 108th. Her career was inspirational and vital during the development and ultimate employment of the U.S. Joint Mmilitary Response during the Gulf War and the Iraqi War.