Sabrina Singh
Chief Pentagon Spokesman
Sean Parnell was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended Clarion University, but transferred to a university with an ROTC program after September 11, 2001. After college, he became an Army Ranger, serving with the 10th Mountain Division along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Parnell was wounded in action in 2006, and eventually given a medical discharge from the U.S. Army for traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. He authored several books, one of which was on his platoon’s combat experience.
Parnell has been a contributor on national television and radio programs. He ran for a U.S. Senate seat from Pennsylvania but left the race when his estranged wife was awarded custody of their children in a divorce.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appointed Parnell as Chief Pentagon Spokesman in February 2025.
Parnell is divorced from Laurie Snell, they have three children.
In the News…
Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell gave a briefing on the U.S. Central Command’s attacks against the Houthi terrorists at President Donald Trump’s direction.
The chief spokesman said, “Over the weekend, U.S. Central Command forces initiated a series of operations consisting of precision strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets across Yemen to restore freedom of navigation and re-establish American deterrence.”
“They threaten our personnel overseas,” Spokesman Parnell said. “Houthi terrorists have launched missiles and one-way attack drones at U.S. warships over 170 times and at commercial vessels 145 times.”
“Firing at U.S. military personnel in the region and shooting at our ships and… drones and putting American lives at risk is not a good way to end this conflict,” Parnell said. “The Houthis could stop this tomorrow if they [agree] to stop shooting at [our] people. But they’ve clearly chosen not to do that. And so, this campaign will be relentless to degrade their capability and to open up shipping lanes in the region and to defend our homeland.”
