CSM (Ret.) John S. Carragher is the former Command Senior Enlisted Leader for the Connecticut Army National Guard. As the Senior Enlisted Leader, he served as the personal and confidential advisor to The Adjutant General on all matters pertaining to enlisted personnel and the overall readiness, training, operations, and administration of the CTARNG.
                CSM Carragher enlisted in the Connecticut National Guard on 3 February 1982 in the 143d Military Police Company as a military police Soldier. His assignments have included leadership and staff positions at every level of the Connecticut National Guard from team leader to J-3 Sergeant Major, culminating with his selection as the State Command Senior Enlisted Leader on 14 April 2012.
                CSM Carragher’s operational deployment experience includes mobilizations in support of Operations Desert Shield/Storm, Operation Noble Eagle, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Additionally, he has supported operations in US Army South (Panama), Katrina Relief Operations in Louisiana, and Airport Security/Key Asset Protection Operations in Connecticut.
                CSM Carragher’s military education includes all levels of NCOPDS, the Battle Staff NCO Course, Physical Security Inspectors Course, Military Police Special Reaction Team Course, DOD Individual Non-Lethal Weapons Instructor Course, Instructor Training Course, Small Group Leader Course, Technical Escort Course, the Nominative CSM/SGM Force Management Course, The NORAD/NORTHCOM Joint Task Force Commanders Course, and numerous others. CSM Carragher is a 2013 graduate of National Defense University’s KEYSTONE Course.
                CSM Carragher’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal,  Meritorious Service Medal (3rd Award), Army Commendation Medal (4th Award), Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal (8th award), Armed Forces Reserve Medal (w/Gold Hourglass, M device, and numeral 3), National Defense Service Medal (2nd award), Southwest Asia Service Medal (w/2 Bronze Service Stars), Iraqi Campaign Medal (w/2 Bronze Service Stars), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.
                CSM Carragher has been invested in the Order of the Marechaussee (in Silver) by the United States Army Military Police Regimental Association.
                CSM Carragher is a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, and the National Guard Association of Connecticut. He is a member of the Association of the United States Army and the United States Army Military Police Regimental Association.
                CSM Carragher relinquished responsibility as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader on January 9, 2021 and retired on March 1, 2021 after over 39 years of service to State and Nation.
                As the Manager of the Office of Advocacy and Assistance (OA+A) for the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs, CSM (Ret.) Carragher oversees all aspects of Department assistance to Connecticut’s Veterans, including supervising 10 Veterans Service Officers in five district offices across the State. Additionally, he executes numerous outreach programs for the Department.
CSM Carragher was raised in Newington, Connecticut and currently resides in Southington, Connecticut with his wife Lucy and two sons, John and Matthew.