Sergeant Major Pinney assumed his current post as Command Senior Enlisted Leader for 3d Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, on April 9th, 2025. Born in Manchester, Connecticut, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on December 2nd, 2002, and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD), Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon completion, he reported to the School of Infantry, East, in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he earned the primary Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of 0311, Rifleman, and attended follow-on training at Marine Security Forces School in Chesapeake, Virginia.
In August of 2003, Sergeant Major Pinney reported to Marine Corps Security Forces Company, Kings Bay, Georgia. In May of 2005, he was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Corporal and attended Infantry Squad Leaders Course. Upon completion, he received orders to 1st Battalion, 3d Marine Regiment in Hawaii. Sergeant Major Pinney deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as an Infantry Squad Leader with Company B, conducting operations in both Nangarhar and Kunar Province. He eventually assumed the role of Rifle Platoon Sergeant and was combat-meritoriously promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Following his time with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, he attended Drill Instructor School and was subsequently assigned to 2d Recruit Training Battalion.
Sergeant Major Pinney checked into Company H in August, 2008, where he served as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, and Chief Drill Instructor. In January of 2010, he was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant and attended Infantry Unit Leaders Course in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In January of 2012, he was awarded the Drill Instructor Service Ribbon and executed orders to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. While serving in 5th Marines, Sergeant Major Pinney deployed in support of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Marine Rotational Force Darwin, holding the billets of Rifle Platoon Sergeant, Combined Anti-Armor Team Platoon Sergeant, Rifle Platoon Commander, and Company Gunnery Sergeant, as well as earning the MOS of 0943, Summer Mountain Leader. In January of 2015, he was selected to serve as the Assistant Marine Officer Instructor (AMOI) at the University of Pennsylvania (UPENN).
Sergeant Major Pinney checked into UPENN in April of 2015, and promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant in October. From September, 2015, to July, 2018, he trained over 200 future Marine and Naval Officers, to include the commissioning of over 40 Second Lieutenants at both UPENN and Villanova University's Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. Upon completion of AMOI duty, he received orders to 3d Battalion, 3d Marine Regiment, in Hawaii, and was assigned as the Headquarters and Service Company Gunnery Sergeant. In December of 2018, Sergeant Major Pinney was selected and frocked to the rank of First Sergeant, subsequently deploying as the Company First Sergeant for Company K. In March of 2020, he received orders to Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, where he served as the Service Company First Sergeant. In June of 2022, he executed orders to 2d Maintenance Battalion, 2d Marine Logistics Group, in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
While at 2d Maintenance Battalion, Sergeant Major Pinney served as the Company First Sergeant for Ordnance Maintenance Company. In October of 2022, he was selected for the rank of Sergeant Major and subsequently frocked and ordered to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365, where he deployed as the Aviation Combat Element Sergeant Major with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Upon return from deployment, he was ordered to his current post at 3d Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, where he currently serves as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader. Sergeant Major Pinney has an Associate of Applied Science degree in Small Group Management from Purdue University Global. His personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star, and the Combat Action Ribbon.