George W. Connell, Jr., was born April 15, 1925 in Stamford, Texas. He graduated from John Tarleton College in 1942. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Georgia and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Harvard University.

 General Connell's military service began in 1943, when he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Chemical Warfare Service. He served in Europe, Hawaii, Korea, and the United States. His assignments include: Forward Observer, 89th Chemical Mortar Battalion, Europe, July 1944 - October 1945; Company Commander and Operations Officer, Hawaiian Chemical Depot, April 1949 - July 1951; Chief of Training, Army Chemical Section, HQ Third U.S. Army, July 1952 - July 1955; Assistant Chief, Logistics Planning Divisions Office of the Chief Chemical Officer, July 1957 - July 1959; Command and General Staff College, August 1959 - June 1960; Chemical Officer, 1st Cavalry Division, Korea, August 1960 - August 1961; Staff Officer, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Washington D.C., September 1961 - April 1963; Staff Officer, Assistant Chief of Staff for Force Development, Washington, D.C., April 1963 - July 1964; Commanding Officer, CDC, CBR Agency, Fort McClellan, Alabama, July 1967 - July 1969; Deputy Director, Chemical and Nuclear Directorate OACSFOR, Washington, D.C., July 1969 - July 1970; Commanding Officer, Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland, July 1970 - July 1971; Commander, Defense Property Disposal Service, Battle Creek, Michigan, February 1973.