General Sharp was born in Morgantown, West Virginia while his father was fighting in the Korean War.

As a child he moved among many cavalry posts until he went to the United States Military Academy in 1970.

In his class were three other future four-star generals, David Petraeus, Martin Dempsey and Keith B. Alexander.

He has earned a Master of Science degree in Operations Research and System Analysis from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; and is a graduate of the Armor Basic Course, the Field Artillery Advanced Course, the Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.

General Sharp has served in the Directorate of Combat Developments at Fort Knox, Kentucky, the Armor/Anti-Armor Special Task Force, and the Armored System Modernization Office at the Pentagon.