Randy George
Randy George | |
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.jpg) Official portrait, 2023 | |
| Birth name | Randy Alan George |
| Born | 1 November 1964 Alden, Iowa, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1981–present |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | |
| Alma mater | United States Military Academy (BS) Colorado School of Mines (MA) Naval War College (MS) |
Randy Alan George[1] (born 1 November 1964)[2] is a United States Army general who has served as the 41st chief of staff of the United States Army since 21 September 2023,[3] having served in an acting capacity from 4 August 2023.[4] He most recently served as the 38th vice chief of staff of the United States Army from August 2022 to September 2023, and previously served as the senior military assistant to the United States Secretary of Defense.[5][6][7][8][9]
Early life and education
[edit]Born and raised in Alden, Iowa, George is the son of Robert and Lorraine George.[10] He served as an enlisted soldier before beginning attendance at the United States Military Academy in 1984.[11] George graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1988.[10] He later received a master's degree in economics from the Colorado School of Mines and a master's in international security studies from the Naval War College,[7] before attending the United States Army Command and General Staff College.[12]
Army career
[edit]George commissioned from the U.S. Military Academy in 1988 as an infantry officer. He served as a lieutenant in the 101st Airborne Division and deployed in support of Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Following the Armor Officer Advanced Course in 1993, George was stationed at Fort Carson where he was the assistant operations officer for 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division and then commanded C Company and later Headquarters Company in 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment.[12]
In 2001 George went to Italy and served as the executive officer of 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade. He was later executive officer and then deputy commander of the brigade, during which time he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Returning to the 101st Airborne Division in 2004, George commanded 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment and deployed a second time to Iraq. He then went to United States Naval War College as an instructor and then student. He deployed again as part of the initiatives group for the commanding general, Multi-National Corps-Iraq in 2007.[12]
In 2008 George returned to the 4th Infantry Division, where he commanded 4th Brigade Combat Team and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Following command, he was a fellow on the Council of Foreign Relations, chief of the strategic policy division for the Pakistan-Afghanistan coordination cell on the Joint Staff, executive officer to the 33rd Vice Chief of Staff of the Army and then executive assistant to the commander of U.S. Central Command. He then returned to Fort Carson as the deputy commanding general (maneuver) of 4th Infantry Division.[12]
After two staff assignments as the director of force management for the Army G-3/5/7 and deputy director for regional operations and force management in the J-3, George took command of the 4th Infantry Division in June 2017. In this role he deployed again to Afghanistan.[12]
George's most recent command was of I Corps at Joint Base Lewis McChord, after which he served as the senior military assistant to the Secretary of Defense.[12]
Chief of Staff
[edit]George's nomination to be Army chief of staff was among those delayed by Senator Tommy Tuberville's hold over opposition to DoD's abortion policy.[13] Having been confirmed via standalone vote on 21 September, George was sworn in on the same day via phone by Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth while visiting soldiers of the 11th Airborne Division in Alaska.[3][14]
Awards and decorations
[edit]
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Defense Distinguished Service Medal |
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Army Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster |
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Defense Superior Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters |
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Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters |
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Bronze Star Medal with three oak leaf clusters |
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Purple Heart |
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Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters |
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Joint Service Commendation Medal |
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Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters |
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Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters |
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Meritorious Unit Commendation with four oak leaf clusters |
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Army Good Conduct Medal |
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National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star |
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Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
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Southwest Asia Service Medal |
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Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star |
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Iraq Campaign Medal with silver campaign star |
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Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal |
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Army Service Ribbon |
 
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Army Overseas Service Ribbon (with award numeral 2) |
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NATO Medal for Service with ISAF |
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Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) |
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Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) |
References
[edit]
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government.
- ^ "Randy Alan George". West Point Association of Graduates. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ Register of Graduates and Former Cadets, United States Military Academy. West Point, New York: Association of Graduates U.S.M.A. 1989. p. 955. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ a b Sword, Michael (21 September 2023). "Army Gen. Randy George sworn in as 41st Army Chief of Staff". DVIDS. Alaska: 11th Airborne Division. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
- ^ "Webcast: Relinquishment of Responsibility for GEN James McConville / Change of Responsibility SMA Michael Grinston". DVIDS. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
- ^ "JBLM commander exits for position with Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon". The News Tribune. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
- ^ "Lieutenant General Randy A. George – General Officer Management Office". www.gomo.army.mil.
- ^ a b "Commanding General, I Corps :: Joint Base Lewis-McChord". home.army.mil.
- ^ "Major General Randy George's schedule for CACP 2018 Annual Conference". cacp2018annualconference.sched.com.
- ^ Roeder, Tom (25 September 2019). "For Fort Carson's top general, leaving Colorado Springs is like departing boyhood home". Colorado Springs Gazette.
- ^ a b "Neighbors: 2nd Lt. Randy A. George". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Iowa City, IA. 16 June 1988. p. 1C – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Marulli, Courtney E. (11 July 2008). "4th BCT Receives New Leadership". Mountaineer. Ft. Carson, CO. pp. 1, 4.
- ^ a b c d e f "Chief of Staff of the Army". United States Army. Retrieved 9 July 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Shkolnikova, Svetlana (12 July 2023). "Gen. George, nominee for Army chief of staff, plans to promote value of service as fix for recruiting crisis". Stars & Stripes. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
- ^ Gould, Joe (21 September 2023). "Senate confirms Army and Marine chiefs, bucking Tuberville logjam". Politico. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
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- 1964 births
- Colorado School of Mines alumni
- Living people
- Naval War College alumni
- People from Hardin County, Iowa
- Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
- Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- United States Army generals
- United States Army Chiefs of Staff
- United States Army personnel of the Gulf War
- United States Army personnel of the Iraq War
- United States Army personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- United States Army Vice Chiefs of Staff
- United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
- United States Military Academy alumni
- Military personnel from Iowa