Robert B. Abrams | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Abe |
Born | [1] West Germany (present-day Germany) | November 18, 1960
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Army |
Years of service | 1982–2021 |
Rank | General |
Commands | United Nations Command United States Forces Korea Combined Forces Command United States Army Forces Command 3rd Infantry Division Fort Irwin National Training Center 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment |
Battles/wars | Gulf War Iraq War War in Afghanistan |
Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (6) Bronze Star Medal (4) |
Spouse(s) | Connie C. Clevenger (m. 1992) |
Relations | General Creighton W. Abrams Jr. (father) Brigadier General Creighton W. Abrams III (brother) General John N. Abrams (brother) |
Robert Bruce Abrams (born November 18, 1960) is a retired four-star general in the United States Army who last served as the commander of United States Forces Korea. [3] He concurrently served as the commander of United Nations Command and commander of R.O.K.-U.S. Combined Forces Command. He previously served as the 22nd commanding general of United States Army Forces Command from August 10, 2015 to October 17, 2018. He was a 1982 graduate of the United States Military Academy where he was commissioned as an armor officer. During his years of active service, he has held command and staff positions across the Army and joint community in Germany, the United States, Southwest Asia and South Korea. Abrams comes from a family of career military officers. His father was former Army Chief of Staff General Creighton W. Abrams Jr., and both of his elder brothers, Creighton and John, were Army general officers. [4]
He relinquished command of United States Command, Combined Forces Command and United States Forces Korea to General Paul LaCamera on July 2, 2021 and retired soon after. [5] [6]
Abrams' tours of duty with war-fighting units include the 3rd Armored Division as a lieutenant; the 1st Cavalry Division as a captain, and as a major in the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, as a lieutenant colonel (including battalion command and as the Division G3) and colonel (including command of a brigade combat team and as the division chief of staff). His joint experience includes serving as a Strategic War Planner for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with responsibility for the United States Central Command's Area of Operations; and as the Director of the Joint Center of Excellence for IED Defeat, a subordinate of the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Agency (JIDA).
Abrams has commanded at every level from company through divisional command. His first command was of D Company and Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment. He deployed the company in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Abrams's next command assignment was at battalion level, with 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.
Later, Abrams served as the commander of the 1st Brigade Combat Team (Iron Horse), 1st Cavalry Division, where he deployed to East Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II, as commanding general of Fort Irwin & the National Training Center, and most recently as commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia from 2011 to 2013, during which he served as commander of Regional Command South in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Abrams has extensive operational experience, having served as an operations officer at squadron, regimental and divisional level. Abrams has also served as an instructor, written doctrine and developed training at the United States Army Armor School, and as executive officer to the Commanding General United States Army Europe and Seventh Army.
Abrams's general officer assignments also include service as the Deputy Commanding General, Combined Arms Center-Training, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and the commander of the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California.
In 2015, Abrams was assigned as Commanding General, United States Army Forces Command, which oversees all United States Army combat units in the continental United States.
On October 11, 2018, the Senate confirmed his nomination to command United States Forces Korea. [7] Abrams relinquished command of Army Forces Command to his deputy commander, Lieutenant General Laura Richardson, on October 16, [8] and assumed command of United States Forces Korea from General Vincent K. Brooks on November 7. [4]
In 2020, Abrams was among the candidates shortlisted to replace Admiral Philip S. Davidson as the commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command, [9] but Admiral John C. Aquilino was nominated instead. [10] [11] [12]
In May 2021, Abrams was bestowed the Korean name Woo Byung-soo [lower-alpha 1] (Korean : 우병수) by the ROK-US Alliance Friendship Association in honor of "his contributions to the alliance and defense of South Korea". [13]
His retirement ceremony was held on August 31, 2021. [14]
Abrams holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy, a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a master's degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.
His military schooling includes the Armor Basic [Cavalry] and Advanced Courses, Basic Airborne Course, Ranger School [Class 5–83], the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.
Medals and awards earned by Abrams include: [15] [16]
Defense Distinguished Service Medal w/ bronze oak leaf cluster [17] | Army Distinguished Service Medal w/ bronze oak leaf cluster | ||||
Legion of Merit w/ one silver oak leaf cluster | Bronze Star Medal w/ three bronze oak leaf clusters | Defense Meritorious Service Medal |
Meritorious Service Medal w/ two oak leaf clusters | Joint Service Commendation Medal | Army Commendation Medal w/ three oak leaf clusters |
Army Achievement Medal w/ two oak leaf clusters | National Defense Service Medal w/ one bronze service star | Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ three bronze campaign stars |
Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ one campaign star | Iraq Campaign Medal w/ two campaign stars | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |
Army Service Ribbon | Army Overseas Service Ribbon w/ bronze award numeral 4 | NATO Medal for Service with ISAF |
Order of National Security Merit (1st Grade) [18] | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) |
Joint Meritorious Unit Award w/ 4 oak leaf clusters | Valorous Unit Award | Meritorious Unit Commendation |
United Nations Command Badge [19] | 4 Overseas Service Bars |
Vincent Keith Brooks is a retired United States Army general who last commanded United States Forces Korea, United Nations Command, and ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command. He previously served as the commanding general of United States Army Pacific and prior to that as the commanding general of Third Army. Brooks was the United States Central Command Deputy Director of Operations during the War in Iraq, and frequently briefed the media, which raised his public profile. He also served as the Chief of Army Public Affairs The Pentagon. He was the deputy commander of 1st Cavalry Division in Baghdad during the 2006–2008 "surge" and upon returning to the United States became the commanding general of the same division. He later was commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division. Brooks assumed command in Korea on April 30, 2016 and was succeeded by Robert B. Abrams in November 2018, then retired on January 1, 2019.
Creighton Williams Abrams Jr. was a United States Army general who commanded military operations in the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1972. He was then Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1972 until his death in 1974.
Peter Jan Schoomaker is a retired four-star general of the United States Army who served as the 35th Chief of Staff of the United States Army from June 11, 2003, to April 10, 2007. Schoomaker's appointment as Chief of Staff was unusual in that he was recalled and came out from retirement to assume the position. Schoomaker voluntarily retired from the Army for the second time in 2007 after completing the full four-year term as Chief of Staff.
Lieutenant General Guy Carleton Swan III is a retired United States Army officer. His final assignment was Commanding General United States Army North at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Brigadier General Michael A. Ryan was a General Officer in the United States Army.
James David Thurman is a retired United States Army general who served as the Commander of United Nations Command, R.O.K.-U.S. Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea from July 14, 2011 until October 2, 2013. He previously served as the 18th Commanding General, United States Army Forces Command from June 3, 2010 to July 8, 2011 and as Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7. He was the former commanding general of United States V Corps in Heidelberg, Germany from January 19, 2007 to August 8, 2007.
Curtis Michael "Mike" Scaparrotti is a retired United States Army four-star general who last served as the commander of United States European Command. He concurrently served as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe. Scaparrotti previously served as the director of the Joint Staff. Prior to his tour with the Joint Staff, Scaparrotti served as commander, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command and deputy commander, U.S. Forces – Afghanistan, the commanding general of I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and the commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division.
R. Steven Whitcomb is a retired United States Army lieutenant general. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation from the University of Virginia in 1970. In his final assignment he served as Inspector General of the United States Army.
Major General Joseph Frederick Fil Jr. was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army in June 1976. He is a Distinguished Military Graduate of San José State University. He has served in Army units in the United States, Germany, Belgium and Iraq.
Robert William Cone was a United States Army four-star general who last served as the commanding general of United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). He assumed command of TRADOC on April 29, 2011. He previously served as the commander of Fort Hood and III Corps on September 22, 2009, with which he deployed to Iraq in February 2010, and served as the Deputy Commanding General for Operations, United States Forces – Iraq, until February 2011. Prior to that, he served as the Special Assistant to the Commanding General of TRADOC. He retired in 2014.
Walter Lawrence "Skip" Sharp, is a retired United States Army four-star general, who last served as the Commander, United Nations Command, Commander, ROK-US Combined Forces Command and Commander, U.S. Forces Korea from June 3, 2008 to July 14, 2011. He previously served as the Director of the Joint Staff from 2005 to June 2008. Sharp retired from the Army in July 2011.
William Robertson Desobry was a senior U.S. Army field commander in Germany during the Cold War, and a Lieutenant General in the United States Army. General Desobry was a decorated hero from World War II, and played a significant role as an advisor to the Republic of Vietnam Army and on the Army Staff during the Vietnam War. In addition to commanding a division and corps, he was the Commanding General of the Armor Center and was the President of the Tank Task Force, which led to the creation of the M1 Abrams.
Lieutenant General Sean Barry MacFarland is a retired three-star general who served in the United States Army.
Lieutenant General William Glenn Webster is a retired senior officer in the United States Army and a former commander of the Third United States Army/United States Army Central. Webster assumed command of the Third Army/Army Central on May 9, 2009 from Lieutenant General James J. Lovelace and during his tenure was responsible for moving the Third Army's headquarters from Fort McPherson, where it had resided for 62 years, to Shaw Air Force Base in 2011. Webster was succeeded as commanding officer of the Third Army upon his retirement by Lieutenant General Vincent K. Brooks on June 3, 2011. While commanding Third Army, Webster oversaw the transition towards full-spectrum operations in the Third Army from a more narrow focus on combat operations as well as the Third Army's role in sustaining United States military activity in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Paul Joseph LaCamera is a United States Army four-star general and infantry officer who serves as commander of the United Nations Command, ROK/US Combined Forces Command and United States Forces Korea since 2 July 2021. LaCamera most recently served as commanding general of United States Army Pacific from 18 November 2019 to 3 June 2021. He previously served as the commanding general of XVIII Airborne Corps. His other assignments include the commander of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve and as the commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division. He was nominated to replace General Robert Abrams as the next commander of United Nations Command, R.O.K.-U.S. Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea, on 2 December 2020, however his nomination was returned to the president on 3 January 2021, without action. He was renominated on 27 April 2021.
Paul Edward Funk II is a retired four-star general in the United States Army who last served as the commanding officer of the Army Training and Doctrine Command. He previously served as the 60th Commanding General of III Corps and Fort Hood, Texas, and as the Commanding General, Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. Funk was born at Fort Hood, Texas, graduated from Fort Knox High School, and was commissioned an Armor Officer through ROTC upon graduation from Montana State University in 1984. His first assignments saw him serve in a variety of Armor and Cavalry roles to include Tank Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, Squadron Commander of 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment and Brigade Commander of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division located at Fort Hood.
John Michael “Mike” Murray is an active United States Army general, the first commanding general of United States Army Futures Command, a new four-star Army Command headquartered in Austin, Texas. Murray was previously the G-8, a deputy chief of staff to the Chief of Staff of the United States Army. As G-8, Murray served as the principal advisor to the Chief of Staff for materiel requirements, as military counterpart to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics, and technology.
Michael A. Bills is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Army, who last served as the Commanding General of the Eighth United States Army from January 2018 until his retirement in October 2020.
Eric D. Little is a United States Army brigadier general who serves as the deputy director for operations of the United States Space Command. He previously served as commanding general of the White Sands Missile Range and deputy commanding general for developmental testing of the United States Army Test and Evaluation Command from May 2021 to November 2023. He has one son currently serving the nation as a PED Platoon Leader in 504th MI BDE, First Lieutenant Brennan Little.
John Buchanan Richardson IV is a retired United States Army major general. He served as Commanding General of the 1st Cavalry Division from July 2021 to July 2023. and Deputy Commanding General of the III Corps from September 2, 2020, to July 2021. Before that, he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans, and Training of the United States Army Forces Command. Richardson is a 1991 graduate of the United States Military Academy.