Willard Burleson

Last updated

Willard M. Burleson III
Lt. Gen. Willard M. Burleson III (3).jpg
Born (1965-10-09) October 9, 1965 (age 58)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1988–2024
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands held Eighth United States Army
7th Infantry Division
1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division
1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars Gulf War
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Awards Army Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (4)
Bronze Star Medal (3)

Willard McKenzie Burleson III [1] (born October 9, 1965) [2] is a retired United States Army lieutenant general who served as commanding General of the Eighth United States Army and chief of Staff of the ROK/US Combined Forces Command from 2020 to 2024.

Contents

Previously, Burleson served as the Director of Operations of the United Nations Command, ROK/US Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea. [3] [4] [5]

Education

Burleson holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy. He also earned a Master's degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College and a Master's degree in Military Art and Science from the Army Command and General Staff College.

Military career

Burleson graduated from the United States Military Academy and was commissioned into the Infantry in May 1988. Burleson's first assignment was in the 7th Infantry Division (Light), Fort Ord, California, which included service in the Multi-National Force and Observers, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, and the invasion of Panama. He also served in 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Savannah, Georgia. He later commanded airborne companies in Vicenza, Italy, which included service as part of the initial entry force for operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

After competing duties in Italy, Burleson returned to the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Georgia, and then served as aide-de-camp to the commander of United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. Burleson later served in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, with deployments to Kosovo and Afghanistan.

Burleson next served as aide-de-camp to the commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps, with duty in the Combined Joint Task Force 180 and Multi-National Corps Iraq. Following that tour of duty, Burleson commanded the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York, which included a tour with Multi-National Division, Baghdad, Iraq.

After attending the United States Army War College, Burleson returned to the 10th Mountain Division as commander of the 1st Brigade, which included a deployment to Regional Command-North, Afghanistan. Upon completion of brigade command, he served as the commander of the Joint Readiness Training Center’s Operations Group at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Burleson later served as the Deputy Commanding General (Operations), 7th Infantry Division (United States), Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, and Director of the Mission Command Center of Excellence at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and as senior advisor to the Ministry of Defense, Afghanistan. Before serving in the Republic of Korea, Burleson served as the commanding general of 7th Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

He will relinquish command of Eighth Army to Christopher LaNeve on April 5, 2024. [6]

Awards and decorations

CIB2.svg Combat Infantryman Badge with star (denoting 2nd award)
Ranger Tab.svg Ranger tab
AirAssault.svg Air Assault Badge
Master Parachutist badge (United States).svg Master Parachutist Badge
7th Infantry Division CSIB.jpg 7th Infantry Division Combat Service Identification Badge
BW Sonderabzeichen Fallschirmspringer.png German Parachutist badge
Wings badge.JPG British Parachutist Badge
No free image.png Unidentified foreign parachutist badge
75 Ranger Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia.svg 75th Ranger Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
ArmyOSB.svg 9 Overseas Service Bars
U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Army Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Bronze oak leaf-3d.svg Bronze oak leaf-3d.svg Bronze oak leaf-3d.svg Legion of Merit with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star ribbon.svg Bronze oak leaf-3d.svg Bronze oak leaf-3d.svg Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Bronze oak leaf-3d.svg Bronze oak leaf-3d.svg Bronze oak leaf-3d.svg Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal ribbon.svg Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg Bronze oak leaf-3d.svg Bronze oak leaf-3d.svg Bronze oak leaf-3d.svg Bronze oak leaf-3d.svg Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Army Achievement Medal ribbon.svg
Army Achievement Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Meritorious Unit Commendation with oak leaf cluster
Army Superior Unit Award ribbon.svg Bronze oak leaf-3d.svg Bronze oak leaf-3d.svg Superior Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with service star
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Kosovo Campaign Medal ribbon.svg
Kosovo Campaign Medal with service star
Afghanistan Campaign ribbon.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three campaign stars
Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Iraq Campaign Medal with two campaign stars
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with service star
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg Korea Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal ribbon.svg Armed Forces Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon.svg Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg Award numeral 5.png Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 5
NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar.svg NATO Medal for ex-Yugoslavia
MFO Ribbon bar.svg Multinational Force and Observers Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Personal life

Burleson and his wife both come from army families and they have a son and a daughter.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Corps (United States)</span> Corps of the United States Army

The I Corps is a corps of the United States Army headquartered in Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. It is a major formation of United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) and its current mission involves administrative oversight of army units in the Asia-Pacific region, including the Pacific Pathways program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">XVIII Airborne Corps</span> One of four active corps of the U.S. Army, currently part of U.S. Army Forces Command

The XVIII Airborne Corps is a corps of the United States Army that has been in existence since 1942 and saw extensive service during World War II. The corps is designed for rapid deployment anywhere in the world and is referred to as "America's Contingency Corps." Its headquarters are at Fort Liberty, North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vincent K. Brooks</span> American four star Army general (ret. in 2019)

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtis Scaparrotti</span> US Army general

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert W. RisCassi</span> United States Army general

Robert William RisCassi is a retired United States Army four-star general who served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army (VCSA) from 1989 to 1990; Commander in Chief, United Nations Command/Commander in Chief, ROK/U.S. Combined Forces Command/Commander, U.S. Forces Korea/Commanding General, Eighth United States Army from 1990 to 1992; and Commander in Chief, United Nations Command/Commander in Chief, ROK/U.S. Combined Forces Command/Commander, United States Forces Korea (CINCUNC/CINCCFC/COMUSFK) from 1992 to 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert W. Cone</span> US Army general

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel P. Bolger</span> United States Army general

Daniel P. Bolger is an American author, historian, and retired a lieutenant general of the United States Army. He held a special faculty appointment in the Department of History at North Carolina State University, where he taught military history until his retirement in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James L. Terry</span> US Army general

James L. Terry is a retired lieutenant general of the United States Army. Terry has commanded at multiple levels across the Army. Terry's last assignment was as the commanding general of United States Army Central, retiring 17 November 2015. Terry served as the last commander of V Corps before its inactivation in 2013. While commanding V Corps, he concurrently served as Commander, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command (IJC), and as deputy commander of United States Forces Afghanistan. He was the Commanding General of the 10th Mountain Division from 2009 to 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert B. Abrams</span> US Army general

Robert Bruce Abrams is a retired four-star general in the United States Army who last served as the commander of United States Forces Korea. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean MacFarland</span> American general

Lieutenant General Sean Barry MacFarland is a retired three-star general who served in the United States Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul LaCamera</span> U.S. Army general

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viet Xuan Luong</span> United States Army major general (born 1965)

Việt Xuan Luong is a retired United States Army major general. He is the first American officer promoted to general officer rank who was born in Vietnam. He last served as the Commanding General of United States Army, Japan/I Corps Forward. He previously served as the Deputy Commanding General (Operations), Eighth Army. His prior assignments included chief of staff of United States Army Central; Director of Joint and Integration, Headquarters Department of the Army, G-8; assistant division commander–maneuver for the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, concurrent with assignment as commander, Train Advise Assist Command – South, Resolute Support Mission Joint Command, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Afghanistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen J. Townsend</span> United States Army four-star general

Stephen J. Townsend is a retired United States Army four-star general who served as Commander United States Africa Command from 26 July 2019 to 8 August 2022. He previously commanded the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command from March 2018 until June 2019 and XVIII Airborne Corps from May 2015 until January 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John M. Murray</span> U.S. Army four-star general

John Michael “Mike” Murray is a retired United States Army general, the first commanding general of United States Army Futures Command (AFC), a new four-star Army Command (ACOM) 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 (CSA). As G-8, Murray served as the principal advisor to the CSA for materiel requirements, as military counterpart to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics, and technology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Donahue (general)</span> United States Army general (born 1969)

Christopher Todd Donahue is a United States Army lieutenant general who has served as the commanding general of XVIII Airborne Corps since March 11, 2022. He most recently served as commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. Throughout his career, Donahue served in staff and command positions for both United States Army and Special Operations units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven W. Gilland</span> U.S. Army general

Steven Wesley Gilland is a United States Army lieutenant general who serves as the 61st superintendent of the United States Military Academy since June 27, 2022. He most recently served as the deputy commanding general for maneuver of III Corps from July 2021 to June 2022, and prior to that was commanding general of the 2nd Infantry Division from 2019 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Kurilla</span> U.S. Army general

Michael Erik Kurilla is a United States Army general who serves as the 15th commander of United States Central Command since 1 April 2022. He previously served as the commanding general of XVIII Airborne Corps and before that as the chief of staff of United States Central Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michelle A. Schmidt</span> U.S. Army general

Michelle A. Schmidt is United States Army major general who has served as commanding general of the 7th Infantry Division since September 15, 2023. She most recently served as the deputy commanding general of the I Corps from August to September 2023. She most recently served as the director of force development of the United States Army from July 2022 to August 2023. She previously served as the Director for Operations of the Defense Intelligence Agency from July 2021 to June 2022 and before that was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence of Resolute Support Mission and Director of Intelligence of United States Forces-Afghanistan from July 2020 to July 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher LaNeve</span> US Army general officer

Christopher C. LaNeve is a United States Army lieutenant general who has served as the commanding general of Eighth Army and chief of staff of the Combined Forces Command since April 5, 2024. He most recently served as the commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division from 2022 to 2023. He previously served as the deputy chief of staff for operations, plans, and training of the United States Army Forces Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick B. Roberson</span> United States Army Major General

Patrick B. Roberson is a United States Army Major General, serving as the Deputy Commanding General of

References

  1. "Willard M. Burleson III". West Point Association of Graduates. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  2. "Register of Graduates and Former Cadets, United States Military Academy". 1989.
  3. "Lieutenant General Willard M. Burleson III – General Officer Management Office". www.gomo.army.mil.
  4. https://8tharmy.korea.army.mil/site/leadership/leaders-LTG-burleson.asp
  5. "Burleson takes reins of Eighth Army as new CG". DVIDS.
  6. Thuloweit, Kenji (March 29, 2024). "Lt. Gen. Burleson honored with Korean name for commitment to ROK-US Alliance". DVIDS. Camp Humphreys, South Korea: Eighth Army. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
Military offices
Preceded by Director to the Ministry of Defense of the Mission Command Center of Excellence
2014–2016
Succeeded by
Preceded by Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Defense of the United States Forces Afghanistan
2016–2017
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commanding General of the 7th Infantry Division
2017–2019
Succeeded by
Preceded by Director of Operations of the United Nations Command, ROK/US Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea
2019–2020
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commanding General of the Eighth United States Army and Chief of Staff of the ROK/US Combined Forces Command
2020–2024
Succeeded by