Lloyd Austin

Lloyd James Austin III
Army Gen Lloyd J. Austin III, U.S. Army
Born	August 8, 1953 (1953-08-08) Mobile, Alabama
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1975-present
Rank	General
Commands held	United States Forces - Iraq XVIII Airborne Corps 10th Mountain Division 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars	War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit

The XVIII Airborne Corps command group returns home from Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009. Austin is in front.

Lloyd James Austin III (born 8 August 1953) is a United States Army general who served as the last Commanding General of United States Forces - Iraq. Austin was confirmed by the Senate on 30 June 2010, to replace General Ray Odierno and to lead Operation New Dawn, which lasted until 15 December 2011. Austin has been nominated and confirmed on 14 December 2011 to be Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army. Austin took office as the 33rd Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army on 31 January 2012.

Early years and education

Lloyd James Austin III was born on 8 August 1953 in Mobile, Alabama. He graduated from the United States Military Academy (West Point) with a Bachelor of Science degree in June 1975. He also earned a Master's Degree in Education from Auburn University, and a Master's Degree in Business Management from Webster University. He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced courses, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College.

Military career

Austin was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant after graduation from West Point. His initial assignment was to the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) in Germany where he served as a Rifle Platoon Leader in A Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry and Scout Platoon Leader in the Combat Support Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry. Following this assignment and attendance at the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he commanded the Combat Support Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 508th Infantry and served as the Assistant S-3 (Operations) for 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division.

In 1981, Austin was assigned to Indianapolis, Indiana where he served as the Operations Officer for the U.S. Army Indianapolis District Recruiting Command and later commanded a company in the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion. Upon completing this assignment, he attended Auburn University where he completed studies for a Master's Degree in Education. He was then assigned to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he served as a Company Tactical Officer. After his selection and subsequent completion of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, he was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York, where he served as the S-3 (Operations) and later Executive Officer for the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry. He subsequently served as Executive Officer for 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) and later as Director of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security for Fort Drum, New York.

In 1993, Austin returned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he commanded the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He later served as the G-3 for the 82nd Airborne Division. Following graduation from the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, he commanded the 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Shortly after Brigade command, he was assigned to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. where he served as Chief, Joint Operations Division, J-3, on the Joint Staff. His next assignment was as Assistant Division Commander for Maneuver, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Stewart, Georgia. As the ADC-M, he helped spearhead the division's invasion of Iraq in March 2003.

Austin served from September 2003 until August 2005 as the Commanding General of the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), with duty as Commander, Combined Joint Task Force-180, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan. His next position was Chief of Staff of the United States Central Command at MacDill AFB, in Tampa, Florida from September 2005 until October 2006.

On 8 December 2006, Austin was promoted to Lieutenant General, and assumed command of the XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

In February 2008, Austin became the second highest ranking commander in Iraq, taking command of the Multi-National Corps-Iraq (MNC-I), replacing Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno. As commander of MNC-I, he directed the operations of approximately 152,000 joint and coalition forces in all sectors of Iraq.

He handed over command of XVIII Corps to become Director of the Joint Staff in August 2009.

Commanding General of US forces Iraq

On 1 September 2010 he became Commanding General of US forces Iraq. At a ceremony at the al-Faw palace in Bagdad, Iraq after the US combat missions ended. He took over from General Ray Odierno. Vice President Joe Biden, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen presided over the ceremony. Lloyd Austin's deployment in Iraq finished on 18 December 2011 when the last U.S. troops exited Iraq.

Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army

Austin has been nominated and confirmed on 14 December 2011 to be the next Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army. He took office as the 33rd Vice Chief of Staff of the Army on 31 January 2012.

Awards and decorations

Combat Action Badge

Expert Infantryman Badge

Master Parachutist Badge

Ranger tab

Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Distinguished Service Medal
	Silver Star
	Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
	Defense Meritorious Service Medal
	Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
	Joint Service Commendation Medal
	Army Commendation Medal, with six oak leaf clusters
	Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Secretary's Distinguished Service Award, Department of State

Source:

2007 inductee to the Thomasville-Thomas County Sports Hall of Fame

References

• "Lieutenant General Lloyd J. Austin III , Commanding General XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg". CENTCOM. Archived from Official biography the original on 2008-10-11. http://google.com/search?q=cache:Af3g-y6si28J:www.mnci.centcom.mil/leaders/LTG%2520AustinBio%2520and%2520Photo%255B1%255D.doc+Biography+General+Lloyd+Austin&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us&client=firefox-a. 

• "Lieutenant General Lloyd J. Austin III, Commanding General Multinational Corps-Iraq". Leaders. Multinational Corps-Iraq. October 7, 2008. http://www.mnci.centcom.mil/Leaders/Austin.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-13. 

• "Biden marks transfer of U.S. command in Iraq". Leaders. Multinational Corps-Iraq. September 1, 2010. http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/09/01/iraq.transfer/index.html. Retrieved 2010-10-01. 

External links

• "Multi-National Corps - Iraq website". CENTCOM. http://www.mnci.centcom.mil/default.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-13. 
• Complete transcript and audio and video of Gen. Austin speech on assuming command of USF-I

Military offices
Preceded by Franklin L. Hagenbeck	Commander, 10th Mountain Division 2003–2005	Succeeded by Benjamin C. Freakley
Preceded by John Vines	Commander, XVIII Airborne Corps 2006–2009	Succeeded by Frank Helmick
Preceded by Raymond Odierno	Commanding General, Multi-National Corps - Iraq 2008-April 2009	Succeeded by Charles Jacoby
Preceded by Raymond Odierno	Commanding General, United States Forces - Iraq September 1, 2010- December 18, 2011	Succeeded by None. Mission ended after the withdrawl of the last American troops.
Preceded by Peter W. Chiarelli	Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army January 31, 2012 – present	Succeeded by Incumbent