Raymond T. Odierno

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Raymond T. Odierno
Odierno Raymond CSA ASU.jpg
Born1954 (age 66–67)
Rockaway, New Jersey, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1976–2015
RankGeneral
Commands held
Battles/warsGulf War
Iraq War
Awards
Spouse(s)Linda[1]
SignatureRaymond T. Odierno signature.svg

Raymond Thomas Odierno[2] (/oʊdiˈɛərnoʊ/; born 1954) is a retired four-star general of the United States Army who served as the 38th Chief of Staff of the Army. Prior to his service as chief of staff, Odierno commanded United States Joint Forces Command from October 2010 until its disestablishment in August 2011. He served as Commanding General, United States Forces – Iraq and its predecessor, Multi-National Force – Iraq, from September 2008 through September 2010.[3]

Odierno is the 2009 recipient of the Naval War College Distinguished Graduate Leadership Award for his strategic leadership and insight.[4]

Odierno, who is of Italian descent, grew up in Rockaway, New Jersey,[5][6] where he attended Morris Hills High School,[7] followed by the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in June 1976 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He later received a Master of Science degree in nuclear effects engineering from North Carolina State University and a Master of Arts degree in national security and strategy from the Naval War College.[citation needed]

In December 2009, Odierno was given the USO's Distinguished Service Award, at the 48th Annual Armed Forces Gala and Gold Medal Dinner in New York City. The event, which was co-hosted by NBC's Brian Williams, and retired Army Col. Jack H. Jacobs, a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in Vietnam, raised over $1 million for the USO. The USO's Distinguished Service Award is USO's premiere award that recognizes exemplary leadership and service to the armed forces.[8]

In October 2009, Odierno was recognized as one of America's Best Leaders of 2009 by U.S. News & World Report for his leadership in Operation Iraqi Freedom. America's Best Leaders is a collaboration between U.S. News & World Report and the Center for Public Leadership at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. The honorees were selected by a committee of academic, government, business, community, and nonprofit leaders convened by the center.[9]

In December 2010, he received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from North Carolina State University as well as receiving an honorary doctorate from the Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C. in 2013. Odierno is also a graduate of the U.S. Army War College.[citation needed]

Odierno is sworn in as Army chief of staff by Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, September 7, 2011.

On 30 May 2011, Odierno was nominated to be Army Chief of Staff.[10] He was confirmed to take over from General Martin E. Dempsey on 7 September 2011, and sworn in as 38th Army Chief of Staff later that day.[10]

Odierno received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for his commitment to many humanitarian causes. He accepted the award on 12 May 2012, at Ellis Island.[11]

Odierno accepted the Dwight D. Eisenhower Award on 23 July 2012, at the 113th Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) National Convention. The award is presented to an individual for contributions to the cause of American security, unity, and peace.[12]

On 5 October 2012, the Liberty USO serving Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey presented Odierno with the Liberty award for dedication to and support of military members and their families.[13]

In 2014, Odierno submitted a budget request for 520,000 active-duty soldiers, and said that the bare minimum was 450,000,[14] which would, however, be at a "high risk to meet one major war".[15] In August 2015, Odierno retired from the Army after 39 years of service.[16][17]

In January 2017, Odierno was named chairman of USA Football, a national organization that promotes youth football.[18] He was named chairman and alternate governor of the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers on October 12, 2017.[19] In January 2019, he was selected to serve a three-year term on the College Football Playoff selection committee.[20]

Odierno and his wife have three children and four grandchildren.[21][22]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Michelle Tan (14 August 2015). "Milley takes over as new chief of staff; Odierno retires". Army Times.
  2. ^ "Register of Graduates and Former Cadets, United States Military Academy". google.ca. 1986.
  3. ^ "Biden marks transfer of U.S. command in Iraq". CNN. 1 September 2010.
  4. ^ NWCDGLA recipients
  5. ^ https://fas.org/irp/congress/2011_hr/sasc-nom.pdf
  6. ^ Cloud, David S. "U.S. Military Leader in Iraq Talks of 'Thinning the Lines'", The New York Times, 26 May 2007. Accessed 27 February 2008. "'We'll do this in a very deliberate and slow way', General Odierno, a 1976 West Point graduate from Rockaway, N.J., said in an interview here."
  7. ^ Manochio, Matt. "Morris general oversaw capture", Daily Record (Morristown), 14 December 2003. Accessed 27 February 2008. "Raymond T. Odierno, 48, is a 1972 graduate of Morris Hills High School."
  8. ^ "USO officials honor 5 Air Force Medal of Honor recipients". archive.is. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012.
  9. ^ Anna Mulrine. "Ray Odierno: The Commander in Iraq Is Leaving His Mark". US News & World Report.
  10. ^ a b "Obama nominates Dempsey to chair Joint Chiefs". USA Today. 30 May 2011.
  11. ^ "2012 Ellis Island Medal of Honor Recipients". National Ethnic Coalition. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  12. ^ Veterans of Foreign Wars http://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/Articles/2012-Articles/PRESIDENT-OBAMA-TO-ADDRESS-VFW-NATIONAL-CONVENTION/
  13. ^ "Liberty USO Serving Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey".
  14. ^ McGarry, Brendan (12 February 2014). "Odierno: Army Needs at Least 450,000 Soldiers". www.dodbuzz.com. Military Advantage. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  15. ^ Brook, Tom Vanden; Locker, Ray (24 February 2014). "New Pentagon budget calls for smaller Army, pay changes". USA Today. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  16. ^ Dan Lamothe (13 August 2015). "In parting, retiring Army chief raises concerns about battle-hardened leaders and Gold Star families". Washington Post.
  17. ^ Michelle Tan, Staff writer (14 August 2015). "Milley takes over as new chief of staff; Odierno retires". Army Times.
  18. ^ Kevin Lilley (15 February 2017). "Gridiron General: Odierno talks safety, growth in new role as USA Football chairman". Military Times. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  19. ^ https://www.nhl.com/panthers/info/raymond-odierno
  20. ^ "Mohajir, Odierno and Slocum Named to College Football Playoff Selection Committee". 16 January 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  21. ^ Odierno, Raymond. "Official Bio" (PDF). US Army.
  22. ^ Curry, Jack (4 July 2008). "Yankee Intern, Injured in Iraq, to Throw Out First Pitch Friday". The New York Times.

External links[edit]

Military offices
Preceded by
Peter Chiarelli 		Commanding General of the Multinational Corps-Iraq
2006–2008 		Succeeded by
Lloyd Austin
Preceded by
David Petraeus 		Commanding General of the Multinational Force-Iraq
2008–2010 		Position abolished
New office Commanding General of the United States Forces-Iraq
2010 		Succeeded by
Lloyd Austin
Preceded by
Keith Huber
Acting 		Commander of United States Joint Forces Command
2010–2011 		Position abolished
Preceded by
Martin Dempsey 		Chief of Staff of the Army
2011–2015 		Succeeded by
Mark A. Milley
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Raymond_T._Odierno&oldid=1044351183"