Heidelberg, Germany (July 26, 2007) -- Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced
yesterday that the President has nominated Lt. Gen. James D. Thurman, commander of V Corps
here, to become the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.
The nomination has to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
General Thurman has been commander of V Corps since January this year. V Corps serves
the U.S. European Command and is the United States Army's only forward-deployed corps
headquarters. With more than 25,000 soldiers and civilians, V Corps is the Army's contingency
force for European and Central Command missions and stands ready to deploy from its bases in
Europe to Central and Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, the Middle East and the
Persian Gulf.
During his command, Thurman used his experience gained during command in Iraq to
improve readiness and training of deploying units. He was also instrumental in starting the
transformation of the current military structures to create an operational corps-level joint
deployable headquarters.
If confirmed by the Senate, Thurman will be leaving Germany to head the Army G-3/5/7
which has the Army General Staff responsibility for strategy formulation, overall force
development, individual and unit training policy, the functional aspects of strategic and tactical
V Corps
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command and control systems, nuclear and chemical matters, and establishing requirements and
priorities for the employment and sustenance of Army forces. Additionally, the Deputy Chief of
Staff G-3/5/7 is the Joint Chief of Staff Deputy for Army Operations and serves as the principle
advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA) on joint matters, National Security Council
matters, and the politico-military aspects of international affairs.
In 1975, Thurman received a Regular Army Commission from the United States Army as a
Second Lieutenant in the Armor branch following graduation from Webster University. He has
held various assignments throughout the major commands of the Army, Headquarters, U.S.
Army and NATO. Prior to taking command of V Corps, Thurman commanded the 4th Infantry
Division (Mechanized) Fort Hood, Texas since June, 2004. In January 2006, he commanded
Multi-National Division-Baghdad in Iraq until November 2006. General Thurman is a graduate
of the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College.
Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced also that the President has nominated Army
Maj. Gen. Kenneth W. Hunzeker, for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general and
assignment as the commanding general, V Corps, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army,
Germany. Hunzeker is currently serving as the commanding general, Civilian Police Assistance
Training Team, Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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