Chief of Staff of the Army has Fires roots

By U.S. ArmySeptember 16, 2011

A native of northern New Jersey, Gen. Raymond Odierno attended the U.S. Military Academy, graduating in 1976 with a commission in field artillery. During more than 35 years of service, he has commanded units at every level, from platoon to theater, with duty in Germany, Albania, Kuwait, Iraq and the United States. After his first assignment with U.S. Army Europe, Odierno was assigned to the XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery at Fort Bragg, N.C., where he commanded two batteries and served as a battalion operations officer.

Odierno returned to U.S. Army Europe serving as a battalion executive officer and division artillery executive officer including deployment for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He later commanded 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery, 7th Infantry Division, and the Division Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division.

After receiving his star as a general, his assignments lost their artillery focus. From Oct. 2001 to June 2004, Odierno commanded the 4th Infantry Division, leading the division during Operation Iraqi Freedom from April 2003 to March 2004. From Dec. 2006 to Feb. 2008, he served as the commanding general, Multi-National Corps -- Iraq (III Corps) as the operational commander of the surge of forces. Later, he served as the commanding general, Multi- National Force - Iraq and subsequently U.S. Forces - Iraq, from Sept. 2008 until Sept. 2010. Most recently he commanded U.S. Joint Forces Command.

Other significant assignments include Arms Control Officer, Office of the Secretary of Defense; Chief of Staff, V Corps; Assistant Division Commander (Support), 1st Armored Division; Deputy Commanding General, Task Force Hawk, Albania; Director of Force Management, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans; and Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he was the primary military adviser to Secretaries of State Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice.