Raymond Odierno
GEN Raymond T. Odierno, as the 38th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, 2011.
Born	(1954-09-08) September 8, 1954 (age 57) Dover, New Jersey, U.S.[1]
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1976–present
Rank	General
Commands held	Army Chief of Staff United States Joint Forces Command United States Forces-Iraq Multi-National Force-Iraq Multi-National Corps-Iraq III Corps 4th Infantry Division 1st Cavalry Division Artillery
Battles/wars	Gulf War Iraq War
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (4) Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (6) Bronze Star Medal

Raymond T. "Ray" Odierno (pronounced /oʊdiˈɛərnoʊ/; born September 8, 1954) is a United States Army general and the 38th and current Chief of Staff of the Army. Odierno most recently 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.^[2] Prior to that, he served as Commanding General, III Corps, from May 2006 to May 2008. General Odierno is the twelfth American military officer to command at the Division, Corps, and Army level during the same conflict and only the second to have this honor since the Vietnam War. He assumed his current assignment on September 7, 2011.

Prior to commanding III Corps, he served as Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, where he was the primary military advisor to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice from 3 November 2004 to 1 May 2006.

Early life and education[link]

Odierno grew up in Rockaway, New Jersey,^[3] where he attended Morris Hills High School,^[4] 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 the North Carolina State University and a Master of Arts degree national security and strategy from the Naval War College. In December 2010 he received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from North Carolina State University. General Odierno is also a graduate of the U.S. Army War College.

Family[link]

Odierno is married to Linda; the couple has three children.^[5] His son Anthony "Tony" Odierno also became an Army officer and lost his left arm after an ambush in southwest Baghdad in 2004.^[6] Subsequently in 2009, Capt. Tony Odierno threw the ceremonial first pitch of the 2009 World Series to honor military veterans.^[7]

Career history[link]

Odierno's initial tours took him to United States Army Europe and U.S. Seventh Army, Germany, where he served as a Platoon Leader and Survey Officer of the 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery, 56th Field Artillery Brigade. He later served as Aide-de-Camp to the Pershing Missile Brigade’s Commanding General, BG Robert B. Hankins. Following completion of the Artillery Officer Advanced Course, Odierno was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 73rd Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he commanded Service Battery and Alpha Battery. Subsequently, he served as the Battalion S3 in the 1st Battalion, 73rd Field Artillery. During Operation Desert Storm, Odierno served as the Executive Officer for the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery, and then he held the same position in Division Artillery, 3rd Armored Division.

Odierno went on to command 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery, 7th Infantry Division, followed by command of the Division Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division. He later commanded the 4th Infantry Division and the III Corps.

His significant staff duties include Arms Control Officer, Office of the Secretary of Defense; Chief of Staff, United States V Corps, United States Army Europe; Assistant Division Commander (Support), U.S. 1st Armored Division; Deputy Commanding General, Task Force Hawk, Albania; Director, Force Management, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, United States Army, Washington, D.C.; and Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C., where he was the primary military advisor to United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. On September 1, 2010 he gave his command to General Lloyd Austin. In October 2010, he took command of U.S. Joint Forces Command.^[8] On May 30, 2011, Odierno was nominated to be Army Chief of Staff. He has been confirmed to take over from General Martin E. Dempsey on September 7, 2011.^[9]

Odierno addresses the Harvard Kennedy School of Government's Institute of Politics JFK Jr. Forum, March 9, 2011

Following the successful transition of command in Iraq, Odierno returned stateside to assume command of U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) in Norfolk, Va. When he assumed command in October 2010, Odierno transitioned to the new challenge of disestablishing the organization as part of wider DOD efficiencies initiatives. He became immersed in the Hampton Roads community by conducting press conferences, particularly with local print and broadcast media, to discuss the ways to preserve and protect jointness in the military.

Throughout 2010 and 2011, during his time at USJFCOM, Odierno continued to make time for national and international media as well as researchers and scholars interested in the details and strategy of U.S. counterinsurgency efforts in Iraq. Additionally, Odierno has been the keynote speaker at numerous public events, where he relates his leadership lessons and strategic perspective to a diverse audience of American citizens. He visited The Harvard Kennedy School of Government's Institute of Politics, where he spoke to students, faculty, staff and citizens about the importance of service.^[10]

On May 30, 2011, Odierno was nominated to be Army Chief of Staff. He was confirmed to take over from General Martin E. Dempsey on September 7, 2011 and officially sworn in as 38th Army Chief of Staff later that day.^[9]

Iraq War[link]

4th Infantry Division (2003-2004)[link]

Maj. Gen. Odierno addressing the international media as commander of the 4th Infantry Division (4th ID) in Kuwait, April 2003.

Odierno commanded the U.S. 4th Infantry Division (4th ID) from October 2001 to June 2004,^[11] during which he deployed the division to Operation Iraqi Freedom from March 2003 to April 2004. Originally, the 4th Infantry Division was designated to enter Iraq through Turkey, though diplomatic complications prevented such a maneuver. Eventually, Odierno and the 4th Infantry Division deployed into Iraq from Kuwait, and despite the diplomatic complications, still executed the most rapid deployment of heavy armored forces in history.

The division did not deploy in time to start the invasion but joined it as a follow-on force in April 2003, attacking toward Tikrit and Mosul, and later played a major role during in the occupation. Following the invasion and conclusion of major combat operations, the division was then headquartered in Tikrit, an especially dangerous location due to a higher population of regime loyalists. In a major accomplishment late in the deployment, Odierno’s troops captured Saddam Hussein in December 2003.

Odierno’s tenure as 4th ID commander in Iraq and his unit’s actions there have subsequently come under criticism from several sources. Some have been critical of 4th ID’s belligerent stance during their initial entry into Iraq after the ground war had ceased, arguing that the unit’s lack of a ‘hearts and minds’ approach was ineffective in quelling the insurgency.^[12]

In his unit’s defense, Odierno and others have argued that enemy activity in the 4th ID’s area of operations was higher than in any other area of the country because of the region’s high concentration of Sunni resistance groups still loyal to Saddam Hussein’s regime. His unit was headquartered in Hussein’s hometown and this environment necessitated a different approach from those of units located in the more peaceful regions in the south and the north of the country.^[13][14]

Multi-National Corps-Iraq (2007-2008)[link]

In his second Iraq deployment, Odierno was the commander of Multi-National Corps-Iraq from December 2006 to February 2008. In this role, he served as the day-to-day commander of all Coalition Forces in Iraq and was one of the primary architects of the troop “surge” into Baghdad. His British advisor Emma Sky gave an account of the Odierno team's role in the "surge" in January 2011 in evidence to the UK Chilcott Inquiry into the Iraq War.

http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/media/52057/Sky-2011-01-14-S1-declassified.pdf

Planning for the surge[link]

Upon Odierno’s arrival to Baghdad in December 2006, General George Casey, then the Multi-National Force - Iraq commander (the senior military leader in Iraq), charged Odierno with the task of breaking the cycle of violence and bringing a measure of stability to the country in order to provide “breathing room” for political progress to solve Iraq’s long-term problems.

Odierno and his team recognized that reducing the violence required securing the population—what he described as “job one”–and stopping “accelerants”, his term for those carrying out the attacks and thus triggering subsequent reprisals. His team recognized that although previous efforts to clear Baghdad of insurgents had met with some success, these gains were temporary because the Coalition lacked sufficient forces to hold the areas, and the challenges involved with securing the population were simply too great for the Iraqi Security Forces at the time.^[14]

Gen. Odierno and Iraqi National Security Advisor, Dr. Muwafaq Bakr al-Rubai, discuss details about Iraq's future, November 29, 2007, Mahmudiyah, Iraq.

Previous strategies had called for minimizing the U.S. presence as much as possible, but Odierno recognized that securing the population was a prerequisite for further progress and that he currently did not have enough troops to accomplish the task. Therefore, he and several others recommended to President Bush that he order a temporary troop increase to help stem the violence. President Bush announced what came to be known as the “Surge” in January 2007 and ordered 5 additional brigades to Iraq.^[15]

Implementing the new strategy[link]

Odierno and his team decided that creating stability in Iraq required more than just greater resources; it required a change in mindset. They determined that they must prioritize the protection of the population, creating safe neighborhoods and markets and allowing Iraqis to go about their daily lives. They also decided that the Coalition needed a more balanced approach in its targeting of extremists, and they convinced the Iraqi Government that Shiite militia groups could no longer be given a “free pass” to commit extrajudicial killings.^[16]

As the additional brigades began to arrive in the first months of 2007, the Coalition began moving its forces off large bases and deployed them to live on small outposts in population centers across Iraq, concentrating in and around Baghdad.

Throughout a series of offensives commanded by Odierno, Coalition Forces placed significant emphasis on providing 'essential services', 'encouraging local governance', and 'separating the ‘irreconcilables’ from those willing to make peace with the legitimate government of Iraq' according to his controversial British political advisor Emma Sky - whose previous role under the Coalition Provisional Authority was heavily criticised by President Talabani but was praised by officials such as former US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz.^[17]

While planning and conducting these operations, Odierno concentrated efforts to deepen growing alliances with groups of “concerned local citizens” that had agreed to work with Coalition Forces to bring security to their neighborhoods. The movement, known as the “Awakening”, started in Anbar province in 2006 and grew throughout 2007, spreading across much of the country. Later called the “Sons of Iraq”, many of these individuals were former insurgents who had been appalled at the wanton violence and chaos wrought by Al Qaeda in Iraq and had subsequently decided to support government stability efforts. As the U.S.-funded effort spread, more and more Iraqis began to join. Soon groups were mobilizing across the country to quell violence; this represented a marked improvement from late 2006, when extremists were mobilizing for civil war.

The results of the surge[link]

This comprehensive approach to counterinsurgency – conducting simultaneous, large-scale operations to strike multiple enemy concentrations and bases of support while continually focusing on protecting the populace and reconciling with those willing to make peace with the government – led to dramatic decreases in attacks through Iraq. In December 2006, Coalition Forces were sustaining more than 1,200 attacks per week, and the civilian death toll for the month was over 3,000. When Odierno and his team finished their tour in February 2008, civilian casualties were down 70%, and attacks on Coalition Forces had dropped to their lowest levels since 2004. In the Baghdad security districts, specifically, ethno-sectarian attacks and deaths had decreased by 90%, although there is a debate how much of that is due to the Surge as opposed to the competition of ethnic cleansing in the city's neighborhoods. According to most observers the situation in Iraq had been “utterly transformed”,^[18] but there is serious concern whether that success will not be reversed through the lack of progress in the Iraqi internal political process.

Multi-National Force-Iraq (2008-2010)[link]

Gen. Odierno (center) and political adviser Emma Sky (second from left) visiting a local market in Khalis, January 2009.

Odierno’s third deployment to Iraq began on September 16, 2008, seven months after finishing his previous deployment, when he assumed command of Multi-National Force-Iraq. As the senior U.S. military commander in Iraq, Odierno and his team were pivotal in the successful transition of responsibility for security from a primarily militarily-led effort to an Iraqi-civilian led effort.

Both the transition to stability operations under civilian control and the massive troop drawdown were the outcome of the improved security situation and ongoing political process; both goals during Odierno’s tenure as the Commander of Multi-National Corps-Iraq (MNC-I). As the commander of Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I), Odierno faced the challenges of sustaining the past security gains while reducing the Coalition presence and helping the Iraqi government achieve reconciliation and lasting stability. A successful outcome would lead to a marked improvement to stability in the region as well as a meaningful partnership between Iraq and the United States.

Upholding gains from troop surge[link]

During this tour, Odierno was responsible for upholding the progress made during the 2007-2008 troop surge. The surge succeeded in making the Iraqi people feel more secure; degrading the capabilities of extremist groups; and developing the capacity of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), while purging it of its worst elements (Sky).^[19] Despite occasional spikes, overall attack and Iraqi civilian casualty trends remained at their lowest levels since January 2004 during Odierno’s command (Kahl).^[20] These trends continued even as the ISF assumed primary responsibility for security and U.S. troop levels were reduced. Furthermore, ethno-sectarian deaths plummeted along with ISF and U.S. military fatalities (Kahl).

Odierno maintained his operational strategy of defeating the enemy, but began to shift the focus of effort from U.S.-led security to Iraqi-led security through partnership-based operations. His focus on partnership had a profound effect on the Iraqi public, sending them a clear message that U.S. and Iraqi forces were working together, would not be defeated, and would ensure their safety. Cooperation and confidence became more prevalent each day while the enemy’s capacity continued to decline, setting the conditions for the Iraqi government to continue on a path towards legitimacy.

Moving toward legitimate and capable government[link]

When General Odierno relieved General Petraeus as Commanding General of MNF-I in September 2008, the greatest threat to stability in Iraq was the questionable legitimacy and capability of Government – not violent extremists (Sky). Due in large part to Odierno’s operational plan to secure the country, a legitimate host nation government with a viable political process rose from the ground. Violent actors had been vanquished or had joined the political process to further their agendas. The democratic progress was undeniable as seen in the record voter turn-outs and relatively incident-free provincial elections of 2009 and national elections in 2010.

To perpetuate the Iraqi government’s progress, Odierno actively encouraged his staff, subordinate commands and State Department colleagues to develop a close and productive relationship with Iraqi government officials at all levels (Sky). Counterinsurgency campaigns are never won by foreign troops alone. They are ultimately won through the actions of legitimate host nation governments that enjoy the support of their people and by indigenous security forces that are capable of protecting the civilian population (Kahl). This partnership became the focus of a constant media drum-beat highlighting ISF achievements, Government of Iraq improvements and the diminished capacity of a demonic enemy who had lost its sanctuary and its support from the population.

Implementing the Security Agreement[link]

The Security Agreement was a joint U.S. and Iraqi government framework outlining the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. This bi-lateral agreement provided a path for a coalition, then U.S. military-based security force to partner with, then follow and support the ISF. Odierno understood the strategic importance of implementing the agreement successfully. In December 2008, he directed everyone under his command to implement the Security Agreement in accordance with its spirit and its letter (Sky). He consistently emphasized to his subordinates the theme of letting Iraqis make their own mistakes in order to learn from them, but not to allow them to fail (Sky).

In an effort to open his subordinate commanders’ aperture beyond the focal point of the enemy, he further instructed commanders and staffs to assess their environment and to determine those drivers of instability that would undermine progress in their respective areas of operations. Commanders and staffs alike were not only routinely assessing these drivers of instability in their environments but continually asking themselves why something changed so they could accurately target an identified deficiency or reinforce an improvement. By establishing the “drivers of instability” methodology, U.S. forces were better able to predict potential conflict, to take actions to mitigate risk, to focus its resources and to help Iraqis manage the points of friction (Sky).

During this time of significant transition, General Odierno understood the supreme importance of stakeholder communication. He spent most of his time traveling around Iraq discussing his vision and intent with Iraqis, his U.S. subordinates, and other stakeholders who were an integral part of the transformative process. Odierno initiated several mechanisms to ensure the success of the Security Agreement such as the Security Agreement Joint Commission between Iraqi Ministries and U.S. forces in Iraq. Where unity of command was paramount to his predecessors, unity of effort was decisive to his command and the Iraqi Government’s success in the future.

The results of the above transformation were undeniable. Despite the friction of a nascent political process, an ever-evolving enemy, an undecided Iraqi population, and the complex political relationships associated with regional affairs, the overall situation in Iraq continued to improve. In an environment of pessimism, the Iraqis held successful provincial and parliamentary elections. Furthermore, violence levels remained low after the implementation of the Security Agreement and during the gradual transition of responsibility for the security sector to the ISF. Progress was abundant and success appeared assured.

Withdrawing U.S. forces[link]

President Obama delivered an address at Camp Lejeune in February 2009 laying out his policy for the withdrawal of U.S. forces and the transition from a military to civilian-led presence in Iraq. From a foreign policy perspective, this gave the U.S. Administration the ability to begin developing civilian-led efforts to help Iraq develop its economy, build governance capacity, build a long-term strategic partnership, and address remaining political challenges (Kahl).

In essence, the President directed General Odierno to conduct an operation the scope of which had not been seen since Vietnam. To fulfill the mission, Odierno directed his staff to develop a conditions-based plan to transfer authorities, ship equipment and redeploy military personnel while maintaining the campaign successes initiated when he took command of MNC-I in December 2006. A combination of initiatives was decisive in setting the conditions for the withdrawal of U.S. forces. These included: Sustaining improved security; partnering holistically with legitimate government; and collectively moving towards a mutually shared strategic partnership.

The U.S. administration’s vision of sending home 90,000 U.S. troops became reality during Odiero’s tenure. These achievements would have been difficult if not impossible without the increased capability of the ISF, the improved security conditions and increased government legitimacy in Iraq. In addition to sending service members home, United States Forces-Iraq also re-located, closed or transferred over 600 bases and moved or transferred in excess of 1.6 million pieces of equipment quietly with no impact to the security situation. Most importantly, the Government of Iraq was in control and partnered with a viable U.S. civilian-led presence breaking a New Dawn on 1 September 2010.

On 1 September 2010, Odierno was replaced by General Lloyd Austin after the U.S. combat missions in Iraq ended.

Communication activities[link]

While serving as the Commanding General of Multi-National Corps - Iraq, Odierno was instrumental in informing the American, international, and Pan-Arab audience about the difficulties and progress of surge operations. He conducted more than 100 interviews with several mainstream national and international media outlets. To ensure broader access for the myriad media outlets covering Iraq, he had a state-of-the-art broadcast studio installed at his headquarters that enabled live interviews with stateside reporters as well as larger press events. He dedicated the studio to Marine Corps Major Megan McClung, a Marine Corps public affairs officer who was killed in action in Ramadi, Iraq, in December 2006.

Traveling back from Iraq briefly in February 2008, Odierno visited New York City and spoke at several foreign policy forums, academic institutions and also with the national and international press - print, radio, and broadcast - about the success of the surge. While speaking at one such institution, the Union League Club of New York, he received an achievement award for his lifetime of service to the nation. In March 2008, Odierno traveled to Washington, DC, where he briefed President Bush on the situation in Iraq and progress made during the surge. While in the Nation’s Capitol, Odierno also met with several think tanks and policy organizations, including the National War College, and conducted a news briefing with the Pentagon Press Corps.

In September 2008, Odierno became Commanding General for Multi-National Force - Iraq. He engaged the American audience during a 60 Minutes interview and shared his vision for a stable Iraq. Almost 18 million viewers saw the program. Odierno continued his campaign to inform U.S. national, international, and Pan-Arab audiences by hosting and conducting interviews with a multitude of major national and international news organizations. This effort was critical in the aftermath of a new security agreement, providing a global audience with details about the future U.S. role in Iraq. Odierno also realized the importance of informing the Middle Eastern audience and reached over 20 million Arab-speaking viewers during a one-hour interview with reporter Elie Nakouzi from Al-Arabiya television in Dubai. He continued his efforts to inform and educate audiences, delving into social media to reach both local Iraqi people as well as younger Americans. Odierno established a Facebook page to ensure diverse audiences could learn about success and progress in Iraq as well as key events.

Assignments[link]

Promotion assignments[link]

United States Military Academy Black Knight - Class of 1976

Rank	Assignment date
10px Second Lieutenant	2 Jun 1976
10px First Lieutenant	2 Jun 1978
Captain	1 Aug 1980
Major	1 Dec 1986
Lieutenant Colonel	1 Feb 1992
Colonel	1 Sep 1995
Brigadier General	1 Jul 1999
Major General	1 Nov 2002
Lieutenant General	1 Jan 2005
General	16 Sep 2008

Officer assignments[link]

Awards, decorations, and recognition[link]

Awards and decorations[link]

U.S. military decorations Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with 3 bronze Oak Leaf Clusters) Army Distinguished Service Medal (with bronze Oak Leaf Cluster) Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (with 1 silver Oak Leaf Cluster) Bronze Star Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 bronze Oak Leaf Clusters) Army Commendation Medal Army Achievement Medal U.S. Unit Awards Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster) Army Meritorious Unit Commendation Other U.S. Government awards 60px State Department Secretary's Distinguished Service Award U.S. Service (Campaign) Medals and Service and Training Ribbons National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Service Star) Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Southwest Asia Service Medal (with 3 Service Stars) Kosovo Campaign Medal (with 2 Service Stars) Iraq Campaign Medal (with 4 Service Stars) Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Armed Forces Service Medal Army Service Ribbon Army Overseas Service Ribbon (with award numeral "7") Foreign awards NATO Medal for Kosovo Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) Romanian Order of Military Merit (not worn)

Other accoutrements Combat Action Badge Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge Army Staff Identification Badge 4th Infantry Division Patch worn as his Combat Service Identification Badge 8th Field Artillery Regiment worn as his Distinctive Unit Insignia 11 Overseas Service Bars, reflecting 5½ years overseas combat service

General Odierno is the 2009 recipient of the Naval War College Distinguished Graduate Leadership Award for his strategic leadership and insight.^[21]

Other awards[link]

Ryan C. Crocker Award

The Hampton Roads World Affairs Council presented its Second Annual Ryan C. Crocker Global Citizen Award to Odierno in February 2011 for his superlative impact on the international stage. Ambassador Crocker attended the event and introduced Odierno prior to the General's remarks and a lengthy question and answer session with a broad range of citizens from the Hampton Roads community.

Abraham Lincoln Award

In December 2010, Odierno was recognized by the Union League of Philadelphia with their Abraham Lincoln Award during the League's Armed Services Council Army-Navy Game Dining Out.

USO's Distinguished Service Award

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.^[22]

U.S. News & World Report, America's Best Leaders of 2009

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.^[23]

Romanian Order of Military Merit

On June 4, 2009 the Romanian President Traian Băsescu awarded Odierno the Romanian Order of Military Merit.

Naval War College Distinguished Graduate Leadership Award

In May 2009, the Naval War College recognized Odierno as the 14th recipient of the Distinguished Graduate Leadership Award for his strategic leadership and insight. Odierno graduated from the Naval War College in 1990 as a Major, where he learned the importance of becoming a strategic thinker and leader.^[24]

Union League Club of NYC

In February 2008, the Union League Club of New York City bestowed Odierno with an achievement award for his lifetime of service to the nation.

Morris Hills Regional District Hall of Fame

In May 2006, Odierno was inducted into the Morris Hills Regional District Hall of Fame for his successful command of the 4th Infantry Division in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Odierno graduated from Morris Hills in 1972 prior to entering the United States Military Academy at West Point.^[25]

NIAF Special Achievement Award

In April 2006, Odierno was presented the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) Special Achievement Award for Military Service at the Foundations East Coast Gala by Jerry Colangelo, NIAF Vice Chair ^[26] During the event, legendary race car driver and wine maker Mario Andretti received a NIAF Lifetime Achievement Award in Sports; actor Alan Alda was inducted into the NIAF Italian American Hall of Fame by Jack Valenti, former president of the Motion Picture Association of America; and Joseph M. Boitano, senior vice president and general merchandise manager at Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises, received a NIAF Special Achievement Award in Business.^[27] NIAF is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational foundation that promotes Italian American culture and heritage.

Secretary of State Distinguished Service Medal

Odierno was awarded the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Medal for serving as the senior military advisor for the Secretary of State from October 2004 to May 2006. Odierno served as the Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, D.C., where he was the primary military advisor to Secretaries of State Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice. During this time, he accompanied the Secretary of State on all diplomatic journeys and state visits, traveling over 335,000 miles and visiting over 65 countries.

See also[link]

• Battle Command On The Move (BCOTM)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Raymond T. Odierno

• Operation New Dawyn at United States Forces - Iraq
• Profile at USJFCOM
• Raymond T. Odierno on Facebook
• Gen. Raymond Odierno at WhoRunsGov at The Washington Post
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Raymond T. Odierno at the Internet Movie Database
• Works by or about Raymond T. Odierno in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
• Raymond T. Odierno collected news and commentary at The New York Times
• Raymond T. Odierno at the Notable Names Database
• Profile: General Odierno, BBC News, 16 September 2008

v t e United States Joint Chiefs of Staff Dempsey (Chairman) Winnefeld (Vice Chairman) Odierno (Army) Amos (Marine Corps) Greenert (Navy) Schwartz (Air Force) McKinley (National Guard) Battaglia (Senior Enlisted Advisor)

v t e Leaders of the United States Army Senior Officer / Commanding General Washington Knox Doughty Harmar St. Clair Wayne Wilkinson Hamilton Wilkinson Dearborn Brown Macomb Scott McClellan Halleck Grant Sherman Sheridan Schofield Miles Chiefs of Staff Young Chaffee Bates Bell Wood Wotherspoon Scott Bliss March Pershing Hines Summerall MacArthur Craig Marshall Eisenhower Bradley Collins Ridgway Taylor Lemnitzer Decker Wheeler Johnson Westmoreland Palmer Abrams Weyand Rogers Meyer Wickham Vuono Sullivan Reimer Shinseki Schoomaker Casey Dempsey Odierno Vice Chiefs of Staff Collins Haislip Hull Bolte Palmer Lemnitzer Decker Eddleman Hamlett Abrams Haines Palmer Haig Weyand Kerwin Kroesen Vessey Wickham Thurman Brown RisCassi Sullivan Reimer Peay Tilelli Griffith Crouch Shinseki Keane Casey Cody Chiarelli Austin

Duncan Hunter
Chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services
In office January 4, 2003 – January 4, 2007
Preceded by	Bob Stump
Succeeded by	Ike Skelton
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 52nd district
In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2009
Preceded by	New district
Succeeded by	Duncan D. Hunter
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 45th district
In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1993
Preceded by	New district
Succeeded by	Dana Rohrabacher
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 42nd district
In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1983
Preceded by	Lionel Van Deerlin
Succeeded by	Daniel E. Lungren
Personal details
Born	Duncan Lee Hunter (1948-05-31) May 31, 1948 (age 64) Riverside, California
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Lynne Hunter
Children	Duncan D. Hunter Samuel Hunter
Residence	Alpine, California
Alma mater	Western State University College of Law San Diego
Occupation	Attorney
Religion	Southern Baptist
Signature
Military service
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1969-1971
Rank	First Lieutenant
Unit	Rangers (75th Ranger Regiment)
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Bronze Star Air Medal Vietnam Service Medal

Duncan Lee Hunter (born May 31, 1948) is an American politician. He was a Republican member of the House of Representatives from California's 52nd, 45th and 42nd districts from 1981 to 2009.

Hunter was the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee during the 108th and 109th Congress. Hunter sought the Republican Party nomination for President of the United States for 2008,^[1] but his campaign failed to attract significant voters or delegates in early primary and caucus states,^[2] and he dropped out after the Nevada Republican caucuses.^[3]

He was succeeded as Representative for the 52nd district by his son, Duncan D. Hunter.

Early life, education, military service, and family[link]

Hunter was born in Riverside, California to Lola L. (née Young) and Robert Olin Hunter.^[4] He graduated from Rubidoux High School in Riverside in 1966.^[5] He attended the University of Montana from 1966 to 1967,^[6] and then briefly the University of California, Santa Barbara,^[6] before being commissioned into the United States Army in 1969.^[7]

He served in South Vietnam from 1970 to 1971 during the Vietnam War^[8] in the Army Rangers' 75th Ranger Regiment, attached to the 173rd Airborne Brigade.^[9] He participated in 24 helicopter assaults^[7] as well as in a small-number of night-time reconnaissance patrols.^[10] He held the rank of First Lieutenant,^[8] and was awarded the Bronze Star,^[7] Air Medal,^[8] and service ribbons such as the Vietnam Service Medal.^[8] He has said, "I didn't do anything special in the U.S. Army, but I served with very special soldiers I will never forget."^[8]

Making use of the G.I. Bill in 1973, he enrolled at the San Diego campus of the Western State University College of Law and earned a Bachelor of Science in Law and Juris Doctor in 1976. Hunter worked farming and construction jobs to supplement his income while finishing his degree. He was admitted to the State Bar of California on December 22, 1976,^[11] but has held inactive status since January 1, 1983.^[11][12]

Hunter married Lynne Layh in 1973. Hunter's son, Duncan Duane Hunter (born 1976), a Captain in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, was deployed to Iraq in 2003 and 2004 and Afghanistan in 2007. On November 4, 2008, Duncan D. Hunter was elected to succeed his father as the congressional representative of the California's 52nd congressional district. Hunter has another son, Samuel.

Hunter's family attends First Baptist Church of Alpine, which is affiliated with the San Diego Southern Baptist Association. Hunter's Alpine, California home burned down during the October 2003 Cedar Fire. The loss topped $500,000, but insurance covered most of it.^[13] Hunter was critical of then-Governor Gray Davis's response to the fire.^[14]

He has a brother, John Hunter, who has worked as a weapons scientist.

U.S. House of Representatives[link]

Initial election and re-elections[link]

In 1980, Hunter was recruited to run for Congress in what was then the 42nd District against 18-year incumbent Democrat Lionel Van Deerlin. Hunter was initially an underdog in a district where Democrats outnumbered Republicans by almost 2 to 1. However, his attacks on Van Deerlin's record on national defense gained traction in a district dominated by military bases and personnel. Van Deerlin did not respond quickly enough, and Hunter narrowly defeated him. He was one of many Republicans swept into office from historically Democratic districts as a result of the "Reagan revolution"; Van Deerlin had been the district's only congressman since its creation in 1963. After the 1980 census, many of the more Democratic areas were cut out of Hunter's district, and he hasn't faced serious opposition since. His district was renumbered as the 45th District in 1983 and the 52nd in 1993.

In the 2006 general election, he defeated Navy veteran/minister John Rinaldi, a Democrat, and Michael Benoit,^[15] a Libertarian. Hunter was re-elected with 65 percent of the vote, a 33-point margin over Rinaldi.

On March 20, 2007, Hunter announced that, as part of his presidential bid, he would not seek re-election to the House of Representatives in 2008.^[16] After his son, Duncan D. Hunter, announced his candidacy for his father's seat, the younger Hunter was recalled by the United States Marine Corps to serve in the Operation Enduring Freedom — Afghanistan. During Duncan D. Hunter's active service, his wife, Margaret Hunter, campaigned on his behalf. On June 3, 2008 Duncan D. Hunter won 72% of the Republican Primary vote and became the Republican nominee to replace his father representing the 52nd District.^[16]

House Armed Services Committee[link]

Hunter became chairman of the House Armed Services Committee in 2002. As such, he sponsored legislation authorizing defense department fiscal year activities from FY2004 to FY2007. During consideration of the FY2006 Defense Authorization Act, Hunter offered an amendment to the bill clarifying enacted policy restricting women from direct combat units. Hunter's amendment codified existing Army policy enacted in 1994 under former Defense Secretary Les Aspin that prohibited women from submitting or migrating into combat units or operations. The amendment was subsequently withdrawn in order for a study to be conducted on the rationale and future implementation of the policy.^[17]

In November 2004, Hunter and Wisconsin Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner withheld their support for a bill creating a Director of National Intelligence (DNI) until specific conditions were met. Hunter argued that the military is the biggest consumer of intelligence and any reforms enacted, including the creation of a DNI, must not endanger the lives of troops on the battlefield. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, which created the DNI position, was passed by Congress and signed by President George W. Bush later that year.

In a House Armed Services Committee hearing on November 9, 2005, Hunter strongly criticized a Defense Logistics Agency "prime vendor" buying program that led to the purchase of $20 ice cube trays and a tiny refrigerator for $22,797 (initially exposed by The State). Hunter stated that he wanted explanations from the companies in question and the government purchasing agents who had approved the purchases, accusing the latter of "absolute incompetence." He further stated that the purchases are "a real slap in the face to the guy making $13,000 a year who is engaged in a firefight in Ramadi," and claimed that "A fairly large amount of incompetence is embedded into the system."^[18][19]

On November 18, 2005, in response to Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha's resolution to terminate the deployment of United States forces in Iraq, to redeploy the forces already involved in Iraq, and to "pursue security and stability in Iraq through diplomacy",^[20] Hunter and other Republicans drafted a two-sentence counter-resolution that read:

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the deployment of United States forces in Iraq be terminated immediately.

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the deployment of United States forces in Iraq be terminated immediately.

Democrats condemned the bill as a political stunt; they made much of the fact that Hunter himself didn't support his own resolution. The bill was defeated, 3-403, in the House of Representatives.

Hunter became ranking member of the committee when Democrats took control of the House in 2007.

On January 31, 2007, Hunter held a press conference on the 2007 Chinese anti-satellite missile test, stating that it "represents the commencement of a new era of military competition in space." He contended that the United States' ability to engage in warfare depends heavily on its space assets, and opined that the country must take steps to "ensure our forces cannot be targeted through an adversarial space strike."^[21]

On April 25, 2007, after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid declared "the war is lost", Hunter wrote "my highest obligation is, like yours, owed to our forces in uniform, especially during this time of war.... Given your position of leadership within the United States Government, I find your pronouncement of failure irresponsible and disserving to America's armed forces. In light of the fact that this statement has both been used by our adversaries and has exhibited a marked lack of leadership to U.S. troops, I call on you to resign your leadership position".^[22] Hunter further wrote that Reid's declaration "can have no effect but to demoralize the brave men and women, who are honorably fulfilling their mission in Iraq, and to encourage our adversaries.... Even if you sincerely believe it to be true, your pronouncement of failure will undoubtedly be used by terrorist leaders to rally their followers — inevitably leading to increased attacks on U.S. and coalition forces".

According to the July 2007 edition of Pacific Flyer, Hunter and Cunningham had pressured the Department of Defense to "... advise DARPA to put an immediate halt to bureaucratic delays and get on with the DuPont Aerospace DP-2 testing." The DP-2 is a Vertical Take-Off and Landing, or VTOL, aircraft designed by DuPont Aerospace to transport special operations forces, but has been repeatedly rejected by the United States Navy, United States Army, United States Air Force, NASA, and DARPA. The design, of which all four constructed models have crashed, has had $63 million appropriated to it since 1991, not including a suggested $6 million for fiscal year 2008. Despite the rejections and reports by multiple military and civilian experts that the aircraft will not fly or hover and will incinerate Special Operations forces rappelling out of the aircraft, Hunter has allegedly repeatedly added funding for the DP-2 in "earmarks" and defended the aircraft in recent testimony to the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight of the Committee on Science and Technology. Hunter received $36,000 in donations from DuPont Aerospace.^[23] According to his testimony before Congress,^[24] Hunter compared the lack of success of the DP-2 to the trials of perfecting the V-22 Osprey. He alleged that such long-term testing is necessary to keep American forces equipped with the best technology.

Other legislative actions[link]

Duncan Hunter's earlier congressional photo.

On December 8, 2006, Hunter introduced H.R. 6375, which would have required the defense department to post the purpose of all congressional earmarks in annual defense bills, along with the location and a grade according to the utility of the earmark.

Hunter introduced H.R. 552, The Right to Life Act, on February 2, 2005. The purpose of the bill is to "implement equal protection... for the right to life of each born and preborn human person." In the 109th Congress, the legislation collected 101 cosponsors.^[25] Hunter states that The Right to Life Act "would legally define “personhood” as the moment of conception and, therefore, guarantee all constitutional rights and protections, including life, to the unborn without utilizing a constitutional amendment."^[26] Hearings for H.R. 552 were scheduled for December 12, 2006, but were cancelled right before the House adjourned.^[27]

On April 28, 2004, Hunter introduced legislation that he said could "turn parents into prosecuting attorneys fighting a wave of obscenity."^[28] HR 6390 IH, also called the "Parents Empowerment Act",^[29] would allow the parent or guardian of a minor to sue in federal court anyone who knowingly disseminates material "that is harmful to minors", or specifically, "any pornographic communication, picture, image, graphic image file, article, recording, writing, or other pornographic matter of any kind",^[30] if it is distributed in a way that "a reasonable person can expect a substantial number of minors to be exposed to the material and the minor, as a result to exposure to the material, is likely to suffer personal or emotional injury or injury to mental or moral welfare."^[31]

In 1994, Hunter legislatively mandated the construction of 14 miles (23 km) of security fencing on the international land border separating San Diego County and Tijuana, Mexico. In 2005, Hunter introduced legislation calling for the construction of a reinforced fence along the entire U.S.-Mexico border, citing crime statistics as measures of San Diego-Tijuana fence's success.^[32] After successfully adding an amendment to a House-passed^[33] bill that ultimately stalled in House-Senate negotiations, Hunter's amendment was later incorporated into H.R. 6061, the Secure Fence Act, introduced by New York Congressman Peter T. King.^[34][35] He has said that if he becomes President, the 754-mile (1,213 km) double layer border fence will be built in less than 12 months.

Hunter repeatedly voted against international trade agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).^[36]

Cunningham/Wilkes[link]

Hunter was not implicated in the Duke Cunningham/Brent R. Wilkes congressional bribery scandal. In December 2005, Hunter directed that the contributions his campaign received from Wilkes and Wade be given to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.^[37] "We had options," said Bruce Young, treasurer for Hunter's re-election campaign. "We could keep the money, send it back, send it to the government or send it to a charity. We just felt that because of the situation, we would rather not have the money."^[38] More than 100 members of the House and Senate — Republicans and Democrats — accepted money from Wilkes, former MZM Inc. president Mitchell Wade, their relatives, employees or political action committees, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a campaign watchdog group.

2008 Presidential campaign[link]

On October 30, 2006, Hunter announced his intention to consider running for the Republican nomination for President in 2008. Throughout 2006, his Peace Through Strength PAC raised funds and ran advertising expressing his issues of border security and fair trade. Hunter formally announced his presidential candidacy in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on January 25, 2007.^[39]

Wikinews has related news: Duncan Hunter, Presidential candidate, speaks to Wikinews

During 2007, Hunter did well in some county- and state-level straw polls, including a victory at the first GOP Texas Straw Poll on September 1^[40] but those results did not transfer to regular polls at national or state levels. Some major polls did not even list Hunter as an option along with Mitt Romney, John McCain, Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul, Fred Thompson, or Rudy Giuliani.^[41] When national polls did list Hunter, he consistently got three percent or less support among Republicans.

Conservative commentator Ann Coulter and aviation legend Chuck Yeager both endorsed Hunter as their choice for President, but Hunter received little support from the Republican establishment. Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, who was also seeking the Republican nomination for President, stated that Hunter might play a role in a potential Huckabee administration, noting that he is "extraordinarily well qualified to be Secretary of Defense."^[42]

As the caucus and primary season got underway, Hunter began being excluded from Republican debate forums. On January 7, 2008, he held a press conference where reporters thought he would announce his withdrawal. Instead, he surprised pundits by first lambasting ABC News and Fox News not allowing him to participate in previous days' televised debates and then declaring that he would not withdraw from the presidential race: "I am not going to let some arrogant knucklehead executive in a glass office 10 stories above a mall in New York City decide the outcome of this election."^[43][44]

In the Iowa caucuses Hunter finished in seventh place with 524 votes, or one percent of the total. In the New Hampshire primary he finished in seventh and last place again with 1,220 votes, or less than one percent of the total votes cast. In the Wyoming caucuses he had his best showing, coming in third and scoring 1 delegate to the Republican National Convention. However, in the Michigan primary, Hunter once again placed last, coming in eighth behind "Uncommited" (which received 15,000 more votes than Hunter). On the last day of his campaign, Hunter won just two percent of the vote in the Nevada caucuses, and in the South Carolina primary he received only 0.2 percent of the vote, putting him in last place in both states. He withdrew from the race that night, on January 19, 2008. Hunter subsequently endorsed Huckabee for the Republican nomination.^[45]

Political positions[link]

Duncan Hunter is a self-described "true conservative". Hunter voted with a majority of the Republicans 88.7 percent of the time.^[46] He was a member of the conservative Republican Study Committee.

See also[link]

	Biography portal
	United States Army portal

References[link]

External links[link]

Documentaries, topic pages and databases[link]

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On the Issues
• Current Bills Sponsored at StateSurge.com
• Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Profile from SourceWatch Congresspedia
• Collected news stories and commentary from The New York Times
• Genealogy of Duncan Hunter
• Vote 2008: Duncan Hunter from PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
• Duncan Hunter at the Open Directory Project

Media coverage[link]

• USA Today — Duncan Hunter associated with Randy "Duke" Cunningham/Brent Wilkes scandal, November 29, 2005.
• MonksMedia Radio Network – Duncan Hunter Supporters Radio

Official sites for 2008 presidential campaign[link]

• MySpace

Margaret Warner
Margaret Warner (right) interviews General Walter L. Sharp during a documentary on the Republic of Korea (2011)
Born	Margaret Garrard Warner
Residence	Washington, D.C.
Nationality	USA
Alma mater	Yale University (B.A., 1971)
Occupation	journalist and reporter
Known for	PBS Newshour
Spouse	John R. Reilly (1986-2008, his death)
Relatives	Abby Parker Warner (sister)

Margaret Garrard Warner is a senior correspondent for The PBS NewsHour. Before joining the NewsHour in 1993, she was a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, The San Diego Union-Tribune, the Concord Monitor, and Newsweek.

In addition, Warner has appeared on PBS' Washington Week In Review and CNN's The Capital Gang and is a co-host of the radio program America Abroad, which focuses on international issues.

Education and personal life[link]

Margaret Warner is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brainard Henry Warner III of Chevy Chase, Maryland. She is a graduate of the Holton-Arms School of Bethesda, Maryland, and was one of the first women to graduate from Yale University with a BA, cum laude, in English in 1971. Her father was a partner in the Washington law firm of Ogilby, Huhn & Barr. Her mother, Mildred Warner, was a trustee of the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington.^[1]

Warner is a great-granddaughter of the founder of the Washington Loan and Trust Company, which was consolidated into the Riggs National Bank.^[1]

She was married to former Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, John R. Reilly,^[1] until his death in October 2008.^[2]

Career[link]

Since 2006, Warner has compiled on-the-ground reports for The NewsHour. Much of her reporting is low-budget^[3] and covers civil liberties and politics in South Asia, China and Russia.^[4]

She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a trustee of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges,^[5] and she serves on the President’s Council on International Activities at Yale University.^[6][7]