Lloyd Austin

Infobox Military Person
name=Lloyd James Austin III
born=birth date and age|1953|08|08
died=
placeofbirth= Thomasville, Georgia
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=


caption=LtGen Lloyd J. Austin III, U.S. Army
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Army
serviceyears=1975-present
rank= Lieutenant General
commands=2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division 10th Mountain Division XVIII Airborne Corps
unit=
battles=
awards=Defense Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit Ranger Tab
relations=
laterwork=
Lieutenant General Lloyd James Austin III (born August 8, 1953 in Thomasville, Georgia) currently serves as the XVIII Airborne Corps Commander and Multi-National Corps - Iraq Commander.

Biography

Early years; Education

Lloyd James Austin III was born on August 8, 1953 in Thomasville, Georgia. 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, he 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 U.S. 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), stationed at Fort Drum, New York, 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 December 8, 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 LtGen. Raymond T. Odierno who was slated to be the next U.S. Army Vice Chief of Staff. [cite journal
last = Bigenho
first = Sgt. Laura
title = LTG Austin takes command of MNC-I, Generals honor Odierno for efforts in stabilizing Iraq
volume = Vol. II |issue=Issue 7
page = 1
journal = The Victory Times
date = Feb. 18, 2008
format = PDF
publisher=CENTCOM
url = http://www.mnci.centcom.mil/PhantomNews/vt20080218.pdf
accessdate =
archiveurl=www.dvidshub.net/pub_show.php?id=3145
archivedate=2008-10-11] cite news|accessdate=2008-10-11
title=Austin Assumes Command of Multinational Corps Iraq
author=Bigenho, Sgt. Laura M. (American Forces Press Service)
date=February 15, 2008
work=Austin Assumes Command of Multinational Corps Iraq
publisher=U.S. Department of Defense] As commander of MNC-I, he directs the operations of approximately 152,000 joint and coalition forces in all sectors of Iraq.cite web
accessdate=2008-10-11
url=http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=4248
title=DoD News Briefing with Lt. Gen. Austin III from Iraq
format=News Transcript
publisher=U.S. Department of Defense
date=June 23, 2008]

Awards and decorations

General Austin's awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, a Silver Star, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (with Four Oak Leaf Clusters), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (with Five Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge and the Ranger Tab.

Notes

References

* cite web|accessdate=
url=http://www.mnci.centcom.mil/leader.html Official biography
title=Lieutenant General Lloyd J. Austin III , Commanding General XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg
publisher=CENTCOM
archiveurl=http://209.85.173.104/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
archivedate=2008-10-11

External links