Major general ben hodges biography of michael

United States Army officer (born 1958)

Frederick Benjamin "Ben" Hodges III^[1] (born 16 April 1958) obey a retired United States Swarm officer who served as controlling general, United States Army Collection. He has been Senior Specialist to Human Rights First thanks to June 2022 and also serves as NATO Senior Mentor fetch Logistics.^[2] He previously held illustriousness Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for Inhabitant Policy Analysis.^[3]

A 1980 United States Military Academy graduate, Hodges became an infantry officer, serving in the same way a platoon leader and air executive officer in the Ordinal Armored Division (Forward) in Frg.

After completing the Infantry Office-holder Advanced Course in 1984, explicit served with the 101st Airborne Division. In March 1989 Hodges became an instructor at description United States Army Infantry Grammar. He studied at the Boss and General Staff College put forward graduated from the School ticking off Advanced Military Studies in 1993, becoming G-3 (Chief of Plans) of the 2nd Infantry Dividing in South Korea.

Hodges served as a battalion executive dignitary with the 101st Airborne beforehand becoming aide-de-camp to the Foremost Allied Commander Europe in Honourable 1995. He became a division commander in the 101st Airborne in 1997. He was Governmental Liaison Officer at the Establishment of the Chief of Parliamentary Liaison between 1999 and 2000.

After graduating from the Individual War College in 2001, Hodges served at the Joint Promptness Training Center at Fort President. Taking command of the Ordinal Brigade of the 101st Airborne in 2002, Hodges led illustriousness brigade in Operation Iraqi Self-government.

In 2004, Hodges became G-3 of the XVIII Airborne Party and later simultaneously served bring in CJ3 of Multi-National Corps – Iraq.

He became chief look up to staff of the XVIII Airborne Corps and was deputy honcho of Legislative Liaison at prestige Office of the Secretary cataclysm the Army from 2007. Behave August 2009, Hodges became administrator of operations of Regional Opportunity South in Afghanistan. In Dec 2010 he became director avail yourself of the Pakistan Afghanistan Coordination Lockup at the Joint Staff scold in November 2012 took supervision of Allied Land Command.

Hodges became commander of United States Army Europe in November 2014, holding that position for combine years until retiring from nobleness United States Army in Jan 2018.^[3]

Early life and education

Hodges was born on 16 April 1958^[4] in Jacksonville, Florida, the opposing team of army veteran and career insurance agent Frederick Benjamin Hodges Jr.

and Nell Davis Hodges.^[5][6] He graduated from James Skilful. Shanks High School in Quincy, Florida, in 1976.^[7] Hodges entered the United States Military Institute, graduating in early May 1980 with a commission in representation infantry.^[8]

Career

In February 1981, Hodges became a platoon leader in Simple Company of the 3d Company, 41st Infantry (Mechanized), 2nd Scaly Division, stationed in Germany.

Get a move on 28 November, he was promoted to first lieutenant. Hodges closest became an executive officer assume the company, serving there impending March 1984. He was promoted to captain on 1 Feb. He took the Infantry Fuzz Advanced Course at the Leagued States Army Infantry School, wind-up it in September.^[9]

In December 1984, Hodges became assistant S4 show signs of the 101st Airborne Division's Ordinal Brigade.

He later became legion assistant S-3. In May 1986, he took command of Byword Company of the 1st Legion, 327th Infantry of the disunion. He later became S-3 marketplace the battalion. Between July 1988 and March 1989 Hodges served as assistant S-3 of dignity division's 1st Brigade. In Foot it, he became a small purpose instructor at the United States Army Infantry School.

He was later Chief of the Outline Team there. In August 1991, he became a student inspect the Command and General Cudgel College, being promoted to greater on 1 September. Hodges consequent graduated from the School walk up to Advanced Military Studies. In June 1993, he became chief worry about the Plans Division and G-3 of the 2nd Infantry Component in South Korea.^[9]

In July 1994, Hodges became executive officer finance the 327th Infantry's 3d Horde.

He became aide-de-camp to magnanimity Supreme Allied Commander Europe listed August 1995, serving there \'til June 1997.

On 1 July 1996 he was promoted conformity lieutenant colonel. In June 1997, Hodges took command of righteousness 3d Battalion of the 187th Infantry with the 101st Airborne. He was Congressional Liaison Office-bearer at the Office of authority Chief of Legislative Liaison halfway July 1999 and July 2000.

In August of that origin he entered the National Battle College, graduating in June 2001. In July Hodges became Familiar Battalion Observer and Controller illustrate the Operations Group at goodness Joint Readiness Training Center attractive Fort Polk. On 1 Go on foot 2002 he was promoted lambast colonel.^[9]

Iraq and Afghanistan

In June 2002, Hodges took command of position 101st Airborne's 1st Brigade, eminent it in Operation Iraqi Announcement.

On 23 March 2003, hitherto the start of the continue, Sergeant Hassan Akbar attacked on soldiers of the brigade, offend two and injuring fourteen. Hodges suffered a minor shrapnel make a face in the attack and testified at Akbar's court-martial in Apr 2005.^[10] The brigade fought captive the Battle of Najaf gather late March and early April.^[11][12]

In August 2004, Hodges became visit chief of staff and G-3 of the XVIII Airborne Team.

Between January 2005 and Jan 2006 he simultaneously served thanks to assistant chief of staff standing CJ3 of Multi-National Corps – Iraq. In July, Hodges became chief of staff of honesty XVIII Airborne Corps. In Venerable 2007, he became deputy most important of Legislative Liaison at significance Office of the Secretary nucleus the Army.

General staff

On 14 May 2008, he was promoted to brigadier general.

In Noble 2009, Hodges became director a range of operations of Regional Command South^[8] in Afghanistan.

In December 2010 he became director of rectitude Pakistan Afghanistan Coordination Cell fall out the Joint Staff. Hodges was promoted to major general disturb 2 February 2011.^[9]

On 22 Sept 2012 he was promoted truth lieutenant general.^[13] On 30 Nov 2012, Hodges became the culminating commander of NATO's Allied Patch Command.^[14] Hodges replaced Lieutenant Public Donald M.

Campbell Jr. tight command of United States Host Europe on 5 November 2014.^[15][16]

Hodges retired from the army settle down relinquished command of USAREUR party 15 December 2017.^[17]

Awards and decorations

Hodges is a recipient of decency following awards and decorations:^[9]

Later life

Hodges retired to Florida and began work for the think reservoir Center for European Policy Analysis,^[17][22] becoming the latter's Pershing Settle in Strategic Studies.^[23] At CEPA, Hodges has advocated for excellent stronger NATO.^[24] On defense up above, Hodges has said, “We require a more sophisticated approach make sure of the spending guideline.

The 2-percent number gets tossed around aim dues in a club, which is unhelpful... I think position Alliance should take a put your all into something look at the 2-percent tophus to redefine it.”^[25]

He has argued for including dual-use infrastructure feature the 2-percent, a "win-win" dump would address "the most immediate problem in European security" outline military mobility, while also award benefits to civilian life.^[26] Takeoff Iran, Hodges said, "I was disappointed that we were abdication the agreement with Iran.

Beg for because it's a good arrangement, but because cooperation with e-mail allies is very important... Swimming mask worries me when we occurrence contempt for such important alignment as Great Britain, Germany consume France. The cohesion of after everyone else nations was our strength slab advantage.

Considering all the as a matter of actual fact, one must remember that ventilate must not stand against influence allies."^[27] He has also advocated for placing greater priority consequent the Black Sea region.^[28][29]

His comments on NATO and European succour have appeared in several pandemic media outlets, including an cross-examine on LNK Info TV get the picture Lithuania^[30] and Anne Will,^[31] fairy story articles in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in Germany.^[26] In keen BBC interview, Hodges stated turn this way Brexit could threaten the NATO alliance.^[32] He coauthored a complete with GeneralJohn R.

Allen with Julian Lindley-French, Future War refuse the Defence of Europe, behave 2021.^[33]

He endorsed Joe Biden intensity the 2020 U.S. presidential vote in an op-ed with Courier Robert A. Mandell and Lawman GeneralDonald M. Campbell Jr.^[34] Agreed has spoken about the Ordinal South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Discipline (Colored).^[35] As of 2018^[update], crystalclear is an Advisory Board Shareholder of Spirit of America, well-organized 501(c)(3) organization.^[36]

Hodges' commentary on exotic militaries, such as his appraise on the strategic weaknesses clamour Russia's armed forces, has antiquated distributed by news agencies much as Times Radio.^[37][38] In Sep 2022, he penned an op-ed for the British publication The Daily Telegraph in which significant argued that Russia would lock in its war against Land at a comprehensive level wander will then be followed strong the disintegration of the Indigen Federation.

He labeled the failures of governance under Russian empress Vladimir Putin as the give rise to of a current "crisis castigate confidence" without an easy backer simple outcome.^[39]

In October 2023, Hodges claimed that Russia was fundamental with Iran to orchestrate ethics Israel–Hamas war.^[40] In November 2023, he opposed a permanent cessation of hostilitie in Israel's war against Fto in Gaza.^[41]

Personal life

Hodges has bend in half adult children.^[7][42][43] He also speaks German.^[9] He is a Democrat.^[44][45] Hodges endorsed Kamala Harris providential the 2024 presidential election.^{[citation needed]}

See also

References

Attribution

 This item incorporates public domain material non-native the United States Army

External links