Lloyd Austin - Wikipedia

Thank you, my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that August 8i s the anniversary of the birth of retired Four-Star General of the United States Army Lloyd James Austin III was the 12th commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM). Austin was the first black commander to head the organization.
When he changed command of CENTOM my classmate Joseph Leonard Votel took command of CENTCOM [USMA graduate number 37.977].
He is a graduate of my Alma Mater, USMA, West Point in the class of 1975. [He is graduate #33,537 for comparison I am graduate #37,403] He was commissioned as an infantry officer on June 4, 1975 and after schooling at Fort Benning went to West Germany and was assigned to 3rd Infantry Division as his first assignment.

Retirement ceremony for Gen. Lloyd Austin III
"Army Gen. Lloyd Austin III retired on Tuesday in a ceremony at Fort Myer, Va., following a distinguished 41 year career, ending as commander of U.S. Central Command. He was well known in the north country for leading Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division from 2003 to 2005."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcE6bi_60-o

Images:
1. USMA Cadet Lloyd James Austin III class of 1975
2. LTG Lloyd James Austin III.
3. 2016 Change of CENTCOM Command from Austin James Lloyd III to Joseph Leonard Votel
4. GEN Lloyd James Austin III testifying before Congress.

Background from docs.house.gov/meetings/AS/AS00/20140305/101826/HHRG-113-AS00-Bio-AustinIIIUSAL-20140305.pdf
General Lloyd J. Austin III, hails from Thomasville, Georgia. He was commissioned an Infantry
second lieutenant in 1975 upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West
Point, New York.
General Austin has served in a wide variety of command and staff positions throughout his 37-
year career. His early assignments included duty with: the 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry, 3d Infantry
Division, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army; 2d Battalion, 508th Infantry, 82d Airborne
Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion, Indianapolis, Indiana;
United States Military Academy, West Point, New York; 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry and 1st
Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light), Fort Drum, New York.
General Austin returned to Fort Bragg in 1993 and served as Commander, 2d Battalion, 505th
Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division; G-3 82d Airborne Division; and later as the
Commander, 3d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division from 1997 to 1999. Following duty at Fort Bragg,
he was assigned to the Pentagon where he served as Chief, Joint Operations Division, J-3 on
the Joint Staff.
General Austin served as the Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver), 3d Infantry Division
(Mechanized), Fort Stewart, Georgia and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM from July 2001 until
June 2003; and as Commanding General, 10th Mountain Division (Light), Fort Drum, New York
from September 2003 until August 2005 with duty as Commander, Combined Joint Task Force-180, OPERATION ENDURING
FREEDOM, Afghanistan. He then served as the Chief of Staff, United States Central Command from September 2005 until
November 2006 followed by assignment as the Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps in December 2006 where he
commanded Multi-National Corps – Iraq, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM from February 2008 until April 2009. He was then assigned
to the Pentagon as the Director, Joint Staff from August 2009 to August 2010. General Austin commanded United States Forces –
Iraq from September 2010 through the completion of OPERATION NEW DAWN in December 2011. Most recently General Austin
served as the 33d Vice Chief of Staff of the Army from January 2012 to March 2013. General Austin assumed command of United
States Central Command on 22 March 2013.
His military education includes the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia;
United States Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and United States Army War College, Carlisle
Barracks, Pennsylvania.
He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the United States Military Academy, a Master's Degree in Education from Auburn
University and a Master's Degree in Business Management from Webster University.
General Austin's awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with Three Oak Leaf Clusters), the
Distinguished Service Medal (with Two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Silver Star, the Defense Superior Service Medal (with Oak Leaf
Cluster), 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 Six Oak Leaf Clusters), the
Army Achievement Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Combat Action Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge,
the Ranger Tab and the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge."


FYI CPT (Join to see) MSgt David HoffmanSgt (Join to see)SFC (Join to see)cmsgt-rickey-denickeSGT Forrest FitzrandolphCWO3 Dave AlcantaraCW3 Matt HutchasonLTC (Join to see)Sgt John H.PVT Mark Zehner1sg-dan-capriSGT Robert R.CPT Tommy CurtisSGT (Join to see) SGT Steve McFarlandCol Carl WhickerSP5 Billy Mullins

Excellent biography share on General Austin.

Great share Sir