James T. Conway: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|United States Marine Corps general}} |
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:{{otherpersons|James Conway}} |
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{{Infobox Military Person |
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{{Other people|James Conway}} |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}} |
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{{Infobox military person |
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|name= James Terry Conway |
|name= James Terry Conway |
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|image= James T. Conway, official military photo portrait, 2006.jpg |
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|lived= |
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|image_size= |
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|placeofbirth= Walnut Ridge, Arkansas |
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|alt= |
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|placeofdeath= |
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|caption= 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps |
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|image= [[Image:Gen James Terry Conway June 2005.jpg|200px]] |
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|nickname= |
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|caption= James T. Conway |
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|birth_date={{birth date and age|1947|12|26}} |
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|nickname= |
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|birth_place= [[Walnut Ridge, Arkansas]], U.S. |
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|allegiance= [[United States Marine Corps|USMC]] |
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|death_date= |
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|serviceyears= 1970 - present |
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|death_place= |
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|rank= Lieutenant General |
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|placeofburial= |
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|commands= [[3rd Battalion 2nd Marines]]<br>[[The Basic School]]<br>[[1st Marine Division]]<br>[[I Marine Expeditionary Force]] |
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|allegiance= United States of America |
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|unit= |
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|branch= [[United States Marine Corps]] |
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|battles= [[Operation Desert Storm]]<br>[[Operation Iraqi Freedom]]<br>[[Operation Vigilant Resolve]] |
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|serviceyears= 1970–2010 |
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|awards= [[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]]<br>[[Legion of Merit]] |
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|rank= [[General (United States)|General]] |
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|laterwork= |
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|unit= |
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|commands= [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|Commandant of the Marine Corps]]<br/>[[I Marine Expeditionary Force]]<br/>[[1st Marine Division (United States)|1st Marine Division]]<br/>[[The Basic School]]<br/>[[3rd Battalion 2nd Marines]] |
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|battles= [[Gulf War]]<br/>[[Iraq War]] |
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* [[First Battle of Fallujah]] |
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|awards= [[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]] (3)<br/>[[Navy Distinguished Service Medal]]<br/>[[Legion of Merit]]<br/>[[Defense Meritorious Service Medal]]<br/>[[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]] (3)<br/>[[Commander of the Legion of Honour]] (France) |
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|relations= |
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|laterwork= |
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}} |
}} |
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'''James Terry Conway''' (born December 26, 1947) is a retired [[United States Marine Corps]] [[General (United States)|four-star general]] who served as the 34th [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|Commandant of the Marine Corps]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://slsp.manpower.usmc.mil/gosa/biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID=117&PERSON_TYPE=General |title=Official Biography:General James T. Conway |work=Biographies: General Officers & Senior Executives |publisher=United States Marine Corps |access-date=August 20, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722224611/https://slsp.manpower.usmc.mil/gosa/biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID=117&PERSON_TYPE=General |archive-date=July 22, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,118890,00.html|title=New Marine Corps Commandant Welcomed|date=November 14, 2006|agency=[[Military.com]]|access-date=November 14, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=41483|title=Conway becomes Marine Corps Commandant|first=Jeff|last=Schogol|date=November 14, 2006|newspaper=[[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]]|access-date=November 14, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927024749/http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=41483|archive-date=September 27, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Among his previous postings were Director of [[Operations (military staff)|Operations (J-3)]] on the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]], Commanding General of [[1st Marine Division (United States)|1st Marine Division]] and [[I Marine Expeditionary Force]], taking part in the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] and the [[First Battle of Fallujah]]. |
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'''James Terry Conway''' is a [[Lieutenant General (United States)|Lieutenant General]] in the [[United States Marine Corps]]. As of [[2006]], Conway is the Director of Operations (J-3) on the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff|Joint Staff]]. Conway is most well known as the Commanding General of the [[1st Marine Expeditionary Force]] from 2002 through 2004 taking part in the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] and also [[Operation Vigilant Resolve]] in [[Fallujah]], Iraq. In August 2006, Conway was confirmed to become the next [[Commandant of the Marine Corps]]; he is expected to assume the post of Commandant on [[November 13]], [[2006]] <ref>{{cite web |
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|url=https://138.156.230.184/GOSA/biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID=117&PERSON_TYPE=General |
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==Early life and education== |
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|title=Official Biography:General (sel) James T. Conway |
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Conway was born in [[Walnut Ridge, Arkansas]]. He graduated from [[Roosevelt High School (Missouri)|Roosevelt High School]] in [[St. Louis, Missouri]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/james-t-conway-15713/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}</ref> and then attended [[Southeast Missouri State University]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marine Corps University > Research > Marine Corps History Division > People > Who's Who in Marine Corps History > Abrell - Cushman > General James T. Conway |url=https://www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-History-Division/People/Whos-Who-in-Marine-Corps-History/Abrell-Cushman/General-James-T-Conway/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=www.usmcu.edu}}</ref> where he was a member of the [[Sigma Phi Epsilon]] fraternity, graduating in 1969 with a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in [[psychology]]. Conway is a graduate of the Infantry Officers Advanced Course, the [[Marine Corps Command and Staff College]], and the [[Air War College]]. He was commissioned as an [[infantry]] officer in 1970. |
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|work=Biographies: General Officers & Senior Executives |
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|publisher=United States Marine Corps |
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==Marine career== |
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|accessdate=2006-10-04}} </ref> |
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Conway's first assignment was command of a rifle [[platoon]] with [[3rd Battalion 1st Marines]], based at [[Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton|Camp Pendleton]]. He also served as the [[battalion]]'s [[M40 recoilless rifle|106mm recoilless rifle]] platoon commander. Later, he served as Marine detachment [[executive officer]] aboard the aircraft carrier {{USS|Kitty Hawk|CV-63}} and as commanding officer of the Sea School at [[Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego]].<ref name=":0" /> |
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After graduating with honors from the [[United States Army|Army's]] Infantry Officers Advanced Course, Conway commanded two [[Company (military unit)|companies]] in the [[2nd Marine Regiment (United States)|2nd Marine Regiment's]] Operations and Security section. As a [[field officer|field grade officer]], he commanded two companies of students and taught tactics at [[The Basic School]]. He then went on to serve as operations officer for the [[31st Marine Expeditionary Unit|31st Marine Amphibious Unit]], with sea duty in the western Pacific and in [[Multinational Force in Lebanon|contingency operations]] off [[Beirut]], Lebanon. |
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Returning to the United States, Conway was assigned as [[Aide-de-camp|Senior Aide]] to the [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] for two years. After graduating from Marine Corps Command and Staff College with honors, he took command of [[3rd Battalion 2nd Marines]] through its eight-month deployment to [[Western Asia|Southwest Asia]] during the [[Gulf War]]. |
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After the war, he was promoted to [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]] and assigned command of The Basic School. In 1992–1993, he attended [[MIT Seminar XXI]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://semxxi.mit.edu/about/messages/from-the-director |title=From the Director: September, 2015 |last=Art |first=Robert |date=September 1, 2015 |website=MIT Seminar XXI |publisher=[[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]}}; {{cite web |author=Massachusetts Institute of Technology|url=https://semxxi.mit.edu/alumni |title=Find Alumni |website=MIT Seminar XXI |publisher=[[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]}}</ref> Promoted to [[Brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]] in December 1995, he again was assigned to the Joint Chiefs and later served as president of the [[Marine Corps University]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Biography of General James T. Conway, USMC (Retired)|url=https://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/Pages/Who%27s%20Who/A-C/Conway_JT.aspx|publisher=[[United States Marine Corps History Division]]|access-date=9 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923043007/https://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/Pages/Who%27s%20Who/A-C/Conway_JT.aspx|archive-date=September 23, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> After being promoted to [[Major general (United States)|major general]], he served as commander of the [[1st Marine Division (United States)|1st Marine Division]] and as Deputy Commanding General of [[United States Marine Forces Central Command|Marine Forces Central]]. He was promoted to [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]] and assumed command of [[I Marine Expeditionary Force]] (I MEF) on November 16, 2002. He commanded I MEF during two combat tours in Iraq, with 60,000 troops under his command, including Marines, [[United States Army|soldiers]], [[United States Navy|sailors]], and [[British Army|British forces]]. In the book ''The Iraq War'', Conway was described as, "big, buff, well read and well educated ... he represented all that was best about the new United States Marine Corps, which General [[Alfred M. Gray, Jr.|Al Gray]] as the commandant had set up."<ref name=Murray2003>{{cite book|last=Murray|first=Williamson|author2=Scales, Robert H.|title=The Iraq War: A Military History|publisher=[[Harvard University Press]]|year=2003|page=[https://archive.org/details/iraqwarmilitary00murr/page/65 65]|isbn=0-674-01280-1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/iraqwarmilitary00murr/page/65}}</ref> |
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[[File:Gen James Terry Conway June 2005.jpg|left|thumb|upright|Conway responding to questions at a Pentagon briefing, June 2005]] |
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[[File:Conway takes oath, November 13, 2006.jpg|thumb|Conway is sworn in by General [[Peter Pace]], Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on November 13, 2006]] |
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US Marines of the [[1st Marine Expeditionary Force]] under Conway's command constructed the military base "Camp Alpha" on top of ancient Babylonian ruins following the invasion. Though a US Military spokesman claimed that the project was discussed with the "head of the Babylon museum",<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2005/01/16/damage_seen_to_ancient_babylon/ |title=Damage seen to ancient Babylon |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=January 16, 2005 | first1=Sue | last1=Leeman}}</ref> the construction of the base drew intense criticism from archaeologists, who contend that it caused irreparable damage to one of the most important sites in the world. |
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On June 13, 2006, Conway was nominated by President [[George W. Bush]] to become the 34th [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|Commandant of the Marine Corps]];<ref>{{cite news|url=http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-06-13T213646Z_01_N13455615_RTRUKOC_0_US-ARMS-USA-MARINES.xml&archived=False |first=Will |last=Dunham |title=Marine Corps to get a new top general |work=[[Reuters]] |date=June 13, 2006 |access-date=June 13, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060601030620/http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews |archive-date=June 1, 2006 }}</ref> the nomination was confirmed by the [[United States Senate|Senate]] on August 2, 2006.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1998645.php|title=Conway confirmed as new commandant|date=August 3, 2006|work=[[Marine Corps Times]]|access-date=August 3, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060808201438/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1998645.php|archive-date=August 8, 2006|df=mdy-all}}</ref> On November 13, Conway was promoted to the rank of [[General (United States)|general]] at [[Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.]], and became the 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps. He was the first Commandant in nearly 40 years to have not served in the [[Vietnam War]]. |
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On June 11, 2009, Conway spoke at the [[National Press Club (United States)|National Press Club]] about the importance of maintaining the [[Amphibious assault ship]]s to lift two [[Marine Expeditionary Brigade]]s and the time "at home" away from the current wars to train for amphibious assault.<ref>[http://press.org/wire/article.cfm?id=1070 Marine Commandant Says Corps Fulfilled its Mission in Iraq] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613141241/http://press.org/wire/article.cfm?id=1070 |date=June 13, 2010 }}</ref> |
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[[File:USMC-091126-M-3612M-001.jpg|thumb|Conway talks to his Marines, September 2005]] |
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Conway was reported to have had "major reservations" about the repeal of "[[don't ask, don't tell]]", in contrast to the Pentagon opinion that the younger rank and file of the military did not have such reservations about serving with openly gay service members.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/us/politics/01military.html|title=Forces Pushing Obama on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'|first=Elisabeth|last=Bumiller|date=January 31, 2010|work=the New York Times|access-date=February 5, 2010}}</ref> Conway, along with [[Chief of Naval Operations]], Admiral [[Gary Roughead]], and [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army]], General [[George W. Casey, Jr.|George Casey]], supported running a one-year study on the effects of a possible repeal.<ref name="MCT DADT">{{cite news|url=http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2010/02/marine_dontask_022409w/|title=Conway: Study needed before DADT repeal|last=Lamothe|first=Dan|date=February 24, 2010|newspaper=[[Marine Corps Times]]|access-date=February 25, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308060349/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2010/02/marine_dontask_022409w/|archive-date=March 8, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Conway said that if gay Marines are allowed to serve openly, he might need to change the policy that requires unmarried Marines to share rooms.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/26/AR2010032604415.html|title=Gay, straight Marines wouldn't share rooms with don't ask' repeal, general says|last=Whitlock|first=Craig|date=March 27, 2010|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=January 7, 2011}}</ref> The [[Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010|policy was repealed]] on December 22, 2010, after his tenure as Commandant had ended. |
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On October 22, 2010, Conway turned the position of Commandant over to General [[James F. Amos]], his [[Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps|Assistant Commandant]], at a ceremony at [[Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.]],<ref name="Amos">{{cite web|url=http://www.marines.mil/unit/barracks/Pages/TakingthereinsMarineCorpswelcomesnewcommandant.aspx |title=Taking the Reins: Marine Corps Welcomes New Commandant |last=Shea |first=Sgt Jimmy D. |date=October 22, 2010 |work=[[Headquarters Marine Corps]] |publisher=United States Marine Corps |access-date=October 22, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026014216/http://www.marines.mil/unit/barracks/Pages/TakingthereinsMarineCorpswelcomesnewcommandant.aspx |archive-date=October 26, 2010 }}</ref> Defense Secretary [[Robert Gates]] presented Conway with his third [[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]] during the change-in-command.<ref name="Amos"/> He then retired on November 1. |
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==Personal life== |
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Conway is married to Anette Conway and together they have three children, two sons, currently serving in the Marine Corps, and a daughter.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-20 |title=Gen James T. Conway, USMC (Ret) {{!}} Marine Corps University Foundation |url=https://mcufoundation.org/mcuf-bio/gen-james-t-conway-usmc-ret/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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Post-retirement, Conway has held many different positions including a board member seat for Textron, Colt Firearms, General Dynamics, and the Center for Naval Analysis, and xG technologies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seck |first=Hope Hodge |date=2015-01-13 |title=New position for former commandant Conway |url=https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2015/01/13/new-position-for-former-commandant-conway/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=Marine Corps Times |language=en}}</ref> He sits on the Board of Directors for Warriors & Quiet Waters<ref>{{Cite web |last=Incorporated |first=Prime |title=James T. Conway |url=https://warriorsandquietwaters.org/board/james-t-conway |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=Warriors & Quiet Waters |language=en}}</ref> and is a member of the board of trustees for the Marine Corps University Foundation. |
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Conway served as an adjunct faculty member of Georgetown University.<ref name=":0" /> |
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==Awards and decorations== |
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Conway has been decorated for service, to include: |
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{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |
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|- |
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|colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
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|rowspan="7" align="center" |[[File:Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg|150px]] |
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|- |
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|[[File:Navy Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|106px]] |
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|[[File:Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|106px]] |
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|[[File:Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|106px]] |
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|{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=award-star|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
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|- |
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==Biography== |
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|[[File:Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg|106px]] |
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|[[File:Navy and Marine Corps Achievement ribbon.svg|106px]] |
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|[[File:Combat Action Ribbon.svg|106px]] |
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|[[File:United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|106px]] |
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|- |
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|{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Meritorious Unit Award-3d.svg|width=106}} |
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|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
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James Conway was born in [[Walnut Ridge, Arkansas]] and attended [[Southeast Missouri State University]], graduating in 1969. He was commissioned as an infantry officer in [[1970]]. His first assignment was command of a rifle platoon with [[3rd Battalion, 1st Marines]] out of [[Camp Pendleton]]. He also served as the Battalion's [[M40 recoilless rifle|106mm recoilless rifle]] platoon commander. Later he served as Marine Executive Officer aboard the aircraft carrier [[USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63)|USS ''Kitty Hawk'']]. |
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|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
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|[[File:Marine Corps Expeditionary ribbon.svg|106px]] |
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|- |
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|{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
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|{{Ribbon devices|number=3|type=service-star|ribbon=Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg|width=106}} |
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After graduating with honors from career-level officer school, Conway commanded two companies in the [[2nd Marine Regiment]]'s Operations and Security section, later commanding two companies at Marine [[Basic School]]. He then went on to serve as operations officer for the [[31st Marine Expeditionary Unit|31st Marine Amphibious Unit]], with sea duty in the western Pacific and in contingency operations off [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]]. |
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|{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
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Returning to the U.S., Conway was assigned as Senior Aide to the Chairman of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]], serving two years in that capacity. After graduating from top-level officer training, again with honors, he took command of [[3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines]], and commanded the Battalion Landing Team in its eight-month deployment to [[Southwest Asia]] during [[Desert Storm]]. |
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|[[File:Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg|106px]] |
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After the war he was promoted to colonel, and assigned command of [[The Basic School]]. Promoted to Brigadier General in December 1995, he again was assigned to the JCS. After being promoted to Major General, he served as commander of the [[1st Marine Division]] and as Deputy Commanding General of Marine Forces Central. He was promoted to Lieutenant General and assumed command of [[1st Marine Expeditionary Force]] (I MEF) on November 16, 2002. He commanded I MEF during two combat tours in Iraq. General Conway had 60,000 troops under his command, comprised of U.S. Marines, [[United States Army|soldiers]], [[United States Navy|sailors]], and [[British Army|British forces]]. In the book ''The Iraq War'', Conway was described as, "big, bluff, well read and well educated.....he represented all that was best about the new United States Marine Corps, which [[Alfred M. Gray, Jr.|General Al Gray]] as the commandant had set up."<ref>Murray, Williamson & Scales, Robert H. (2003). ‘’The Iraq War: A Military History.’’p. 65. Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-67401-280-1</ref>. |
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|- |
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|[[File:Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg|106px]] |
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|[[File:Korea Defense Service ribbon.svg|106px]] |
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|{{Ribbon devices|number=3|type=service-star|ribbon=Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
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|[[File:Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon.svg|106px]] |
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|- |
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|[[File:Order of Bahrain - 5th Class.png|106px]] |
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|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion Honneur Commandeur ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
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|[[File:Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg|106px]] |
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|[[File:Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg|106px]] |
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|- |
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|colspan="2"|[[File:USMC Rifle Expert badge.png|150px]] |
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|colspan="2"|[[File:USMC Pistol Expert badge.png|150px]] |
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|- |
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|} |
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{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |
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!1st row |
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|colspan="4"|[[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]] w/ 2 [[oak leaf cluster]]s |
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|rowspan="7" align="center" |[[Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge]] |
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|- |
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!2nd row |
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|[[Navy Distinguished Service Medal]] |
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|[[Legion of Merit]] |
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|[[Defense Meritorious Service Medal]] |
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|[[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]] w/ 2 [[award star]]s |
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|- |
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!3rd row |
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|[[Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal]] |
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|[[Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal]] |
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|[[Combat Action Ribbon]] |
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|[[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Navy Presidential Unit Citation]] |
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|- |
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!4th row |
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|[[Joint Meritorious Unit Award]] w/ 2 oak leaf clusters |
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|[[Navy Unit Commendation]] |
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|[[Meritorious Unit Commendation]] w/ 1 [[service star]] |
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|[[Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal]] |
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|- |
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!5th row |
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|[[National Defense Service Medal]] w/ 2 service stars |
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|[[Southwest Asia Service Medal]] w/ 3 [[service star|campaign star]]s |
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|[[Iraq Campaign Medal]] w/ 2 campaign stars |
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|[[Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal]] |
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|- |
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!6th row |
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|[[Global War on Terrorism Service Medal]] |
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|[[Korea Defense Service Medal]] |
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|[[Sea Service Ribbon|Sea Service Deployment Ribbon]] w/ 3 service stars |
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|[[Drill Instructor Ribbon|Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon]] |
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|- |
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!7th row |
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|The Khalifyyeh Order of Bahrain, Knight |
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|[[Legion of Honour|Legion of Honor, Commander]]<ref name="LDH">{{cite web|url=http://www.marines.mil/unit/marforeur/Pages/CommandantoftheMarineCorpsawardedFrenchLegionofHonourbyFrenchArmyChiefofStaff.aspx|title=Commandant of the Marine Corps awarded French Legion of Honour by French Army Chief of Staff|last=DeFilippis|first=Sgt. Rocco|date=December 4, 2009|access-date=December 11, 2009|location=Paris|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629161139/http://www.marines.mil/unit/marforeur/Pages/CommandantoftheMarineCorpsawardedFrenchLegionofHonourbyFrenchArmyChiefofStaff.aspx|archive-date=June 29, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> |
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|[[Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)]] |
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|[[Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)]] |
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|- |
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|} |
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*He also holds 7 expert awards in both rifle and pistol [[Marksmanship Badge (United States)|marksmanship badges]]. In 2010, Conway was the recipient of the distinguished "Keeper of the Flame" award.{{citation needed|date=February 2012}} |
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In a press interview on May 30, 2003, General Conway was questioned about the failure at that point to locate [[Iraq and weapons of mass destruction|weapons of mass destruction in Iraq]]. He replied, in part: |
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==See also== |
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:"It was a surprise to me then, it remains a surprise to me now, that we have not uncovered weapons...It's not for lack of trying. We've been to virtually every ammunition supply point between the Kuwaiti border and Baghdad, but they're simply not there....What the regime was intending to do in terms of its use of the weapons, we thought we understood—or we certainly had our best guess, our most dangerous, our most likely courses of action that the intelligence folks were giving us. We were simply wrong. But whether or not we're wrong at the national level, I think, still very much remains to be seen." |
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*[[List of United States Marine Corps four-star generals]] |
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*[[United States Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment]] |
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==Notes== |
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On [[June 13]], [[2006]], LtGen Conway was nominated by President [[George W. Bush]] to become the 34th [[Commandant of the Marine Corps]].<ref>{{cite news |
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{{Reflist|35em}} |
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|http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-06-13T213646Z_01_N13455615_RTRUKOC_0_US-ARMS-USA-MARINES.xml&archived=False |
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|author=Will Dunham |
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|title=Marine Corps to get a new top general |
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|publisher=Reuters |
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|date=[[June 13]], [[2006]] |
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|accessdate=2006-06-13}}</ref>; the nomination was confirmed by the [[US Senate|Senate]] on [[August 2]], [[2006]].<ref>{{cite news |
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|url=http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1998645.php |
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|title=Conway confirmed as new commandant |
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|date=[[August 3]], [[2006]] |
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|work=Marine Corps Times |
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|accessdate=2006-08-03}}</ref> Before assuming his new post, Conway will be promoted to [[General]]. |
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==References== |
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Conway has been decorated for service, to include the [[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]], [[Legion of Merit]], [[Defense Meritorious Service Medal]], [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]] (two gold stars), [[Navy Commendation Medal]], [[Navy Achievement Medal]] and [[Combat Action Ribbon]]. He is married to the former Annette Drury and has three children. |
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{{Commons category|James T. Conway}} |
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{{Marine Corps}} |
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*{{cite web|url=http://www.marines.mil/units/hqmc/cmc/Pages/default.aspx|title=Official Homepage of the Commandant of the Marine Corps|publisher=United States Marine Corps|access-date=January 21, 2009|archive-date=January 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121203328/https://www.marines.mil/units/hqmc/cmc/Pages/default.aspx|url-status=dead}} |
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*{{cite news|url=https://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/special/mideast.nsf/0/640DFF288571695286256CC7007B57B8?OpenDocument |title=Preparing for war with Iraq |format=Biographical sketch of Gen. Conway |author=Ron Harris |work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |date=February 8, 2003 |access-date=June 24, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060808200113/http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/special/mideast.nsf/0/640DFF288571695286256CC7007B57B8?OpenDocument |archive-date=August 8, 2006 }} |
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*{{cite web|access-date=January 7, 2011|url=http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/CONWAY_JT.htm|work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History|publisher=[[United States Marine Corps History Division]]|title=General James T. Conway, USMC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101103023930/http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/CONWAY_JT.htm|archive-date=November 3, 2010|url-status=dead}} |
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*{{cite magazine|last=Shea|first=Sgt Jimmy D.|date=December 8, 2010|title=General James T. Conway Reflects on Four Years, Two Wars|magazine=Marines magazine|publisher=United States Marine Corps|issue=Jul/Aug/Sept 2010|pages=14–19|url=http://marinesmagazine.dodlive.mil/2010/12/08/general-james-t-conway-reflects-on-four-years-two-wars/|access-date=January 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225055728/http://marinesmagazine.dodlive.mil/2010/12/08/general-james-t-conway-reflects-on-four-years-two-wars/|archive-date=December 25, 2010|url-status=dead}} |
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==External links== |
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*{{C-SPAN|77545}} |
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*[http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/special/mideast.nsf/0/640DFF288571695286256CC7007B57B8?OpenDocument Biographical sketch] |
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Latest revision as of 16:24, 26 October 2024
James Terry Conway | |
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Born | Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, U.S. | December 26, 1947
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service | United States Marine Corps |
Years of service | 1970–2010 |
Rank | General |
Commands | Commandant of the Marine Corps I Marine Expeditionary Force 1st Marine Division The Basic School 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines |
Battles / wars | Gulf War Iraq War |
Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3) Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (3) Commander of the Legion of Honour (France) |
James Terry Conway (born December 26, 1947) is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general who served as the 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps.[1][2][3] Among his previous postings were Director of Operations (J-3) on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Commanding General of 1st Marine Division and I Marine Expeditionary Force, taking part in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the First Battle of Fallujah.
Early life and education
[edit]Conway was born in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in St. Louis, Missouri,[4] and then attended Southeast Missouri State University,[5] where he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, graduating in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. Conway is a graduate of the Infantry Officers Advanced Course, the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the Air War College. He was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1970.
Marine career
[edit]Conway's first assignment was command of a rifle platoon with 3rd Battalion 1st Marines, based at Camp Pendleton. He also served as the battalion's 106mm recoilless rifle platoon commander. Later, he served as Marine detachment executive officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) and as commanding officer of the Sea School at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.[4]
After graduating with honors from the Army's Infantry Officers Advanced Course, Conway commanded two companies in the 2nd Marine Regiment's Operations and Security section. As a field grade officer, he commanded two companies of students and taught tactics at The Basic School. He then went on to serve as operations officer for the 31st Marine Amphibious Unit, with sea duty in the western Pacific and in contingency operations off Beirut, Lebanon.
Returning to the United States, Conway was assigned as Senior Aide to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for two years. After graduating from Marine Corps Command and Staff College with honors, he took command of 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines through its eight-month deployment to Southwest Asia during the Gulf War.
After the war, he was promoted to colonel and assigned command of The Basic School. In 1992–1993, he attended MIT Seminar XXI.[6] Promoted to brigadier general in December 1995, he again was assigned to the Joint Chiefs and later served as president of the Marine Corps University.[7] After being promoted to major general, he served as commander of the 1st Marine Division and as Deputy Commanding General of Marine Forces Central. He was promoted to lieutenant general and assumed command of I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) on November 16, 2002. He commanded I MEF during two combat tours in Iraq, with 60,000 troops under his command, including Marines, soldiers, sailors, and British forces. In the book The Iraq War, Conway was described as, "big, buff, well read and well educated ... he represented all that was best about the new United States Marine Corps, which General Al Gray as the commandant had set up."[8]
US Marines of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force under Conway's command constructed the military base "Camp Alpha" on top of ancient Babylonian ruins following the invasion. Though a US Military spokesman claimed that the project was discussed with the "head of the Babylon museum",[9] the construction of the base drew intense criticism from archaeologists, who contend that it caused irreparable damage to one of the most important sites in the world.
On June 13, 2006, Conway was nominated by President George W. Bush to become the 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps;[10] the nomination was confirmed by the Senate on August 2, 2006.[11] On November 13, Conway was promoted to the rank of general at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., and became the 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps. He was the first Commandant in nearly 40 years to have not served in the Vietnam War.
On June 11, 2009, Conway spoke at the National Press Club about the importance of maintaining the Amphibious assault ships to lift two Marine Expeditionary Brigades and the time "at home" away from the current wars to train for amphibious assault.[12]
Conway was reported to have had "major reservations" about the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell", in contrast to the Pentagon opinion that the younger rank and file of the military did not have such reservations about serving with openly gay service members.[13] Conway, along with Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Gary Roughead, and Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George Casey, supported running a one-year study on the effects of a possible repeal.[14] Conway said that if gay Marines are allowed to serve openly, he might need to change the policy that requires unmarried Marines to share rooms.[15] The policy was repealed on December 22, 2010, after his tenure as Commandant had ended.
On October 22, 2010, Conway turned the position of Commandant over to General James F. Amos, his Assistant Commandant, at a ceremony at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.,[16] Defense Secretary Robert Gates presented Conway with his third Defense Distinguished Service Medal during the change-in-command.[16] He then retired on November 1.
Personal life
[edit]Conway is married to Anette Conway and together they have three children, two sons, currently serving in the Marine Corps, and a daughter.[17]
Post-retirement, Conway has held many different positions including a board member seat for Textron, Colt Firearms, General Dynamics, and the Center for Naval Analysis, and xG technologies.[18] He sits on the Board of Directors for Warriors & Quiet Waters[19] and is a member of the board of trustees for the Marine Corps University Foundation.
Conway served as an adjunct faculty member of Georgetown University.[4]
Awards and decorations
[edit]Conway has been decorated for service, to include:
- He also holds 7 expert awards in both rifle and pistol marksmanship badges. In 2010, Conway was the recipient of the distinguished "Keeper of the Flame" award.[citation needed]
See also
[edit]- List of United States Marine Corps four-star generals
- United States Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment
Notes
[edit]- ^ "Official Biography:General James T. Conway". Biographies: General Officers & Senior Executives. United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2007.
- ^ "New Marine Corps Commandant Welcomed". Military.com. November 14, 2006. Retrieved November 14, 2006.
- ^ Schogol, Jeff (November 14, 2006). "Conway becomes Marine Corps Commandant". Stars and Stripes. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2006.
- ^ a b c "Encyclopedia of Arkansas". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ "Marine Corps University > Research > Marine Corps History Division > People > Who's Who in Marine Corps History > Abrell - Cushman > General James T. Conway". www.usmcu.edu. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ Art, Robert (September 1, 2015). "From the Director: September, 2015". MIT Seminar XXI. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.; Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "Find Alumni". MIT Seminar XXI. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
- ^ "Biography of General James T. Conway, USMC (Retired)". United States Marine Corps History Division. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ Murray, Williamson; Scales, Robert H. (2003). The Iraq War: A Military History. Harvard University Press. p. 65. ISBN 0-674-01280-1.
- ^ Leeman, Sue (January 16, 2005). "Damage seen to ancient Babylon". The Boston Globe.
- ^ Dunham, Will (June 13, 2006). "Marine Corps to get a new top general". Reuters. Archived from the original on June 1, 2006. Retrieved June 13, 2006.
- ^ "Conway confirmed as new commandant". Marine Corps Times. August 3, 2006. Archived from the original on August 8, 2006. Retrieved August 3, 2006.
- ^ Marine Commandant Says Corps Fulfilled its Mission in Iraq Archived June 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Bumiller, Elisabeth (January 31, 2010). "Forces Pushing Obama on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'". the New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
- ^ Lamothe, Dan (February 24, 2010). "Conway: Study needed before DADT repeal". Marine Corps Times. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
- ^ Whitlock, Craig (March 27, 2010). "Gay, straight Marines wouldn't share rooms with don't ask' repeal, general says". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 7, 2011.
- ^ a b Shea, Sgt Jimmy D. (October 22, 2010). "Taking the Reins: Marine Corps Welcomes New Commandant". Headquarters Marine Corps. United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on October 26, 2010. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ^ "Gen James T. Conway, USMC (Ret) | Marine Corps University Foundation". January 20, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ Seck, Hope Hodge (January 13, 2015). "New position for former commandant Conway". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ Incorporated, Prime. "James T. Conway". Warriors & Quiet Waters. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ DeFilippis, Sgt. Rocco (December 4, 2009). "Commandant of the Marine Corps awarded French Legion of Honour by French Army Chief of Staff". Paris. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
References
[edit]This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- "Official Homepage of the Commandant of the Marine Corps". United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
- Ron Harris (February 8, 2003). "Preparing for war with Iraq". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Archived from the original (Biographical sketch of Gen. Conway) on August 8, 2006. Retrieved June 24, 2006.
- "General James T. Conway, USMC". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps History Division. Archived from the original on November 3, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2011.
- Shea, Sgt Jimmy D. (December 8, 2010). "General James T. Conway Reflects on Four Years, Two Wars". Marines magazine. No. Jul/Aug/Sept 2010. United States Marine Corps. pp. 14–19. Archived from the original on December 25, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2011.
External links
[edit]- 1947 births
- Living people
- United States Marine Corps personnel of the Gulf War
- United States Marine Corps personnel of the Iraq War
- People from Walnut Ridge, Arkansas
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- United States Marine Corps generals
- Joint Chiefs of Staff
- United States Marine Corps Commandants
- Commanders of the Legion of Honour
- Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
- Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
- Members of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America