General Raymond T. Odierno, USA, is the Commanding General of Multi-National Force - Iraq (MNF-I). He assumed command on September 16, 2008. He previously served as Commanding General, III Corps, from May 2006 to May 2008. During the unit's deployment to Iraq from December 2006 to February 2008, General Ordierno served as Commanding General, Multi-National Corps - Iraq (MNC-I). As the day-to-day Commander of Coalition Forces in Iraq, he was the operational architect of the 'Surge' and is credited with implementing the successful counterinsurgency strategy that led to the dramatic decrease in violence during his tenure in Iraq from late-2006 to early-2008. Authors of a piece in The Weekly Standard argued that his employment of forces to quell violence across Iraq "redefined the operational art of counterinsurgency." ^[1]

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 Condoleeza Rice from 3 November 2004 to 1 May 2006.

Early life and education

General Odierno grew up in Rockaway, New Jersey^[2] where he attended Morris Hills High School^[3], followed by the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in June 1976 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. Later, General Odierno attended North Carolina State University and the Naval War College, receiving masters degrees in Nuclear Effects Engineering and National Security and Strategy, respectively. General Odierno is also a graduate of the Army War College.

Operation Iraqi Freedom

Raymond T. Odierno
Raymond T. Odierno
	General Raymond T. Odierno, USA
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	1976-present
Rank	General
Commands	Multi-National Force Iraq; Multi-National Corps-Iraq; III Corps; 4th Infantry Division; 1st Cavalry Division Artillery
Battles / wars	Operation Desert Storm; Operation Iraqi Freedom
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) ; Distinguished Service Medal (2) ; Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit (6); Bronze Star

General Odierno is currently serving his third deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Operation Iraqi Freedom I

Odierno commanded the U.S. 4th Infantry Division (4th ID) from October 2001 to June 2004, 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 in the post-war occupation. Headquartered in the restive Sunni Triangle north of Baghdad, the division was responsible for one of the most violent regions of Iraq, as remaining elements of Saddam Hussein’s regime struggled to regain control. 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.^[4]

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. ^[5] ^[6]

The Surge 2007-2008

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.

Command of Multi-National Force-Iraq

General Odierno’s third deployment to Iraq began on September 16, 2008 when he assumed command of Multi-National Force-Iraq. Returning to Iraq less than 7 months after finishing his previous deployment, he is currently the senior military commander in Iraq. He faces the challenge of sustaining the security gains of the past while reducing the Coalition presence and helping the Iraqi government achieve reconciliation and lasting stability.

Career History

General 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. Following completion of the Artillery Officer Advanced Course, General Odierno was assigned to the XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery 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, General Odierno served as the Executive Officer for the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery, and then the held the same position in Division Artillery, 3rd Armored Division.

General 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 Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Assignments

From	To	Assignments
Oct 76	Jan 78	Support Platoon Leader, later Firing Platoon Leader, C Battery, 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery, 56th Field Artillery Brigade, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany
Jan 78	Aug 78	Survey Officer, 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery, 56th Field Artillery Brigade, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany
Aug 78	Oct 79	Survey Officer, 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery, 56th Field Artillery Brigade, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany
Nov 79	Jul 80	United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany Student, Field Artillery Advanced Course, Fort Sill, Oklahoma
Aug 80	Dec 80	Liaison Officer, 1st Battalion, 73d Field Artillery, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Dec 80	Dec 82	Commander, Service Battery, later A Battery, 1st Battalion, 73d Field Artillery, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Dec 82	May 83	Assistant S-3 (Operations), 1st Battalion, 73d Field Artillery, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Jun 83	May 84	S-3 (Operations), 3d Battalion, 8th Field Artillery, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Jun 84	Aug 86	Student, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
Sep 86	Jun 89	Nuclear Research Officer, later Chief, Acquisition Support Division, Defense Nuclear Agency, Alexandria, Virginia, later detailed as Military Advisor for Arms Control, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, DC
Jun 89	Jun 90	Student, United States Naval Command and Staff Course, Newport, Rhode Island
Jul 90	Dec 90	Executive Officer, 2d Battalion, 3d Field Artillery, 3d Armored Division, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany
Dec 90	Jun 91	Executive Officer, Division Artillery, 3d Armored Division, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany and OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD/STORM, Saudi Arabia
Jun 91	May 92	Executive Officer, 42d Field Artillery Brigade, V Corps, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany
Jun 92	Jun 94	Commander, 2d Battalion, 8th Field Artillery, 7th Infantry Division(Light), Fort Ord, California (relocated to Fort Lewis, Washington)
Jun 94	Jun 95	Student, United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
Jun 95	Jun 97	Commander, Division Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas
Jun 97	Aug 98	Chief of Staff, V Corps, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany
Aug 98	Jul 99	Assistant Division Commander (Support), 1st Armored Division, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany to include duty as Deputy Commanding General for Ground Operations, TASK FORCE HAWK, OPERATION ALLIED FORCE, Albania
Jul 99	Jul 01	Director, Force Management, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, United States Army, Washington, DC
Oct 01	Aug 04	Commanding General, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Hood, Texas and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Iraq
Aug 04	Oct 04	Special Assistant to Vice Chief of Staff, United States Army, Washington, DC
Oct 04	May 06	Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, DC
May 06	Dec 06	Commanding General, III Corps and Fort Hood, Fort Hood, Texas
Dec 06	Feb 08	Commander, Multi-National Corps-Iraq, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Iraq/Commanding General, III Corps
Feb 08	Sep 08	Commanding General, III Corps and Fort Hood, Fort Hood, Texas
Sep 08	Present	Commander, Multi-National Force-Iraq, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Iraq

Promotions

Rank	Date Of Appointment
2LT	2 Jun 76
1LT	2 Jun 78
CPT	1 Aug 80
MAJ	1 Dec 86
LTC	1 Feb 92
COL	1 Sep 95
BG	1 Jul 99
MG	1 Nov 02
LTG	1 Jan 05
GEN	16 Sep 08

Image gallery

Odierno as a Lieutenant General in dress greens.
Odierno speaks with Central Texas based reporters via satellite from Camp Victory, Iraq, 2007.
General Petraeus, Secretary of Defense Gates, Gen. Gaskin, Adm. Fallon, LTG Odierno and Gen. Pace.
LTG Odierno presents Distinguished Flying Crosses to soldiers in Iraq.

LTG Odierno presents Distinguished Flying Crosses to soldiers in Iraq.
General Odierno meets with Iraqi PM Maliki.

General Odierno meets with Iraqi PM Maliki.
General Odierno meets with Iraqi and Coalition soldiers in Baghdad on 17 September 2008.

General Odierno meets with Iraqi and Coalition soldiers in Baghdad on 17 September 2008.
General Odierno visits Sadr City on 17 September 2008.

General Odierno visits Sadr City on 17 September 2008.

Decorations and Badges

U.S. military decorations
	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
	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
U.S. service (campaign) medals and service and training ribbons
	National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Service Stars)
	Southwest Asia Service Medal (with 1 Service Stars)
	Kosovo Campaign Medal (with 2 Service Stars)
	Iraq Campaign Medal (with 1 Service Stars)
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Army Service Ribbon
	Army Overseas Service Ribbon
	NATO Medal
	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)

U.S. Badges and Patches
	Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
	Army Staff Identification Badge
	Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
	Multi-National Force - Iraq Patch worn as his Current Unit of Assignment (left arm) Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (US Army)
	4th Infantry Division Patch worn as his Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (US Army)-Former War Time Service (SSI-FWTS).

References

^ Kagan Frederick W. and Kimberly Kagan, “The Patton of Counterinsurgency,” The Weekly Standard, Volume 13: Issue 25, 10 March 2008.
^ Cloud, David S. "U.S. Military Leader in Iraq Talks of ‘Thinning the Lines’", The New York Times, May 26, 2007. Accessed February 27, 2008. "'We’ll do this in a very deliberate and slow way', General Odierno, a 1976 West Point graduate from Rockaway, N.J., said in an interview here."
^ Manochio, Matt. "Morris general oversaw capture", Daily Record (Morristown), December 14, 2003. Accessed February 27, 2008. "Raymond T. Odierno, 48, is a 1972 graduate of Morris Hills High School."
^ Ricks, Thomas E. (July 25, 2006). Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq. Penguin Press HC, The. p. 153. 159420103X.
^ Peters, Ralph (August 28, 2007), "He's a Fighter: How Odierno is Building Peace", The New York Post{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
^ Filkins, Dexter. "Back in Iraq, Jarred by the Calm," The New York Times, 21 September 2008.

External links

[1] Kagan Frederick W. and Kimberly Kagan, “The Patton of Counterinsurgency,” The Weekly Standard, Volume 13: Issue 25, 10 March 2008.

[2] Cloud, David S. "U.S. Military Leader in Iraq Talks of ‘Thinning the Lines’", The New York Times, May 26, 2007. Accessed February 27, 2008. "'We’ll do this in a very deliberate and slow way', General Odierno, a 1976 West Point graduate from Rockaway, N.J., said in an interview here."

[3] Manochio, Matt. "Morris general oversaw capture", Daily Record (Morristown), December 14, 2003. Accessed February 27, 2008. "Raymond T. Odierno, 48, is a 1972 graduate of Morris Hills High School."

[4] Ricks, Thomas E. (July 25, 2006). Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq. Penguin Press HC, The. p. 153. 159420103X.

[5] Peters, Ralph (August 28, 2007), "He's a Fighter: How Odierno is Building Peace", The New York Post{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)

[6] Filkins, Dexter. "Back in Iraq, Jarred by the Calm," The New York Times, 21 September 2008.

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