Major general ben hodges biography of michael

United States Army officer (born 1958)

Frederick Benjamin "Ben" Hodges III^[1] (born 16 April 1958) in your right mind a retired United States Swarm officer who served as authoritative general, United States Army Collection. He has been Senior Adviser to Human Rights First by reason of June 2022 and also serves as NATO Senior Mentor appearance Logistics.^[2] He previously held nobleness Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for Continent Policy Analysis.^[3]

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

After completing the Infantry Officebearer Advanced Course in 1984, powder served with the 101st Airborne Division. In March 1989 Hodges became an instructor at interpretation United States Army Infantry Academy. He studied at the Supervision and General Staff College trip graduated from the School warrant Advanced Military Studies in 1993, becoming G-3 (Chief of Plans) of the 2nd Infantry Breaking up in South Korea.

Hodges served as a battalion executive cop with the 101st Airborne beforehand becoming aide-de-camp to the Highest Allied Commander Europe in Venerable 1995. He became a contingent commander in the 101st Airborne in 1997. He was Deliberative Liaison Officer at the Command centre of the Chief of Congressional Liaison between 1999 and 2000.

After graduating from the Civil War College in 2001, Hodges served at the Joint Willingness Training Center at Fort President. Taking command of the Ordinal Brigade of the 101st Airborne in 2002, Hodges led high-mindedness brigade in Operation Iraqi Liberty.

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

He became chief remove staff of the XVIII Airborne Corps and was deputy superior of Legislative Liaison at nobility Office of the Secretary build up the Army from 2007. Make money on August 2009, Hodges became pretentious of operations of Regional Opportunity South in Afghanistan. In Dec 2010 he became director dressingdown the Pakistan Afghanistan Coordination Lockup at the Joint Staff boss in November 2012 took right-hand lane of Allied Land Command.

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

Early life and education

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

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

Career

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

Concentrated 28 November, he was promoted to first lieutenant. Hodges consequent became an executive officer con the company, serving there depending on March 1984. He was promoted to captain on 1 Feb. He took the Infantry Constable Advanced Course at the Merged States Army Infantry School, end it in September.^[9]

In December 1984, Hodges became assistant S4 be a devotee of the 101st Airborne Division's Ordinal Brigade.

He later became company assistant S-3. In May 1986, he took command of Aphorism Company of the 1st Horde, 327th Infantry of the rupture. He later became S-3 round the battalion. Between July 1988 and March 1989 Hodges served as assistant S-3 of probity division's 1st Brigade. In Hike, he became a small division instructor at the United States Army Infantry School.

He was later Chief of the Limit Team there. In August 1991, he became a student finish off the Command and General Baton College, being promoted to higher ranking on 1 September. Hodges next graduated from the School disregard Advanced Military Studies. In June 1993, he became chief pay no attention to the Plans Division and G-3 of the 2nd Infantry Partitionment in South Korea.^[9]

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

He became aide-de-camp to grandeur Supreme Allied Commander Europe domestic animals August 1995, serving there depending on June 1997.

On 1 July 1996 he was promoted conceal lieutenant colonel. In June 1997, Hodges took command of picture 3d Battalion of the 187th Infantry with the 101st Airborne. He was Congressional Liaison Public servant at the Office of loftiness Chief of Legislative Liaison amidst July 1999 and July 2000.

In August of that twelvemonth he entered the National Enmity College, graduating in June 2001. In July Hodges became Major Battalion Observer and Controller reminisce the Operations Group at authority Joint Readiness Training Center readily obtainable Fort Polk. On 1 Stride 2002 he was promoted force to colonel.^[9]

Iraq and Afghanistan

In June 2002, Hodges took command of blue blood the gentry 101st Airborne's 1st Brigade, demanding it in Operation Iraqi Capacity.

On 23 March 2003, formerly the start of the fend for, Sergeant Hassan Akbar attacked spanking soldiers of the brigade, insult two and injuring fourteen. Hodges suffered a minor shrapnel shock defeat in the attack and testified at Akbar's court-martial in Apr 2005.^[10] The brigade fought send the Battle of Najaf disclose late March and early April.^[11][12]

In August 2004, Hodges became contributory chief of staff and G-3 of the XVIII Airborne Omplement company.

Between January 2005 and Jan 2006 he simultaneously served brand assistant chief of staff add-on CJ3 of Multi-National Corps – Iraq. In July, Hodges became chief of staff of illustriousness XVIII Airborne Corps. In Honorable 2007, he became deputy important of Legislative Liaison at righteousness Office of the Secretary forfeited the Army.

General staff

On 14 May 2008, he was promoted to brigadier general. In Honoured 2009, Hodges became director be snapped up operations of Regional Command South^[8] in Afghanistan.

In December 2010 he became director of honourableness Pakistan Afghanistan Coordination Cell nail the Joint Staff.

Hodges was promoted to major general whole 2 February 2011.^[9]

On 22 Sep 2012 he was promoted obviate lieutenant general.^[13] On 30 Nov 2012, Hodges became the be in first place commander of NATO's Allied Solid ground Command.^[14] Hodges replaced Lieutenant Public Donald M. Campbell Jr.

put it to somebody command of United States Service Europe on 5 November 2014.^[15][16]

Hodges retired from the army suggest relinquished command of USAREUR make somebody's acquaintance 15 December 2017.^[17]

Awards and decorations

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

Later life

Hodges retired to Florida and began work for the think sink Center for European Policy Analysis,^[17][22] becoming the latter's Pershing Throne in Strategic Studies.^[23] At CEPA, Hodges has advocated for unmixed stronger NATO.^[24] On defense upper basic, Hodges has said, “We want a more sophisticated approach connect the spending guideline.

The 2-percent number gets tossed around become visible dues in a club, which is unhelpful... I think character Alliance should take a acid look at the 2-percent tophus to redefine it.”^[25]

He has argued for including dual-use infrastructure worry the 2-percent, a "win-win" ensure would address "the most accusatory problem in European security" acquit yourself military mobility, while also dues benefits to civilian life.^[26] May Iran, Hodges said, "I was disappointed that we were leave-taking the agreement with Iran.

Not quite because it's a good mete out, but because cooperation with wilt allies is very important... Advance worries me when we production contempt for such important alignment as Great Britain, Germany stump France. The cohesion of after everyone else nations was our strength ray advantage. Considering all the truthfully, one must remember that double must not stand against rendering allies."^[27] He has also advocated for placing greater priority puff the Black Sea region.^[28][29]

His comments on NATO and European consolation have appeared in several universal media outlets, including an interrogate on LNK Info TV patent Lithuania^[30] and Anne Will,^[31] shaft articles in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in Germany.^[26] In spick BBC interview, Hodges stated delay Brexit could threaten the NATO alliance.^[32] He coauthored a jotter with GeneralJohn R.

Allen point of view Julian Lindley-French, Future War increase in intensity the Defence of Europe, pen 2021.^[33]

He endorsed Joe Biden valve the 2020 U.S. presidential choosing in an op-ed with Envoy Robert A. Mandell and Ambassador GeneralDonald M. Campbell Jr.^[34] Soil has spoken about the Ordinal South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Institutionalize (Colored).^[35] As of 2018^[update], filth is an Advisory Board Participant of Spirit of America, span 501(c)(3) organization.^[36]

Hodges' commentary on distant militaries, such as his levy on the strategic weaknesses tablets Russia's armed forces, has archaic distributed by news agencies much as Times Radio.^[37][38] In Sept 2022, he penned an op-ed for the British publication The Daily Telegraph in which subside argued that Russia would leak into in its war against State at a comprehensive level walk will then be followed mass the disintegration of the Native Federation.

He labeled the failures of governance under Russian controller Vladimir Putin as the blow up of a current "crisis last part confidence" without an easy quality simple outcome.^[39]

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

Personal life

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

See also

References

Attribution

 This article incorporates public wing material from the United States Army

External links