Bantz J. Craddock
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bantz John Craddock | |
|---|---|
| Born 1950 (age 57–58) | |
 General Bantz J. Craddock |
|
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | United States European Command Supreme Allied Commander Europe (NATO) |
| Battles/wars | Operation Desert Storm Kosovo War |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (3) Bronze Star Bundeswehr Cross of Honour in Gold |
General Bantz John Craddock, United States Army (born 1950), is the current Commander, U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) for NATO and the commanding officer of Allied Command Operations (ACO). He also led the United States Southern Command from November 9, 2004 to December 2006.
Contents |
[edit] Military career
Craddock was commissioned as an Armor officer upon graduation from West Virginia University. His initial tour of duty was with the U.S. 3rd Armored Division in Germany, followed by an assignment at Fort Knox, Kentucky, as an armor test officer for the U.S. Army Armor and Engineer Board. After completion of the Armor Officer Advanced Course, he was again assigned to the 3rd Armored Division, commanding a tank company in the 1st Battalion, 32nd Armor Regiment.
In September 1981, Craddock was reassigned to the Office of the Program Manager, Abrams Tank Systems in Warren, Michigan, as a Systems Analyst and later as Program Executive Officer. After graduation from the Command and General Staff College, Craddock joined the 8th Infantry Division (Mechanized) in Germany, serving as the Executive Officer of the 4th Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment for two years. He was subsequently reassigned to the Division Headquarters as the Deputy G3, Operations.
In May 1989, Craddock assumed command of the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Stewart, Georgia. He commanded the Tuskers for 26 months, deploying to Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Following command, Craddock was the Assistant Chief of Staff, G3, Operations, for the 24th Division. Subsequently, he attended the U.S. Army War College, graduating in 1993. Craddock then assumed command of the 194th Armored Brigade (Separate) at Fort Knox. In June 1995, Craddock inactivated the Brigade as part of the U.S. Army's post-cold war drawdown, and was assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G3, for III Corps at Fort Hood, Texas.
In 1996, Craddock was reassigned to the Joint Staff in the Pentagon as an Assistant Deputy Director in J5. In August 1998, he joined the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) in Germany as the Assistant Division Commander for Maneuver. While serving in that capacity, Craddock was designated as Commander of U.S. Forces for the initial entry operation into Kosovo. In August 1999, Craddock was reassigned as the Commanding General of the 7th Army Training Command, U.S. Army Europe. In September 2000, Craddock assumed command of the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) – the "Big Red One". From August 2002 to 2004, Craddock served as the Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense.
Craddock served as Combatant Commander of United States Southern Command from 2004 until 2006. On July 14, 2006 NATO announced that, when his term as COCOM of the United States Southern Command expired, Craddock would succeed James L. Jones as Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) — NATO's top commander of operations in Europe. The change-of-command ceremony at Mons, Belgium, occurred on December 7, 2006.[1]
[edit] Military honors
Craddock's decorations include:
 |
Defense Distinguished Service Medal |
 |
Distinguished Service Medal |
 |
Silver Star |
  |
Defense Superior Service Medal w/ 1 Oak Leaf Cluster |
 |
Legion of Merit with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters |
 |
Bronze Star |
 |
Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters |
 |
Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters |
 |
Army Achievement Medal |
 |
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters |
 |
Valorous Unit Award |
Foreign Decorations
- Bundeswehr Cross of Honour in Gold
- NATO Medal with bronze star
- Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
- Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
This article incorporates text from http://www.southcom.mil/PA/Media/Media%20Relations/bios/southcom/bioCDR.htm, a public domain work of the United States Government.
- SACEUR General John Craddock. SHAPE Biographies. NATO. Retrieved on 2006-12-08.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Gen. James L. Jones |
Supreme Allied Commander Europe (NATO) & Commander of the United States European Command December 4, 2006–present |
Incumbent |
