General Raymond Odierno

General Raymond Odierno
Name	Raymond Odierno
Caption	General Raymond Odierno
Birth date	July 8, 1954
Birth place	Rockaway, New Jersey, United States
Death date	October 8, 2021
Death place	Arlington, Virginia, United States
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army
Service years	1976–2017
Rank	General
Commands	Multi-National Force – Iraq; United States Army Forces Command; XVIII Airborne Corps; 4th Infantry Division

General Raymond Odierno Raymond Thomas Odierno (July 8, 1954 – October 8, 2021) was a senior United States Army officer who served as the 38th Chief of Staff of the United States Army and as commander of United States forces in Iraq. A United States Military Academy alumnus with a career spanning from the Cold War through post-9/11 operations, Odierno held key leadership roles in South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000), Bosnian War, Iraq War, and broader Global War on Terrorism coalitions.

Early life and education

Born in Rockaway, New Jersey and raised in Denville, New Jersey, Odierno graduated from Parsippany High School and was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point. At West Point he studied alongside cadets who later became senior leaders in the United States Army, including classmates who served in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. After commissioning, he attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the United States Army War College, complementing professional development with graduate studies at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. His professional military education included courses at the Joint Forces Staff College and seminars associated with the NATO Defense College.

Military career

Odierno was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army in 1976 and served in a series of command and staff assignments with units including the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), 3rd Infantry Division, and the 4th Infantry Division. He served in planning and operations positions on the staff of United States Central Command and with the United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM). During the 1990s he held brigade and division-level commands and deployed in support of operations tied to the Bosnian War and NATO stabilization efforts. He served as Chief of Staff of the United States Army Forces Command before assuming corps command. Odierno's corps command of the XVIII Airborne Corps placed him at the center of contingency planning for Operation Iraqi Freedom and interoperability efforts with partner militaries such as the British Army, Australian Army, Polish Land Forces, and Kuwaiti Armed Forces.

Tenure as Chief of Staff of the Army

As the 38th Chief of Staff of the United States Army, Odierno succeeded General Raymond E. Johns Jr. and served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff council, advising the Secretary of Defense and the President of the United States on Army matters. His tenure emphasized modernization initiatives involving platforms like the M1 Abrams, Stryker, AH-64 Apache, and emerging concepts such as multi-domain operations, networked systems, and integrated logistics with partners including United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, Department of Defense, and NATO commands. Odierno championed readiness priorities aligning with the National Defense Authorization Act provisions and coordinated force posture reviews with combatant commands such as United States European Command and United States Indo-Pacific Command. Under his leadership the Army engaged with defense industry partners including General Dynamics, BAE Systems, and Lockheed Martin on procurement and sustainment programs.

Iraq War command and operations

Odierno commanded coalition forces in Iraq as Commanding General of Multi-National Force – Iraq and later as the top U.S. commander in theater during key phases of the insurgency and the 2007–2008 troop surge. He previously led the 4th Infantry Division during the initial occupation phase of Baghdad, overseeing major operations including stability and counterinsurgency campaigns alongside coalition partners such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Poland, and regional partners including the Iraqi Armed Forces and Kurdistan Regional Government security units. His approach integrated lessons from counterinsurgency doctrine promulgated in manuals such as FM 3-24 and coordination with civilian agencies including United States Agency for International Development and Department of State teams. Odierno directed operations against insurgent organizations including Al-Qaeda in Iraq and later participated in efforts to contain the rise of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant during interagency cooperation with CENTCOM and allied coalition members.

Awards and honors

Throughout his career Odierno received multiple decorations and awards from the United States and allied nations, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and multiple Bronze Star Medal awards for service in theater. International honors included awards and commendations from partners such as the United Kingdom, France, Poland, and Italy for coalition leadership. He was recognized by academic institutions including University of Notre Dame and Georgetown University with honorary degrees and participated in speaking engagements at institutions including Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, National Defense University, and West Point.

Personal life and legacy

Odierno was married to Diana and they had three children; the family maintained ties to communities in New Jersey and the Washington, D.C. area. After retiring from active duty he served in advisory roles with private sector and defense organizations including engagements with CSIS, Center for Strategic and International Studies, and corporate boards involving Raytheon Technologies and Booz Allen Hamilton. His legacy influenced doctrine, professional military education at USMA, and institutional reforms affecting force structure, readiness, and civilian-military relations, cited in analyses from think tanks such as RAND Corporation, Brookings Institution, and Council on Foreign Relations. Odierno died in Arlington, Virginia in 2021; posthumous remembrances were made by leaders from the Department of Defense, veterans' groups including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and congressional delegations from New Jersey.

Category:1954 births Category:2021 deaths Category:United States Army generals Category:United States Military Academy alumni