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| George Casey (general) | |
|---|---|
| Name | George Casey |
| Birth date | July 22, 1948 |
| Birth place | Sendai, Japan |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Serviceyears | 1970–2007 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | 101st Airborne Division, Multi-National Force – Iraq, TRADOC |
| Battles | Vietnam War, Bosnian War, Iraq War |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit |
George Casey (general) was a four‑star officer in the United States Army who served as the 36th Chief of Staff of the Army from 2007 to 2011. A Vietnam veteran and career staff officer, he held major operational and institutional commands including leadership of the 101st Airborne Division and service as Vice Chief of Staff of the Army before his appointment as Chief of Staff. Casey later engaged with think tanks, universities, and international security forums on defense and strategy.
George W. Casey Jr. was born in Sendai to a military family; his father, George W. Casey Sr., was a United States Army officer who later commanded the 101st Airborne Division and served in senior staff roles. Casey attended Shawnee Mission North High School and entered United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1970 with a commission in the United States Army Infantry Branch. He completed advanced professional education at the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the United States Army War College, and earned a master's degree from the United States Army Command and General Staff College's affiliate programs.
Casey’s early career included platoon and company leadership in the Vietnam War and staff assignments with units such as the 1st Cavalry Division (United States) and the 82nd Airborne Division. He served in operational planning billets in the United States Army Forces Command and at Fort Bragg, and held joint assignments with United States European Command and the Joint Staff. As a colonel and brigadier general he commanded brigade-sized formations and directed operations during the Bosnian War period, participating in multinational planning with NATO and United Nations missions. Promoted through the ranks, Casey became known for emphasizing professional education, force readiness, and integration of emerging technologies and doctrine into force development.
As a major general, Casey commanded the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), leading training, deployment, and operational preparation of the division for expeditionary missions. Under his command, the division conducted air assault exercises with Fort Campbell units and coordinated interoperability with U.S. Army Special Operations Command and XVIII Airborne Corps. The division’s activities during his tenure included deployments and rotational missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and stability operations, coordinating with coalition partners such as British Armed Forces and Polish Land Forces for multinational operations and joint training events.
Casey served as Vice Chief of Staff of the Army where he oversaw force modernization, resource allocation, and institutional reform in coordination with the Secretary of the Army and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In that role he worked on issues including personnel policy, force structure, and transformation initiatives associated with Global War on Terrorism operations. He engaged with congressional committees including the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services and the United States House Committee on Armed Services to articulate requirements for programs such as vehicle survivability, soldier systems, and modular brigade reorganization.
Nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate, Casey assumed duties as Chief of Staff in 2007. His tenure focused on sustainment of deployed forces in Iraq War and Afghanistan War, enhancement of Army professional development, and advocacy for resources through the Department of Defense and Congress. Casey emphasized counterinsurgency doctrine integration with training at institutions like the United States Military Academy and United States Army War College, and supported initiatives on Army retention, mental health, and family support, interacting with organizations such as the American Red Cross and military family advocacy groups. His public statements on strategy and operations generated discussion within media outlets including The New York Times and The Washington Post and among defense analysts at RAND Corporation and Center for Strategic and International Studies.
After retiring in 2011, Casey accepted roles with academic, corporate, and policy institutions. He served on advisory boards for defense contractors and participated in forums at Brookings Institution and Council on Foreign Relations. Casey lectured at universities including Georgetown University and Duke University, contributed to panels on force posture and civil‑military relations, and provided counsel to multinational corporations on security and risk management. He joined nonprofit boards focused on veterans’ affairs and engaged with organizations such as the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors and Wounded Warrior Project.
Casey is married to ____ and is the father of children who pursued careers in public service and the United States Army; his son, George W. Casey III, followed family traditions of service. His legacy includes advocacy for professional military education, institutional reform, and soldier welfare, and he is remembered alongside predecessors such as Eric K. Shinseki and successors including Raymond T. Odierno for shaping Army priorities during the height of the Iraq War. Monographs and scholarly articles at institutions like Parameters (journal) and Military Review analyze his influence on doctrine, transformation, and civil‑military discourse. He has been awarded decorations including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his service.
Category:United States Army generals Category:Chiefs of Staff of the United States Army