Mark Milley

Mark Milley
Chief Petty Officer Carlos M. Vazquez II and Benjamin Applebaum, U.S. Department · Public domain · source
Name	Mark A. Milley
Birth date	1958-06-20
Birth place	Winchester, Massachusetts, United States
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army
Serviceyears	1980–2023
Rank	General
Commands	United States Northern Command; United States Army Forces Command; III Corps; 10th Mountain Division
Battles	United States invasion of Panama; War in Afghanistan (2001–2021); Iraq War

Mark Milley is a retired four-star general who served as the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and previously as the 39th Chief of Staff of the United States Army. He held senior command and staff positions across United States Northern Command, United States Army Forces Command, and III Corps, and advised multiple administrations on national security, strategy, and force posture. A West Point graduate with airborne and Ranger qualifications, he is known for his emphasis on readiness, great-power competition, and civil-military relations.

Early life and education

Born in Winchester, Massachusetts, Milley attended Stoneham High School before receiving an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he graduated in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science. He completed multiple advanced military schooling courses, including the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the United States Army War College. Milley earned a Master of Arts in international relations from Columbia University and a Doctor of Philosophy in political science from Princeton University, focusing on civil-military relations and national security studies. His academic mentors and contemporaries included faculty and fellows associated with Council on Foreign Relations, Harvard Kennedy School, and research programs at Brookings Institution-style think tanks.

Military career

Milley’s early operational assignments included infantry platoon and company commands with 10th Mountain Division (United States) and airborne units tied to 2nd Infantry Division (United States). He deployed in support of the United States invasion of Panama in 1989 and later served multiple combat tours during the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) and the Iraq War, occupying tactical and operational leadership roles. As a brigade commander he led formations in 10th Mountain Division (United States) and as a division commander he led 10th Mountain Division (United States) in training cycles and overseas operations.

At the corps and army level, Milley commanded III Corps at Fort Hood, Texas and later led United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM), overseeing force readiness, mobilization, and large-scale exercises such as those with NATO, European Union partners, and bilateral partners including Japan Self-Defense Forces, Republic of Korea Armed Forces, and Australian Defence Force. He served as Chief of Staff of the United States Army where he prioritized modernization initiatives like the Army Futures Command concepts, integration of F-35 Lightning II-era joint operations, and partnerships with defense contractors including Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman.

His senior staff assignments included positions on the Joint Staff, advisory panels to Secretaries such as James Mattis and Mark Esper, and interactions with Congressional committees including the United States Senate Armed Services Committee and the United States House Committee on Armed Services. Milley was involved in force posture reviews in regions including Indo-Pacific, NATO Allied Command Transformation discussions in Brussels, and contingency planning for crises involving People's Republic of China, Russian Federation, and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Nominated by President Donald Trump in 2019 and confirmed by the United States Senate, Milley became Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in October 2019, serving as principal military advisor to Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden, the Secretary of Defenses, and the National Security Council. His tenure encompassed the global COVID-19 pandemic, the conclusion of major combat operations in Afghanistan, escalation-management with Iran, persistent strategic competition with Russian Federation and People's Republic of China, and deterrence posture adjustments with NATO allies.

Milley emphasized readiness, the rebuild of conventional deterrents, and interoperability exercises such as DEFENDER-Europe and Pacific deployments with Carrier Strike Group deployments and Marine Corps rotational forces. He coordinated military support in domestic contingencies under statutes administered with Federal Emergency Management Agency liaison and civil authorities, and engaged in high-level dialogues with counterparts from People's Republic of China and United Kingdom to manage escalation risks.

Controversies and public criticism

Milley’s tenure generated debate over civil-military norms, public statements, and policy stances. Critics and commentators from outlets covering The New York Times, The Washington Post, Fox News, and CNN scrutinized his actions during events such as the 2020 presidential transition and the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. Congressional hearings involving members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate examined intelligence assessments, after-action accounts, and communications with foreign counterparts, including allegations about calls to military leaders in the People's Republic of China intended to reduce miscalculation. Some veterans and political figures from Republican Party and Democratic Party constituencies voiced both support and criticism regarding Milley’s public engagement and testimony.

Debate also surrounded operational decisions linked to the Afghanistan evacuation, assessments of counterterrorism posture post-withdrawal, and interactions with civilian leadership during periods of domestic unrest. Think tanks such as Center for Strategic and International Studies, Heritage Foundation, and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace published analyses critiquing and defending aspects of Milley’s leadership.

Personal life and honors

Milley is married and has family ties in New England and military communities associated with Fort Bragg, Fort Hood, Texas, and Fort Benning. He is a recipient of decorations including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, and multiple Bronze Star Medal awards. Academic institutions including Columbia University and Princeton University and professional military associations such as the Association of the United States Army and Military Officers Association of America have engaged with Milley through lectures and panels. He has participated in speaking events at venues like West Point, National Defense University, and international forums hosted by NATO.

Category:United States Army generals Category:Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Category:1958 births Category:Living people