Ray Odierno

Ray Odierno
Name	Raymond Thomas Odierno
Caption	General Raymond T. Odierno
Birth date	November 8, 1954
Birth place	Rockaway, New Jersey, U.S.
Death date	October 8, 2021
Death place	Arlington, Virginia, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Army
Serviceyears	1976–2015
Rank	General
Commands	Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States Army Forces Command, 1st Infantry Division, III Corps
Battles	Gulf War, Iraq War, Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm

Ray Odierno was a four-star United States Army general who served as the 38th Chief of Staff of the United States Army and as the commander of Multi-National Force – Iraq during the Iraq War. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, he held key operational and institutional leadership positions, including command of United States Forces Command and the 1st Infantry Division. Odierno's career intersected with major events such as Operation Desert Storm, the 2004 Second Battle of Fallujah, and the 2007–2008 troop surge, influencing U.S. force posture and doctrine into the 21st century.

Early life and education

Born in Rockaway, New Jersey, Odierno attended local schools before entering the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned in 1976. He completed advanced military education at the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the National War College at the National Defense University. Odierno also obtained a Master of Science in engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and engaged with senior leader programs at institutions including the Harvard Kennedy School and the Eisenhower School.

Military career

Odierno's early assignments included service with armored and mechanized units in the United States Army Europe and postings to Fort Hood, Texas and Fort Riley, Kansas. He served in staff and troop positions in units such as the 1st Infantry Division, the 4th Infantry Division, and III Corps. Odierno deployed during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm with coalition forces led by General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. and later held brigade and division commands that connected him to leaders including General Eric Shinseki, General Peter Schoomaker, General David Petraeus, and General Martin Dempsey.

Iraq War and command of Multi-National Force – Iraq

During the Iraq War, Odierno commanded the 4th Infantry Division during the 2003–2005 occupation and counterinsurgency operations, operating in provinces including Baghdad Governorate and Diyala Governorate. He later led Multi-National Division North and was associated with major operations such as the Battle of Mosul (2004) and the Second Battle of Fallujah (2004), alongside commanders like Lieutenant General Raymond Odierno's contemporaries Major General David Petraeus and Lieutenant General Ricardo S. Sanchez. In 2008 Odierno assumed command of Multi-National Force – Iraq, succeeding General David Petraeus, overseeing the Status of Forces Agreement (2008) drawdown policies and coordinating with political leaders including President George W. Bush, President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, and coalition partners such as the United Kingdom and Australia.

His tenure involved implementing the 2007 troop surge strategy, working with actors like General John Abizaid and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, and interacting with Iraqi institutions including the Iraqi Security Forces, Iraqi Army, and Iraqi Ministry of Defense. Odierno coordinated with NATO elements, Multinational Corps–Iraq, and theater commands on issues of transition, counterinsurgency doctrine, and provincial security agreements.

Chief of Staff of the Army

Promoted to four-star rank, Odierno served as Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 2011 to 2015, reporting to Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Army, and working with senior officials such as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey and Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter. He oversaw modernization efforts, force structure decisions, and policy interactions with the United States Congress, Senate Armed Services Committee, and defense industry partners including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman. Odierno emphasized readiness, Army Profession doctrine, and partnerships with allies such as NATO, United Kingdom Armed Forces, Canadian Armed Forces, and regional partners in Asia-Pacific and Europe.

Post-military career and public service

After retiring in 2015, Odierno joined corporate boards and advisory roles with firms including Booz Allen Hamilton, AECOM, Raytheon Technologies, and engaged with think tanks such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Brookings Institution, and the Council on Foreign Relations. He testified before the United States Senate and House Armed Services Committee on force posture, readiness, and veterans' issues, and participated in philanthropic efforts with organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project and the USO. Odierno also contributed to public discourse on national security alongside figures such as Secretary James Mattis, General Joseph Dunford, and Admiral Mike Mullen.

Personal life and health

Odierno married and had a family, living in the Washington, D.C. area and maintaining connections to military communities at Fort Bragg, Fort Benning, and Fort Hood. He faced health challenges later in life, including a diagnosis of cancer, and received treatment at medical centers such as Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Mayo Clinic. Odierno died on October 8, 2021, in Arlington, Virginia, with tributes from leaders including President Joe Biden, former Secretaries of Defense, and senior generals.

Awards and honors

Odierno received numerous decorations, including the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart. He was honored by academic institutions such as the United States Military Academy and awarded honorary degrees from universities including Dartmouth College and Georgetown University. International recognitions included honors from coalition partners such as the United Kingdom, Italy, and Australia, and awards from veterans' organizations like the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Category:United States Army generals Category:1954 births Category:2021 deaths