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| Raymond Odierno (duplicate) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Raymond Odierno (duplicate) |
| Birth date | 1954-09-08 |
| Birth place | Rockaway Township, New Jersey |
| Death date | 2021-10-08 |
| Death place | Bethesda, Maryland |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Serviceyears | 1976–2015 |
| Rank | General |
| Battles | Iraq War, Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Desert Storm |
Raymond Odierno (duplicate) was a United States Army four-star general who served as the 38th Chief of Staff of the United States Army and as commander of coalition forces in Iraq during the 2000s. A graduate of the United States Military Academy and a career infantry officer, he commanded at battalion, brigade, division, corps, and theater levels, and later advised civilian leadership during transitions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Odierno's career intersected with key figures and institutions including George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Defense Intelligence Agency, CENTCOM, and the Department of Defense.
Born in Rockaway Township, New Jersey and raised in Parsippany, Odierno attended local schools before entering the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated in 1976 alongside classmates who later served in Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. He later earned a Master of Science from the University of Illinois and completed professional military education at the United States Army Command and General Staff College, the United States Army War College, and other service schools associated with TRADOC and Fort Leavenworth.
Odierno commissioned into the Infantry and served in command and staff positions with units including 2nd Infantry Division, 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, and 101st Airborne Division. He deployed during Operation Desert Storm with the XVIII Airborne Corps and later served in senior operational roles at CENTCOM and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His staff assignments connected him with leaders at Fort Bragg, Fort Campbell, Fort Hood, and the Pentagon, and he worked on planning with organizations such as the Joint Staff and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
As commander of Multi-National Corps – Iraq, Odierno led coalition and multinational formations including units from the United Kingdom, Australia, Poland, Italy, and South Korea during the surge years and the transition to Iraqi security responsibility. He coordinated counterinsurgency operations with Iraqi institutions like the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police, partnered with senior officials including Ibrahim al-Jaafari and Nouri al-Maliki, and worked alongside coalition commanders such as David Petraeus, Stanley McChrystal, and Raymond T. Odierno's contemporaries in theater. His tenure involved coordination with Coalition Provisional Authority legacies, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, and interagency partners including Department of State and USAID.
Promoted to Chief of Staff of the United States Army, Odierno oversaw modernization, readiness, and force structure during a period of drawdown from Iraq and ongoing operations in Afghanistan. He collaborated with secretaries and defense leaders including Chuck Hagel, Ash Carter, Leon Panetta, and Robert Gates on issues of force posture, budget, and Army National Guard integration, and engaged with congressional leaders such as John McCain, Carl Levin, and Nancy Pelosi on authorization and appropriations. His initiatives addressed capability development with programs tied to United States Army Futures Command, DARPA, and industry partners including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and General Dynamics.
After retirement, Odierno served on corporate boards and advised organizations including Booz Allen Hamilton, Raytheon, and think tanks such as the Council on Foreign Relations and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He testified before committees including the Senate Armed Services Committee and the House Armed Services Committee on issues related to strategy and force readiness, and engaged in veterans' advocacy with groups like the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.
Odierno married and had a family, maintaining ties to military communities at Fort Belvoir and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. In 2021 he disclosed a diagnosis of cancer and received treatment at Bethesda, Maryland medical facilities before his death later that year. His passing was noted by senior officials including Joe Biden, Mark Milley, and former commanders such as David Petraeus.
Throughout his career Odierno received numerous decorations including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, and international honors from coalition partners such as decorations from United Kingdom, Poland, and Italy. He was recognized by academic institutions including the United States Military Academy and military associations like the Association of the United States Army.
Category:United States Army generals Category:1954 births Category:2021 deaths