President George Bush has nominated Army Lt. General Raymond T. Odierno to receive a fourth star and to become the Army’s Vice Chief of Staff. The nomination of Odierno, now the number two U.S. commander in Iraq, requires Congressional approval.
General Odierno grew up in Rockaway, N.J. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in June 1976 and later attended North Carolina State University and the Naval War College. He is also a graduate of the Army War College.
General Odierno’s initial tours of duty took him to Germany. Following completion of the Artillery Officer Advance Course, he was assigned to the XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery at Fort Bragg, N.C. Odierno served as the executive officer in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
Odierno commanded the U.S. 4th Infantry Division, deploying the division to Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2003 to 2004. The 4th Infantry Division was designated to deploy into Iraq through Turkey but diplomatic complications prevented the move. Eventually, Odierno and the 4th Infantry Division deployed into Iraq from Kuwait, and despite diplomatic complications, it still marks the most rapid deployment of heavy armored forces in history. Later in the deployment, Odierno’s troops captured Saddam Hussein in December 2003.
General Odierno will replace current Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. Richard A. Cody, later this summer. 