Gary J. Volesky

Gary J. Volesky (born September 7, 1961) is a retired United States Army lieutenant general who commanded of I Corps from 2017 to 2020. He previously served as commander of the 101st Airborne Division and commander of the American ground forces in Iraq as part of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.[2] Volesky retired in February 2020, after being succeeded by Lieutenant General Randy George as commander of I Corps.

Gary J. Volesky
Lieutenant General Volesky in 2017
Born	September 7, 1961 Spokane, Washington[1]
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1983–2020
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	I Corps 101st Airborne Division 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment
Battles/wars	Gulf War Iraq War War in Afghanistan Operation Inherent Resolve
Awards	Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal (5) Purple Heart

Biography

From Spokane, Washington, Volesky graduated from Ferris High School in 1979. In 1983, he earned a bachelor's degree in military science from Eastern Washington University.[3] He followed this with a master's degree in Near and Middle Eastern Studies from Princeton University. He graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and earned another master's degree at the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.[4]

Volesky served in the Gulf War, Iraq War and War in Afghanistan. He earned the Silver Star for his actions on 4 April 2004 – later known as "Black Sunday" – that began the Siege of Sadr City.[5]

Volesky served as the U.S. Army's Chief of Public Affairs in Washington, D.C.,[6] prior to being appointed commander of the 101st Airborne Division in June 2014. In 2015, he was deployed with the 101st to Liberia to help the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) with the ebola crisis by building treatment facilities and to train aid workers.[1] He later served as commander of the American ground forces in Iraq as part of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.

Volesky replaced Lieutenant General Stephen Lanza as commander of I Corps on 3 April 2017.[7] He retired in February 2020, after Lieutenant General Randy George succeeded him as I Corps commander.[8]

Awards and decorations

Combat Infantryman Badge with Star (denoting 2nd award)[4]

Ranger Tab

Master Parachutist Badge

Air Assault Badge

Army Staff Identification Badge

101st Airborne Division Combat Service Identification Badge

5th Cavalry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia

Honduras parachutist badge

? Overseas Service Bars

Army Distinguished Service Medal

Silver Star

Defense Superior Service Medal

Legion of Merit

Bronze Star Medal with four bronze oak leaf clusters

Purple Heart

Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster

Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster

Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters

Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster

National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star

Southwest Asia Service Medal with three service stars

Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars

Iraq Campaign Medal with three service stars

Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Army Service Ribbon

Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 5

NATO Medal for service with ISAF

Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)

Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Depictions in media

Volesky is shown in National Geographic's mini-series The Long Road Home (miniseries).

References

1. Caster, Brian (15 October 2016). "'We Are Fighting an Enemy, and the Enemy Is Ebola'". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
2. "Department of Defense Press Briefing by Army Maj. Gen. Gary J. Volesky". U.S. Department of Defense. 19 October 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
3. Carper, Kandi (15 October 2014). "Volesky's Rendezvous with Destiny". Eastern Magazine. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
4. "Major General Gary J. Volesky" (PDF). Fort Campbell. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
5. Lawrence-Turner, Jody (15 March 2014). "Maj. Gen. Gary Volesky, EWU alumnus, to lead Army's storied 101st Airborne Division". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
6. Raddatz, Martha; Coolidge, Richard; Phelps, Jordyn (19 March 2013). "10 years later: Brig. Gen. Volesky on the sacrifices and progress made in the Iraq War". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
7. Lynn, Adam (3 April 2017). "New I Corps commander: 'We are ready to fight tonight'". The News Tribune. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
8. Ferraro, Julie A. (February 6, 2020). "I Corps change of command: George promoted and takes command of America's First Corps". Northwest Military.com. Joint Base Lewis–McChord, WA.

External links

• Gary J. Volesky on Twitter