John F. Campbell (general)

John Francis Campbell (born April 11, 1957) is a retired United States Army general who was commander of the Resolute Support Mission and United States Forces – Afghanistan.[1] He was the last commander of the International Security Assistance Force. Prior to this, he served as the 34th Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army. He is currently a member of the board of directors of IAP,[2] and BAE Systems, and serves on the advisory board of Code of Support Foundation.

John F. Campbell
Campbell in 2013, as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army
Born	April 11, 1957 Loring Air Force Base, Maine
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1979–2016
Rank	General
Commands held	Resolute Support Mission International Security Assistance Force Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army 101st Airborne Division Regional Command East 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars	War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal (4) Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (3) Bronze Star Medal (3)

Early life and education

The son of a United States Air Force senior master sergeant, Campbell was born at Loring Air Force Base in Maine on April 11, 1957[3][4] and grew up on military bases around the world. In 1971 he became an Eagle Scout in Fairfield, California's Boy Scout Troop 270. In 1975 he graduated from Fairfield High School, where he was a participant in the Air Force Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program.[5][6][7] He graduated from the United States Military Academy in June 1979 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry. His first assignments were as a rifle platoon leader, company executive officer, and anti-tank platoon leader with the 3rd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Military career

After attending the Infantry Officer Advanced Course and the Special Forces Qualification Course, Campbell served as a Battalion Adjutant and Operational Detachment Alpha Commander in 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina followed by assignments in the 82nd Airborne Division as commander of Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment and as the Division Assistant Operations and Training Officer (G-3 Air).

Campbell was then assigned as the Assistant Professor of Military Science and then the Professor of Military Science at the University of California, Davis.

He was selected to attend the Command and General Staff College, after which he was again assigned to Ft. Bragg and the 82nd Airborne Division, where he served as the Division Training and Operations (G-3) Officer, Brigade Operations Officer (S-3) for 2nd Brigade, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment and as the Aide-de-camp for the XVIII Airborne Corps Commander (deployed during Operation Uphold Democracy).

Campbell commanded the 2nd Battalion 5th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii followed by attendance at the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the Joint Staff.

Campbell commanded 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division and the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment and deployed his Brigade Combat Team to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.[8]

Following command Campbell was assigned to the Army Staff and served as the Executive Officer to the 35th Chief of Staff of the United States Army, Peter J. Schoomaker.

General officer assignments

After promotion to general officer, in 2005, Campbell was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas as the Deputy Commanding General for Maneuver (DCG-M) for the 1st Cavalry Division and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the DCG-M for Multi-National Division – Baghdad for both the 4th Infantry Division and the 1st Cavalry Division. Campbell's following assignment was as the Deputy Director for Regional Operations, (J-33), The Joint Staff.

In 2009, Campbell was named Commanding General, 101st Airborne Division, at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.[9] While serving as the Commanding General, he also commanded Combined Joint Task Force 101 the operational headquarters for Regional Command East in Afghanistan from June 2010 to May 2011.[10] Upon relinquishing command of the 101st Airborne Division in August 2011 to Major General James C. McConville, Campbell was promoted to Lieutenant General and became the Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Training (G-3/5/7).[11]

Campbell was promoted to general and sworn in as the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army on 8 March 2013.[12]

On July 23, 2014, Campbell was confirmed by the United States Senate to succeed General Joseph Dunford as commander International Security Assistance Force and United States Forces—Afghanistan.[13] Campbell was succeeded by General John W. Nicholson Jr., on March 2, 2016, and retired on May 1, 2016.

On July 25, 2016, Turkish daily Yeni Şafak wrote that Campbell was "behind the failed coup" that started on July 15.[14] Campbell dismissed the allegation, stating that he had not traveled outside the United States since returning home from Afghanistan.[15] He also stated that on the day of the coup, he and journalist Geraldo Rivera had met to socialize over drinks, a claim Rivera corroborated.[16]

Dates of rank

Promotions

Rank	Date
General	8 March 2013[12]
Major General	7 November 2008[17]
Brigadier General	1 October 2005[17]
Colonel	1 June 2000[17]
Lieutenant Colonel	1 April 1995[17]
Major	1 October 1990[17]
Captain	1 June 1983[17]
First Lieutenant	21 February 1981[17]
Second Lieutenant	6 June 1979[17]

Awards and decorations

	Combat Infantryman Badge
	Expert Infantryman Badge
	Master Parachutist Badge
	Pathfinder Badge
	Special Forces Tab
	Ranger Tab
	Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
	Army Staff Identification Badge
	101st Airborne Division Combat Service Identification Badge
	504th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
	Honduras Senior Parachutist badge
	9 Overseas Service Bars

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal
	Army Distinguished Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters[17][18]
	Defense Superior Service Medal
	Legion of Merit with two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters
	Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
	Air Medal
	Joint Service Commendation Medal
	Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
	Army Achievement Medal
	Army Presidential Unit Citation with oak leaf cluster
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award
	Meritorious Unit Commendation with oak leaf cluster
	National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three service stars
	Iraq Campaign Medal with one service star
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Humanitarian Service Medal with one service star
	Army Service Ribbon
	Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 5
	NATO Meritorious Service Medal
	NATO Medal for Service with ISAF
	First Grade High State Medal of Storai (Afghanistan)

See also

• Kunduz hospital airstrike

References

1. "Gen. Campbell assumes ISAF command from Gen. Dunford". August 26, 2015. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
2. https://www.iapws.com/news/three-new-members-join-iaps-board-directors/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
3. "Nominations Before The Senate Armed Services Committee, Second Session, 113th Congress" (PDF). Congress.gov. U.S. Government Publishing Office. 2014. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
4. Association of Graduates U.S.M.A.; United States Military Academy. West Point Alumni Foundation (1989). Register of Graduates and Former Cadets, United States Military Academy. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
5. Jet Trails magazine, First NOESA Presented in the Middle Tennessee Council Archived 2014-08-22 at the Wayback Machine, October/November/December 2011, page 5
6. Welcome Home: Serving the Community of San Antonio, Army Encourages Local JROTC Archived 2014-08-22 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved June 12, 2014.
7. Ian Thompson, Fairfield Daily Republic, Fairfield High Grad to get High Pentagon Post, December 4, 2012
8. http://www.pritzkermilitary.org/whats_on/pritzker-military-presents/maj-gen-john-f-campbell-usa-and-mrs-ann-campbell/
9. David B. Snow (17 August 2011). "Campbell bids farewell as 101st post commander". The Eagle Post. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
10. "Major General John F. Campbell, 101st Airborne Division Commander to return to Fort Campbell May 20th". Clarksville Online. 18 May 2011. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
11. "Defense.gov News Release: General Officer Announcement". U.S. Department of Defense. January 15, 2012. Archived from the original on January 15, 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
12. J.D. Leipold (March 11, 2013). "Campbell takes oath as Army's vice chief of staff". Army.mil. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
13. "Army Vice Chief Campbell Confirmed for ISAF Post; Votel Goes to SOCOM". DefenseNews. July 24, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
14. "US Commander Campbell: The man behind the failed coup in Turkey". Yeni Şafak. Istanbul, Turkey. July 25, 2016.
15. "Geraldo vouches for US general accused of plotting failed Turkish coup". Fox News.com. New York, NY. July 25, 2016.
16. "Geraldo vouches for US general accused of plotting failed Turkish coup".
17. "National Defence University Bios" (PDF). Retrieved February 13, 2013.
18. "Gen. John F. Campbell biography". Army.mil. Retrieved March 15, 2013.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document: "http://www.isaf.nato.int/en/about-isaf/leadership/major-general-john-f.-campbell.html".

External links

• Appearances on C-SPAN