Post by Lisa Steptoe on May 2, 2006 12:29:31 GMT -5
www.fayettevillenc.com/article?id=232151
Maj. Gen. Austin to be Bragg's first black commander
By Henry Cuningham
Military
Austin
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President Bush has nominated Maj. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III to be commander of Fort Bragg and the 18th Airborne Corps, the Pentagon said Monday.
Austin, whose assignment includes promotion to three-star general, will be the first black officer to command the 18th Airborne Corps in its 62-year history. He was unavailable for comment.
The nomination is subject to Senate confirmation.
Austin is chief of staff of U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base at Tampa, Fla. Central Command oversees U.S. military forces in the Middle East.
He will replace Lt. Gen. John R. Vines, whose next assignment has not been announced.
Austin is former commander of the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, N.Y., one of the four divisions of the 18th Airborne Corps. He is the first 10th Mountain commander to rise to command of the 18th Airborne Corps.
The corps also includes the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg; the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Ga.; and the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Ky. Austin has commanded the 82nd’s 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment and been assistant division commander of the 3rd Infantry Division.
Austin, who is from Thomasville, Ga., received his commission as a second lieutenant in 1975 from West Point, where he later served as a tactical officer. Austin will be the first West Pointer to command the 18th Airborne Corps since John W. Foss in 1988.
Austin has a master’s degree in education from Auburn and a master’s in business management from Webster University.
His first assignments were in the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), then in Germany, as a rifle platoon leader and scout platoon leader.
He came to Fort Bragg as commander of the Combat Support Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 508th Infantry of the 82nd and was then assistant operations officer for 1st Brigade.
In 1993, he returned to the 82nd to command the 2nd Battalion of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment and serve as assistant chief of staff for operations.
He also served as the commanding general of Combined Joint Task Force 180 in Afghanistan.
His awards and decorations include the Silver Star, the Defense Superior Service Medal, Master Parachutist Badge and the Ranger Tab.
Maj. Gen. Austin to be Bragg's first black commander
By Henry Cuningham
Military
Austin
ADVERTISEMENT
President Bush has nominated Maj. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III to be commander of Fort Bragg and the 18th Airborne Corps, the Pentagon said Monday.
Austin, whose assignment includes promotion to three-star general, will be the first black officer to command the 18th Airborne Corps in its 62-year history. He was unavailable for comment.
The nomination is subject to Senate confirmation.
Austin is chief of staff of U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base at Tampa, Fla. Central Command oversees U.S. military forces in the Middle East.
He will replace Lt. Gen. John R. Vines, whose next assignment has not been announced.
Austin is former commander of the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, N.Y., one of the four divisions of the 18th Airborne Corps. He is the first 10th Mountain commander to rise to command of the 18th Airborne Corps.
The corps also includes the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg; the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Ga.; and the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Ky. Austin has commanded the 82nd’s 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment and been assistant division commander of the 3rd Infantry Division.
Austin, who is from Thomasville, Ga., received his commission as a second lieutenant in 1975 from West Point, where he later served as a tactical officer. Austin will be the first West Pointer to command the 18th Airborne Corps since John W. Foss in 1988.
Austin has a master’s degree in education from Auburn and a master’s in business management from Webster University.
His first assignments were in the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), then in Germany, as a rifle platoon leader and scout platoon leader.
He came to Fort Bragg as commander of the Combat Support Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 508th Infantry of the 82nd and was then assistant operations officer for 1st Brigade.
In 1993, he returned to the 82nd to command the 2nd Battalion of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment and serve as assistant chief of staff for operations.
He also served as the commanding general of Combined Joint Task Force 180 in Afghanistan.
His awards and decorations include the Silver Star, the Defense Superior Service Medal, Master Parachutist Badge and the Ranger Tab.
