Bantz J. Craddock

Infobox Military Person
name= Bantz John Craddock
born= birth year and age|1950
died=
placeofbirth=
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=


caption= General Bantz J. Craddock
nickname=
allegiance=flag|United States of America
branch=United States Army
serviceyears=
rank= General
commands=United States European Command Supreme Allied Commander Europe (NATO)
unit=
battles=Operation Desert Storm Kosovo War
awards= Defense Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (3) Bronze Star Meritorious Service Medal (4) Army Commendation Medal (3) Army Achievement Medal Bundeswehr Cross of Honour in Gold
laterwork=
General Bantz John Craddock (born 1950), is the current Commander, U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) for NATO and the commanding officer of Allied Command Operations (ACO). He also led the United States Southern Command from November 9, 2004 to December 2006.

Military career

Craddock was commissioned as an Armor officer upon graduation from West Virginia University. His initial tour of duty was with the U.S. 3rd Armored Division in Germany, followed by an assignment at Fort Knox, Kentucky, as an armor test officer for the U.S. Army Armor and Engineer Board. After completion of the Armor Officer Advanced Course, he was again assigned to the 3rd Armored Division, commanding a tank company in the 1st Battalion, 32nd Armor Regiment.

In September 1981, Craddock was reassigned to the Office of the Program Manager, Abrams Tank Systems in Warren, Michigan, as a Systems Analyst and later as Program Executive Officer. After graduation from the Command and General Staff College, Craddock joined the 8th Infantry Division (Mechanized) in Germany, serving as the Executive Officer of the 4th Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment for two years. He was subsequently reassigned to the Division Headquarters as the Deputy G3, Operations.

In May 1989, Craddock assumed command of the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Stewart, Georgia. He commanded the Tuskers for 26 months, deploying to Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Following command, Craddock was the Assistant Chief of Staff, G3, Operations, for the 24th Division. Subsequently, he attended the U.S. Army War College, graduating in 1993. Craddock then assumed command of the 194th Armored Brigade (Separate) at Fort Knox. In June 1995, Craddock inactivated the Brigade as part of the U.S. Army's post-cold war drawdown, and was assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G3, for III Corps at Fort Hood, Texas.

In 1996, Craddock was reassigned to the Joint Staff in the Pentagon as an Assistant Deputy Director in J5. In August 1998, he joined the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) in Germany as the Assistant Division Commander for Maneuver. While serving in that capacity, Craddock was designated as Commander of U.S. Forces for the initial entry operation into Kosovo. In August 1999, Craddock was reassigned as the Commanding General of the 7th Army Training Command, U.S. Army Europe. In September 2000, Craddock assumed command of the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) – the "Big Red One". From August 2002 to 2004, Craddock served as the Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense.

Craddock served as Combatant Commander of United States Southern Command from 2004 until 2006. On July 14, 2006 NATO announced that, when his term as COCOM of the United States Southern Command expired, Craddock would succeed James L. Jones as Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) — NATO's top commander of operations in Europe. The change-of-command ceremony at Mons, Belgium, occurred on December 7, 2006. [http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-07-14T152040Z_01_L14922006_RTRUKOC_0_UK-NATO-COMMANDER.xml Guantanamo chief to become NATO top commander] , "Reuters", July 14, 2006]

Military honors

Craddock's decorations include:Foreign Decorations
* with bronze star
*
*
*

ee also

References

*cite web|url=http://www.nato.int/shape/bios/saceur/craddock.htm
title=SACEUR General John Craddock
work=SHAPE Biographies
publisher=NATO
accessdate=2006-12-08

External links

* [http://www.nato.int/shape/ Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe]
* [http://www.eucom.mil United States European Command]

Persondata
NAME= Craddock, Bantz J.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Army general
DATE OF BIRTH= 1950
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=