William B. Caldwell IV

William B. "Bill" Caldwell IV (born January 24, 1954)[4] is a retired United States Army officer and the current President of Georgia Military College. [5] Caldwell's final military assignment was as Commanding General of United States Army North, also known as the Fifth Army.

William B. Caldwell IV
Caldwell in 2011
Nickname(s)	"Bill"[1][2]
Born	(1954-01-24) January 24, 1954 Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1976–2013
Rank	Lieutenant general
Commands held	CSC, 1st Battalion, 505th PIR, 82nd Airborne Division B Company, 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry, 1st Armored Division 4th Battalion, 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division (Light) 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light) 82nd Airborne Division U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas Commander, NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan and Commander, Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan United States Army North
Battles/wars	Invasion of Panama Operation Just Cause Somali Civil War Operation Restore Hope Operation Restore Democracy Persian Gulf War Operation Desert Shield Operation Desert Storm Global War on Terrorism Iraq War Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom War in Afghanistan
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star[3]
Website	blog.gmc.cc.ga.us/president/about-general-caldwell/ltg-william-caldwells-bio/

Education

Originally from Columbus, Georgia, Caldwell's family moved frequently. His father, William B. Caldwell, III was a serving officer in the US Army, eventually retiring as the Commander of Fifth Army. During Caldwell's early childhood, his father was stationed at the United States Military Academy. Caldwell attended the SHAPE American High School at SHAPE,[6] Belgium followed by Hargrave Military Academy,[7] a private military boarding school in Chatham, Virginia. From there, he was accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He continued his education with a master's degree in systems technology from the Naval Postgraduate School and then a master of military arts and sciences from the School of Advanced Military Studies which is part of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Caldwell has also attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government and Harvard University as a Senior Service College Fellow.

Career

Following a battalion command position in the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii in the mid-1990s, Caldwell was sent to Haiti to work as political-military liaison in the U.S. Embassy during Operation Uphold Democracy.

After his tour in Haiti, he commanded the 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, at Fort Drum, New York. He worked in the Office of the Director for Strategic Plans and Policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon, and later served as the executive assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Caldwell was serving as deputy director for operations, U.S. Pacific Command, Hawaii, at the time of the 9/11 attacks, when the command's focus shifted from regional war plans to the Global War on Terrorism.

In July 2002 Caldwell was assigned as senior military assistant to the deputy secretary of defense, Paul Wolfowitz. In this position he served his boss during the preparation, execution, and follow on for the Iraq War's Operation Iraqi Freedom and other aspects of the Global War on Terrorism.

From May 2004 until June 2006 Caldwell served as the Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division. As the division commander, Caldwell oversaw deployments by the units under his command to both Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as disaster-relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.[8]

Caldwell walks in Eastern Baghdad in April 2007.

Multi-National Force - Iraq spokesman

Following his command of the 82nd, Caldwell was assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Effects and spokesperson for the Multi-National Force – Iraq, a position he held for 13 months.

United States Army Combined Arms Center

New York City policemen are greeted by Caldwell as he visits the Times Square Military Recruiting Station on March 10, 2008.

Caldwell was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general in June 2007 and served as the Commanding General of the Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. As the Commanding General for the Combined Arms Center, he has responsibility for the Command and General Staff College and 17 other schools, centers, and training programs throughout the United States.

NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan

Caldwell assumed command of the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan (NTM-A)/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A) on November 21, 2009. Prior to the activation of NTM-A at that time, CSTC-A was a two-star command headed by then Major General Richard Formica. Elevating the Afghan training mission to a three-star command reflected the increased priority placed on training the Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) as part of President Barack Obama's Afghan "Surge." [9] Caldwell's efforts in Afghanistan received praise from figures in the military and government, including Senator Carl Levin, United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and Admiral Mike Mullen.[10] During this assignment Caldwell was investigated after a subordinate claimed Caldwell directed him to use psychological operations in order to influence U.S. political leaders to support the military effort in Afghanistan.[11] Doing so would be a violation of the Smith–Mundt Act. However, an investigation cleared Caldwell of wrongdoing.[12][13]

Dawood Military Hospital

Three U.S. military officers testified that Caldwell tried to prevent the U.S. Department of Defense from investigating sub-standard conditions at an American-funded Afghan military hospital in Kabul. Caldwell's reasoning, according to Colonel Mark Fassl, was that there was "an election coming." However, Kenneth Moorefield, Deputy Inspector General for Special Plans and Operations, dismissed these allegations, claiming that there as no "attempt...to delay our investigation...or turn it off."[14]

The Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoDIG) conducted an investigation into the allegations and determined that Caldwell and his deputy Major General Gary S. Patton sought in 2011 to restrict contact with a team of investigators probing allegations of corruption and sub-standard patient care at Dawood National Military Hospital. The Inspector General recommended that the Secretary of the Army take appropriate action against Caldwell and his immediate subordinate, Major General Patton.[15] An Army spokesman stated that, following the investigation, Caldwell "requested that he be retired, knowing that these substantiated allegations would directly prevent any future promotion or assignment to a position of importance and responsibility."[16]

United States Army North (Fifth Army)

Caldwell's final military command was United States Army North, also known as the Fifth Army, which was also his father's final military assignment. Caldwell turned over command of U.S. Army North to Lieutenant General Perry L. Wiggins on September 4, 2013.[17][18]

Dates of rank

Promotions

Rank	Date
Second lieutenant	1976
First lieutenant	1978
Captain	1980
Major	1986
Lieutenant colonel	1992
Colonel	1996
Brigadier general	2001
Major general	2004
Lieutenant general	2007

Awards and decorations

U.S. military decorations Defense Distinguished Service Medal Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal (with 1 bronze Oak Leaf Cluster) Defense Superior Service Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters) Legion of Merit (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster) Bronze Star (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters) Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster) Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters) Joint Service Commendation Medal Army Commendation Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters) Army Achievement Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters) Unit awards Presidential Unit Citation Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters) Army Meritorious Unit Commendation Philippine Presidential Unit Citation U.S. service (campaign) medals and service and training ribbons National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Service Star) Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars) Southwest Asia Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars) Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with 3 Bronze Service Stars) Iraq Campaign Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars) Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Armed Forces Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal (with 4 Bronze Service Stars) Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal Army Service Ribbon Army Overseas Service Ribbon (with bronze award numeral 6) Non-U.S. service medals NATO Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 service star)[19] NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia with service star EUPOL Afghanistan Medal[19] Polish Armed Forces Gold Medal[19] Afghanistan Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan Medal[19] Afghanistan National Police Symbol of Honor Medal[19] Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) Army National Guard awards Louisiana Cross of Merit[19]

Badges, patches and tabs Combat Infantryman Badge Combat Action Badge Expert Infantryman Badge Ranger Tab Master Parachutist Badge Presidential Service Identification Badge Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge 82nd Airborne Division Combat Service Identification Badge 505th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia 8 Overseas Service Bars German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency in bronze German Parachutist badge in bronze Canadian Jump Wings (red maple leaf) British Parachutist Badge Irish Parachutist Badge in silver

Other awards

• Honorary ROCK of the Year in 2008[19]

See also

• International Security Assistance Force
• Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan
• 2009 congressional delegation to Afghanistan

Notes and reference

1. Abi-Habib, Maria. (2011). "Neglect at Afghan Military Hospital, Graft and Deadly Neglect" from "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-02-08. Retrieved 2015-02-08.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
2. Abi-Habib, Maria. (2012) Pentagon Is Pressed on Afghan Inquiry from "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-02-08. Retrieved 2015-02-08.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
3. "Leadership is their life". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. Columbus, GA. October 25, 2008.
4. George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Public Papers – 1991 – June, Appointment of the 1991–1992 White House Fellows, June 4, 1991
5. "Biography - President William B. Caldwell, IV". Retrieved 2019-12-19.
6. "SHAPE International School". Isbi.com. 2003-07-01. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
7. "Prominent alumni". Hargrave Military Academy. Archived from the original (List) on 2008-05-11.
8. Gilmore, Gerry (September 21, 2005). "82nd Airborne Division Becomes 'Waterborne' in New Orleans". American Forces Press Service. Archived from the original on March 14, 2008.
9. Dreazen, Y. (2010). U.S. Says Afghan Forces Growing Faster Than Expected. National Journal. Retrieved February 19, 2011, from "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-11-29. Retrieved 2011-02-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
10. Congressional Testimony. (2011). Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2012 and the Future Years Defense Program. Retrieved February 19, 2011, from "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-03-04. Retrieved 2011-02-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
11. MSNBC.com, Report: Army Targeted U.S. Senators With Psy-Ops Archived 2013-12-22 at the Wayback Machine, February 24, 2011
12. Robert Burns, Associated Press, Army Times, Pentagon Clears 3-Star of Alleged Psyops Use, July 27, 2011
13. Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service, Report Clears Afghanistan Training Commander Archived 2013-07-13 at the Wayback Machine, July 28, 2011
14. MARGASAK, LARRY (2012-09-12). "Generals deny trying to stop Afghan hospital probe". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2015-02-08. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
15. Capaccio, Tony (September 19, 2013). "Generals Seen Trying to Impede Afghan Hospital Probe". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
16. "3-star seen as trying to block Afghan hospital probe retires at rank". Army Times.
17. Michelle Tan, Army Times, Army North Welcomes New Commander, September 5, 2013
18. Joe Gould, Army Times, , November 6, 2013
19. "Statement of Lieutenant General William B. Caldwell IV United States Army Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Homeland Defense, and Foreign Operations" (PDF). United States House of Representatives. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 2019-12-20.