John P. Costello

John P. “Jack” Costello (April 24, 1947 – December 27, 2010) was a United States Army Lieutenant General who served as Commanding General of the United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command from 1998 to 2001 and also as Commanding General of the United States Army Air Defense Artillery School. After retiring from military service he was a Vice President with the Raytheon Corporation in Dallas, Texas.[1][2][3]

John P. Costello
Born(1947-04-24)April 24, 1947
Pottsville, Pennsylvania
DiedDecember 27, 2010(2010-12-27) (aged 63)
Coles Point, Virginia
Buried
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1969-2001
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands heldUnited States Army Space and Missile Defense Command
United States Army Air Defense Artillery School
32d Air Defense Command
35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade
2d Battalion, 59th Air Defense Artillery Brigade
Battles/warsVietnam War
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal

Life and career

Born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, Costello was commissioned in 1969 as a Field Artillery Officer from the Army ROTC unit at The Citadel where he earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science. As a junior officer he served in South Vietnam as an advisor to the 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, then as a Battery Commander with Air Defense units under the 82d Airborne Division at Fort Bragg and the 8th Infantry Division in Germany. Later assignments included Battalion Commander with the 1st Armored Division in Germany and Commander of the 35th Air Defense Brigade at Fort Lewis, Washington. His General Officer billets were as Commanding General, 32d Army Air Defense Command, Assistant Commander of the 1st Armored Division, Commanding General of the Army Air Defense Artillery School and Center at Fort Bliss, Texas and Commanding General of the Army Space and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.
He retired in 2001 after 32 years of service, his major awards included the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal. He earned a master's degree from The University of Virginia and a master's degree from the United States Army Command and General Staff College, he was also a graduate of the Senior Executives Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. After retirement he served as Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Planning for the Raytheon Centric Systems Group where he led research efforts on defeating Improvised Explosive Devices.[1][4]

References

  1. "ADA CG, advocate, visionary dies". www.army.mil. United States: United States Army. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  2. "The Citadel Alumni Association". secure.citadelalumni.org. The Citadel Alumni Association. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  3. "Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Fires Center of Excellence" (PDF). sill-www.army.mil. United States: United States Army. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  4. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx
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