Tommy Franks

General Tommy R. Franks (born June 17, 1945, in Wynnewood, Oklahoma) is the Commander in Chief of United States Central Command, which oversees American military operations in a 25-country region, including the Middle East. Franks assumed his current position on July 6, 2000, when General Anthony Zinni relinquished his command to Franks. He was the U.S. general leading the attack on the Taliban in Afghanistan in response to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon.

After leading the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, Franks became the military governor of Iraq, and commander-in-chief[?] of the American occupation forces.

General Franks' retirement was announced on May 22, 2003.

The following is his official biography from the Central Command web site:

General Tommy R. Franks is the Commander in Chief, United States Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

General Franks was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1967 as a distinguished graduate of the Artillery Officer Candidate School[?], Fort Sill[?], Oklahoma. After an initial tour as a battery Assistant Executive Officer[?] at Fort Sill, he was assigned to the 9th Infantry Division[?], Republic of Vietnam, where he served as Forward Observer[?], Aerial Observer[?], and Assistant S-3[?] with 2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery. He also served as Fire Support Officer[?] with 5th Battalion (mechanized), 60th Infantry during this tour.

In 1968, General Franks returned to Fort Sill, where he commanded a cannon battery in the Artillery Training Center[?]. In 1969, he was selected to participate in the Army's "Boot Strap Degree Completion Program[?]," and subsequently attended the University of Texas, Arlington, where he graduated with a degree in Business Administration[?] in 1971. Following attendance at the Artillery Advance Course, he was assigned to the Second Armored Cavalry Regiment in West Germany in 1973 where he commanded 1st Squadron Howitzer Battery, and served as Squadron S-3. He also commanded the 84th Armored Engineer Company, and served as Regimental Assistant S-3 during this tour.

General Franks, after graduation from Armed Forces Staff College, was posted to The Pentagon in 1976 where he served as an Army Inspector General[?] in the Investigations Division. In 1977 he was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Staff, Army where he served on the Congressional Activities Team[?], and subsequently as an Executive Assistant.

In 1981, General Franks returned to West Germany where he commanded 2nd Battalion, 78th Field Artillery for three years. He returned to the United States in 1984 to attend the Army War College[?] at Carlisle, Pennsilvania[?], where he also completed graduate studies and received a Master of Science Degree in Public Administration at Shippensburg University[?]. He was next assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, as III Corps Deputy Assistant G3, a position he held until 1987 when he assumed command of Division Artillery, First Cavalry Division. He also served as Chief of Staff[?], First Cavalry Division during this tour.

His initial general officer assignment was Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver), First Cavalry Division during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. During 1991-92, he was assigned as Assistant Commandant[?] of the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill. In 1992, he was assigned to Fort Monroe, Virginia[?] as the first Director, Louisiana Maneuvers Task Force, Office of Chief of Staff of the Army, a position held until 1994 when he was reassigned to Korea as the CJG3 of Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea.

From 1995-97, General Franks commanded the Second Infantry (Warrior) Division, Korea. He assumed command of Third (U.S.) Army/Army Forces Central Command in Atlanta, Ga. in May 1997, a post he held until June 2000 when he was selected for promotion to general and assignment as Commander in Chief, United States Central Command.

General Franks' awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Distinguished Service Medal (two awards); Legion of Merit (four awards); Bronze Star Medal with "V" (three awards); Purple Heart (three awards); Air Medal[?] with "V"; Army Commendation Medal with "V"; and a number of U.S. and foreign service awards. He wears the Army General Staff Identification Badge[?] and the Aircraft Crewmember's Badge[?].

External Links

• US Central Command Biography (http://www.centcom.mil/aboutus/cdrbio.htm)
• US Embassy Tommy Franks Biography (http://www.usembassy.uz/centcom/frankbio.htm)
• Gen. Tom Franks: A silent partner in Operation Enduring Freedom (http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/10/24/ret.franks/) - CNN, October 24, 2001
• General Tommy Franks (http://www.guardian.co.uk/waronterror/story/0,1361,590822,00) - UK Guardian, November 9, 2001