David D. McKiernan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | December 11, 1950 Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1972–2009 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | International Security Assistance Force United States Forces – Afghanistan Seventh United States Army Third United States Army Coalition Forces Land Component Command 1st Cavalry Division 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division 1st Battalion, 35th Armored Regiment |
| Battles / wars | Gulf War Iraq War War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Army Distinguished Service Medal (3) Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (3) Bronze Star Medal |
David D. McKiernan (born December 11, 1950) is a retired United States Army four-star general who served in Afghanistan as Commander, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).[1][2] He served concurrently as Commander, United States Forces – Afghanistan (USFOR-A) from October 6, 2008, to June 15, 2009.[3]
Prior to Afghanistan, McKiernan was Commanding General, United States Army, Europe and Seventh United States Army from December 14, 2005, to May 2, 2008.[4] Before promotion to four-star rank, he served as Commanding General, Third United States Army and Coalition Forces Land Component Command from 2002 to 2004, where he commanded all allied ground forces during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and as Deputy Commanding General, United States Army Forces Command, the army's largest major command,[citation needed] from 2004 to 2005.
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said new leadership was needed as the administration of President Barack Obama launched a new strategy in the seven-year-old War in Afghanistan.[5][6] McKiernan was replaced by two generals, General Stanley A. McChrystal (Commander) and Lieutenant General David M. Rodriguez (Deputy Commander), ISAF and USFOR-A.[3]
- ^ Nominations Before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Second Session. DIANE Publishing. 2010-11-18. p. 49. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
David D. McKiernan 1950.
- ^ "McKiernan Assumes Command of NATO Forces in Afghanistan". American Forces Press Service. June 3, 2008.
- ^ a b "Press Conference with Secretary Gates and Adm. Mullen on Leadership Changes in Afghanistan From the Pentagon". DefenseLink News Transcript. May 11, 2009.
- ^ Dave Melancon , U.S. Army Europe Public Affairs Office (May 9, 2008). "McKiernan says farewell to U.S. Army Europe as he heads to Afghanistan to command international force". Army.mil. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ^ "US replaces general in Afghanistan as war worsens". Associated Press. May 11, 2009.[dead link]
- ^ Jelinek, Pauline (May 11, 2009). "US replaces general in Afghanistan as war worsens". The Guardian. Associated Press. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he asked for the resignation of Gen. David McKiernan. Gates said new leadership is needed as the Obama administration launches its strategy in the seven-year-old campaign. The change aims to "get fresh thinking, fresh eyes on the problem," Gates told a Pentagon news conference.