Anthony Zinni | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Special Envoy for Qatar | |
| In office August 2017 – January 2019 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| United States Special Envoy for Middle East Peace | |
| In office November 27, 2001 – March 13, 2003 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Dennis Ross |
| Succeeded by | George Mitchell (2009) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Anthony Charles Zinni September 17, 1943 Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (Formerly) Republican (Formerly) Independent (Currently) |
| Education | Villanova University (BS) Salve Regina University (MA) Central Michigan University (MA) |
| Nickname | "The Godfather" |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1965–2000 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | United States Central Command I Marine Expeditionary Force 9th Marine Regiment 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War Unified Task Force |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Navy Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Bronze Star Medal (2) Purple Heart |
Anthony Charles Zinni (born September 17, 1943) is a retired United States Marine Corps general and a former Commander in Chief of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM). From 2001 to 2003, he served as a special envoy for the United States to Israel and the Palestinian Authority. From 2017 to 2019, he served as a special envoy to help resolve the Qatar diplomatic crisis.
While serving as a special envoy, Zinni was also an instructor in the Department of International Studies at the Virginia Military Institute. He later served as an instructor at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, a public speaker, and an author of best-selling books on his military career and foreign affairs, including Battle for Peace. As of 2005[update], he was involved in the corporate world, joining M.I.C. Industries[1] as its president for International Operations in 2005.
Zinni also serves or has served on the advisory boards of a number of companies, including the security testing firm, Mu Dynamics, based in Sunnyvale, California. He joined Duke University's Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy in spring 2008 as the Sanford Distinguished Lecturer in Residence and taught a new course in the Hart Leadership Program.[2][3] Zinni also serves on the board of directors for Caliburn International, a military contracting conglomerate that includes operations for Homestead Temporary Shelter for Unaccompanied Children.[4]
He has been credited for foresight in predicting the dangers of terrorism coming out of Afghanistan before the September 11 attacks of 2001, and for supporting the Iraq War troop surge of 2007. In October 2009, he came out firmly in support of General Stanley A. McChrystal's request for up to 40,000 additional troops in Afghanistan.
- ^ "M.I.C. Industries, Inc. is the sole manufacturer of the Ultimate Building Machine (UBM)". micindustries.com.
- ^ Retired Marine General Anthony Zinni to teach for Hart Leadership Archived May 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy, Duke University, October 11, 2007
- ^ Moroney, Sean (October 11, 2007). "General will teach at Sanford". The Chronicle. Duke University. Archived from the original on April 18, 2011.
- ^ Armstrong, Gin (February 13, 2019). "Wall Street Banks & Former Defense Officials Looking to Cash In on Child Detentions". Eyes on the Ties. Retrieved May 10, 2019.