Gary E. Luck
Encyclopedia
Gary Edward Luck is a retired four-star General
in the U.S. Army, and currently a senior advisor to the U.S. Joint Forces Command.
Receiving a bachelor's degree in engineering from Kansas State University
in 1959, GEN Luck also holds a master's degree from Florida State University
and a doctorate in business administration (Operations Research and Systems Analysis, a/k/a ORSA) from George Washington University
. In addition, GEN Luck has attended numerous military schools and courses, to include the Armor Basic and Advanced Officer courses, Army Aviator training, the Armed Forces Staff College
, and the United States Army War College.
GEN Luck is a combat veteran of both the Vietnam War
and the Gulf War
and has held a variety of command and staff positions throughout his Army career, to include: Chief of Staff, 8th Infantry Division, U.S. Army, Europe; Director, Force Programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, HQ Department of the Army; Assistant Division Commander, 101st Airborne Division
; Commanding General, 2nd Infantry Division, Korea; Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command (1989–1990); Commanding General, U.S. Army Special Operations Command; and Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps during Operation Desert Shield
and Operation Desert Storm
(1990–1993). His last military assignment before retiring from active duty was as Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command (Korea)
/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea
.
In addition to numerous personal awards and decorations, GEN Luck is also entitled to wear the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Senior Army Aviator Badge
, Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge
, Ranger Tab
, Special Forces Tab
, and the Army Staff Identification Badge
.
Since his retirement from the Army, GEN Luck has served in a variety of senior advisory positions in support of the Department of Defense, overseeing exercise control during Exercise Millenium Challenge 2002, and as an advisor to then-Commander of U.S. Central Command, General
Tommy Franks
, prior to the US led invasion of Iraq in 2003. He was sent back to Iraq
in early 2005 in order to investigate various areas of operation, identifying any weaknesses and reporting back to commanders at The Pentagon
with a confidential assessment on what could be done to install democracy in Iraq and to set a date for the withdrawal of American and coalition forces. That same year, GEN Luck was also the 2005 recipient of the Doughboy Award from the National Infantry Association
.
General (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
in the U.S. Army, and currently a senior advisor to the U.S. Joint Forces Command.
Receiving a bachelor's degree in engineering from Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
in 1959, GEN Luck also holds a master's degree from Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
and a doctorate in business administration (Operations Research and Systems Analysis, a/k/a ORSA) from George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
. In addition, GEN Luck has attended numerous military schools and courses, to include the Armor Basic and Advanced Officer courses, Army Aviator training, the Armed Forces Staff College
Joint Forces Staff College
The Joint Forces Staff College located in Norfolk, Virginia, was established as the Armed Forces Staff College in 1946 and incorporated into the National Defense University in August 1981. It educates and acculturates joint and multinational warfighters to plan and lead at the operational level...
, and the United States Army War College.
GEN Luck is a combat veteran of both the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
and has held a variety of command and staff positions throughout his Army career, to include: Chief of Staff, 8th Infantry Division, U.S. Army, Europe; Director, Force Programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, HQ Department of the Army; Assistant Division Commander, 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
; Commanding General, 2nd Infantry Division, Korea; Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command (1989–1990); Commanding General, U.S. Army Special Operations Command; and Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps during Operation Desert Shield
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
and Operation Desert Storm
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
(1990–1993). His last military assignment before retiring from active duty was as Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command (Korea)
United Nations Command (Korea)
The United Nations Command is the unified command structure for the multinational military forces supporting the Republic of Korea during and after the Korean War...
/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea
United States Forces Korea
United States Forces Korea refers to the ground, air and naval divisions of the United States armed forces stationed in South Korea....
.
In addition to numerous personal awards and decorations, GEN Luck is also entitled to wear the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Senior Army Aviator Badge
United States Aviator Badge
A United States Aviator Badge refers to three types of aviation badges issued by the United States military, those being for Army, Air Force, and Naval aviation....
, Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge
Air Assault Badge
The Air Assault Badge, pictured to the right, is awarded by the U.S. Army for successful completion of the Air Assault School, a two-week course. The course includes three phases of instruction involving U.S. Army rotary wing aircraft: combat air assault operations; rigging and slingload...
, Ranger Tab
Ranger Tab
The Ranger Tab is a service school military decoration of the United States Army signifying completion of the 61-day long Ranger School course in small-unit infantry combat tactics in woodland, mountain, and swamp operations. In December 2009 a British NCO earned the Ranger tab...
, Special Forces Tab
Special Forces Tab
The Special Forces Tab is a service school qualification tab of the United States Army, awarded to any soldier completing either the Special Forces Qualification Course, or the Special Forces Detachment Officer Qualification Course , at the U.S. Army John F...
, and the Army Staff Identification Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge
The Army Staff Identification Badge is a badge of the United States Army worn by personnel who serve at the Office of the Secretary of the Army and the Army Staff at Headquarters, Department of the Army and its agencies. Neither an award nor a decoration, the badge is a distinguishing emblem of...
.
Since his retirement from the Army, GEN Luck has served in a variety of senior advisory positions in support of the Department of Defense, overseeing exercise control during Exercise Millenium Challenge 2002, and as an advisor to then-Commander of U.S. Central Command, General
General (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
Tommy Franks
Tommy Franks
Tommy Ray Franks is a retired general in the United States Army. His last Army post was as the Commander of the United States Central Command, overseeing United States Armed Forces operations in a 25-country region, including the Middle East...
, prior to the US led invasion of Iraq in 2003. He was sent back to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
in early 2005 in order to investigate various areas of operation, identifying any weaknesses and reporting back to commanders at The Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
with a confidential assessment on what could be done to install democracy in Iraq and to set a date for the withdrawal of American and coalition forces. That same year, GEN Luck was also the 2005 recipient of the Doughboy Award from the National Infantry Association
National Infantry Association
The National Infantry Association was established in 1994 as a professional association for Infantrymen and Infantry supporters. It was chartered as a private, non-profit, fraternal organization, to support the Infantry's role in the security of the United States, to assist Infantrymen in building...
.