John G. Coburn
Encyclopedia
General John Gordon Coburn (born October 9, 1941) is Chairman and CEO of VT Systems, Inc. (VT Systems), a global company, which he joined in November 2001 and grew from 61 million dollars to 1.3 billion dollars. Prior to joining VT Systems, he served as the Commanding General, U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC). He assumed the duties of Commanding General on May 14, 1999. Prior to this assignment, he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, U.S. Army, Pentagon. AMC is one of the largest commands in the Army with over 60,000 employees, and activities in 42 states and more than 24 foreign countries.
Coburn is a distinguished military graduate of Eastern Michigan University
, where he holds a Bachelor of Arts
degree in education
, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant
into the infantry. He served in various logistics assignments throughout his career, to include Deputy Commanding General, AMC, Alexandria, VA, and Commanding General, U.S. Army Ordnance Center and School, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. He was also the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany, from 1991 to 1992. Prior to that, he served as the Deputy Commanding General, 22nd Theater Army Support Command, Saudi Arabia from April 1991 to July 1991, and as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Procurement, U.S. Army Materiel Command from 1989 to 1991.
Other major command assignments include Commander of Materiel Readiness Support Activity, Lexington, KY, from 1987 to 1989; Commander, Division Support Command, 2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas, from 1984 to 1986; Commander, 124th Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas, from 1980 to 1982; Commander, Defense Contract Administration Services Management Area, Defence Logistics Agency, South Bend, IN, from 1978 to 1980; and Plant/Depot Commander, Taiwan Materiel Agency, AMC, Taiwan, from 1972 to 1973.
General Coburn’s staff assignments include: Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4 (Logistics), 2nd Armored Division, from 1982 to 1983; Executive Officer, Battlefield Systems Directorate, Headquarters, U.S. Army Materiel Command from 1977 to 1978; Procurement Officer, Procurement and Production Directorate, Headquarters, U.S. Army Materiel Command; Senior Advisor, Training and Personnel, U.S. Army Engineer District-Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 1975 to 1977; Executive Officer, Defense Contract Administration Services Region, Defense Supply Agency, New York, NY from 1968 to 1971; Assistant G-3 (Operations), II Field Force Vietnam, U.S. Army, Vietnam, from 1967 to 1968; and Special Weapons Platoon Leader, Savanna Army Depot, IL, from 1963 to 1964.
After returning from Taiwan, General Coburn attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS, and then the University of Kansas
, where he earned a Master of Arts
degree in political science
. He is also a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces
, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. and has a Juris Doctor
degree from the University of Missouri School of Law
. He is licensed to practice law before the Supreme Court, State of Michigan; Supreme Court, State of Kentucky; District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States.
General Coburn has extensive experience in the areas of logistics and contracting. Further, he has extensive experience in International relations and business, both international and domestic. He is also a noted author.
General Coburn also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of International Management & Development Institute (IMDI), a non-profit educational institute that promotes business-government dialogue and cooperation covering international trade, finance, economic and foreign policy issues.
General Coburn’s military decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Distinguished Service Medal
, Legion of Merit
with Oak Leaf Cluster
, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal
with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal
, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal
.
General Coburn, a native of Kentucky, is married to the former Janice Pepper of Ypsilanti, MI; they have three sons, John, Robert and Matthew.
And one daughter, Kayleen Ruth Coburn born December 19, 1965. Kayleen died December 20, 1965.
Coburn is a distinguished military graduate of Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
, where he holds a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
into the infantry. He served in various logistics assignments throughout his career, to include Deputy Commanding General, AMC, Alexandria, VA, and Commanding General, U.S. Army Ordnance Center and School, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. He was also the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany, from 1991 to 1992. Prior to that, he served as the Deputy Commanding General, 22nd Theater Army Support Command, Saudi Arabia from April 1991 to July 1991, and as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Procurement, U.S. Army Materiel Command from 1989 to 1991.
Other major command assignments include Commander of Materiel Readiness Support Activity, Lexington, KY, from 1987 to 1989; Commander, Division Support Command, 2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas, from 1984 to 1986; Commander, 124th Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas, from 1980 to 1982; Commander, Defense Contract Administration Services Management Area, Defence Logistics Agency, South Bend, IN, from 1978 to 1980; and Plant/Depot Commander, Taiwan Materiel Agency, AMC, Taiwan, from 1972 to 1973.
General Coburn’s staff assignments include: Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4 (Logistics), 2nd Armored Division, from 1982 to 1983; Executive Officer, Battlefield Systems Directorate, Headquarters, U.S. Army Materiel Command from 1977 to 1978; Procurement Officer, Procurement and Production Directorate, Headquarters, U.S. Army Materiel Command; Senior Advisor, Training and Personnel, U.S. Army Engineer District-Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 1975 to 1977; Executive Officer, Defense Contract Administration Services Region, Defense Supply Agency, New York, NY from 1968 to 1971; Assistant G-3 (Operations), II Field Force Vietnam, U.S. Army, Vietnam, from 1967 to 1968; and Special Weapons Platoon Leader, Savanna Army Depot, IL, from 1963 to 1964.
After returning from Taiwan, General Coburn attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS, and then the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
, where he earned a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. He is also a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces
Industrial College of the Armed Forces
The Industrial College of the Armed Forces is a U.S. military educational institution tasked with preparing military officers and civilian government officials for leadership and executive positions in the field of national security...
, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. and has a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree from the University of Missouri School of Law
University of Missouri School of Law
University of Missouri School of Law is the law school of the University of Missouri, a state university in the U.S. State of Missouri. It is located on the university's main campus in Columbia, forty minutes from the Missouri State Capitol and Supreme Court in Jefferson City...
. He is licensed to practice law before the Supreme Court, State of Michigan; Supreme Court, State of Kentucky; District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States.
General Coburn has extensive experience in the areas of logistics and contracting. Further, he has extensive experience in International relations and business, both international and domestic. He is also a noted author.
General Coburn also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of International Management & Development Institute (IMDI), a non-profit educational institute that promotes business-government dialogue and cooperation covering international trade, finance, economic and foreign policy issues.
General Coburn’s military decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a United States military award which is presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security or defense of the United States...
with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
, Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with Oak Leaf Cluster
Oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal
The Southwest Asia Service Medal is a military award of the United States armed forces which was created by order of President George H.W. Bush on March 12, 1991. The award is intended to recognize those military service members who performed duty during the years of the Persian Gulf War...
, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal
The Kuwait Liberation Medal is a military service medal of several countries. The medal is issued in different versions for each country, those being:*Kuwait Liberation Medal *Kuwait Liberation Medal *Kuwait Liberation Medal...
.
General Coburn, a native of Kentucky, is married to the former Janice Pepper of Ypsilanti, MI; they have three sons, John, Robert and Matthew.
And one daughter, Kayleen Ruth Coburn born December 19, 1965. Kayleen died December 20, 1965.