William B. Caldwell, IV is a
United States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Lieutenant GeneralIn the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
who is serving as the Commander, NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan, as well as, Commanding General, Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan.
He replaced Major General Richard P. Formica who was subsequently nominated for Army Space and Missile Defense Command. Lieutenant General Caldwell previously served as the Commanding General,
U.S. Army Combined Arms CenterThe U.S. Army Combined Arms Center is located at Fort Leavenworth and provides leadership and supervision for leader development and professional military and civilian education; institutional and collective training; functional training; training support; battle command; doctrine; lessons learned...
and
Fort LeavenworthFort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
,
KansasKansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
and oversaw the
Command and General Staff CollegeThe United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military officers. The college was established in 1881 by William Tecumseh Sherman as a...
and seventeen other schools, centers and training programs.
Early years
Originally from
Columbus, GeorgiaColumbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
, Caldwell's family moved frequently because his father was in the military and retired as
Fifth Army CommanderLTG William B. Caldwell, III served 32 years in the Army and retired as the Fifth Army commanding general at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. A combat veteran of wars in Korea and Vietnam, he was awarded the Silver Star on three separate occasions for gallantry and heroism under fire...
. During Caldwell's early childhood, his father was stationed at the
United States Military AcademyThe United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
. Growing up there gave him a chance to interact with West Point cadets, who helped teach some youth sports teams, which deeply influenced him:
"I found that I just really had a great respect and admiration for the cadets at the academy. I thought, 'Boy, I'd love to do something like that one day.' Then with time, I thought I'd like to serve in the armed forces, and so that led me to apply for the military academy.
"
Education and academia
Caldwell attended attended the
SHAPE American High School at SHAPESHAPE High School is a DODDS high school for grades 7-12 located at Casteau a town north of the city Mons, Belgium. SHAPE American High School supports the educational needs of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe community...
, Belgium followed by
Hargrave Military AcademyHargrave Military Academy is a private American boarding school located in the town of Chatham, Virginia.Hargrave is a school affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia emphasizing Christian values that focuses on a college and military preparatory program...
, a military high school in Chatham Virginia. From there, he was accepted to the
United States Military AcademyThe United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point,
New YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. After graduation from West Point in 1976, Caldwell served in posts throughout the country and overseas. He continued his education with a master's degree in systems technology from the U. S. Naval Post Graduate School and then a master of military arts and sciences from the School for Advanced Military Studies which is part of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Lt. Gen. Caldwell has also attended the
John F. Kennedy School of GovernmentThe John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
and
Harvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
as a Senior Service College Fellow.
Military operations
Caldwell learned early on that the military required him to be flexible and ready for new challenges. One month prior to leaving his battalion command position in the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii, for example, his commanding general sent him to Haiti to work as his political-military liaison in the U.S. Embassy during
Operation Uphold DemocracyOperation Uphold Democracy was an intervention designed to remove the military regime installed by the 1991 Haitian coup d'état that overthrew the elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide...
in the mid-1990s.
Caldwell took his communications, intelligence and operations cells and worked in the embassy for six months. "I gave up command, formed this organization and took off to go work in an American embassy, which I'd never done in my life", he recalled. "In fact, I'm not even sure I'd ever been in an American embassy overseas in my life. I literally started from scratch."
After his tour in
HaitiHaiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, he commanded the 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, at Fort Drum, New York. He worked in the Office of the Director for Strategic Plans and Policy on the
Joint Chiefs of StaffThe Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
at
the PentagonThe 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...
, and later served as the executive assistant to the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffThe Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces, and is the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council and the Secretary of Defense...
.
Caldwell's duties once again tested his readiness and flexibility after the September 11 attacks in 2001. During this time, Caldwell was serving as deputy director for operations, U.S. Pacific Command,
HawaiiHawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. The command's focus shifted from regional war plans to the global war on terrorism.
The headquarters changed to a 24-7 operations center, Caldwell said. "So, instead of having a cell of about six or eight people that worked 24-7, we now had a cell of about 50 people that worked 24-7."
The operation required reserve component personnel to play a crucial role, the general noted. "They were indispensable in the execution of our operations in the Pacific, absolutely indispensable", he said. "They brought a wealth of knowledge that a lot of our folks who had just come in for the first time in the command did not have. So they proved their weight in gold."
In July 2002, Caldwell was assigned as senior military assistant to the deputy secretary of defense. In this position he served his boss during the preparation, execution, and follow on for
Operation Iraqi Freedom and other aspects of the global war on terrorism.
From May 2004 until June 2006, Caldwell served as the Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division. As the division commander, Caldwell oversaw countless deployments by the units under his command to both Afghanistan and Iraq.
Hurricane Katrina
The 82nd Airborne's 3rd Brigade and Division Artillery along with supporting units deployed to support search-and-rescue and security operations in New Orleans, Louisiana after the city was flooded by Hurricane Katrina in September 2005. In all, 3,600 paratroopers commanded by Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, operated out of New Orleans International Airport under Task Force All-American. The division helped evacuate 6,000 residents, treat 1,352 people, and cleared 185 city blocks of debris.
Multi-National Force - Iraq spokesman
Following his command of the 82nd, Caldwell was assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Effects and spokesperson for the Multi-National Force – Iraq, a position he held for 13 months. During his deployment to Iraq, Caldwell earned the respect and admiration of both national and international media for his candid assessments of the situation in Iraq and for his responsiveness to the needs of the press.
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Caldwell was promoted to the rank of
lieutenant generalIn the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
in June 2007 and served as the Commanding General of the Combined Arms Center at
Fort LeavenworthFort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
, Kansas. As the Commanding General for the Combined Arms Center, he has responsibility for the Command and General Staff College and 17 other schools, centers, and training programs throughout the United States.
The Combined Arms Center is also responsible for: development of the Army’s doctrinal manuals, training of the Army’s commissioned and non-commissioned officers, oversight of major collective training exercises, integration of battle command systems and concepts, and supervision of the Army’s Center for the collection and dissemination of lessons learned. He is currently serving as the Commander, NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan, as well as, Commanding General, Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan.
NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan
Caldwell assumed command of the
NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan (NTM-A)/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A)The NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan operates under a dual-hatted command, with one commander for both the US-led Combined Security Transition Command- Afghanistan and the NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan...
on November 21, 2009. Prior to the activation of NTM-A at that time, CSTC-A was a two-star command headed by then Major General Richard Formica. Elevating the Afghan training mission to a three-star command reflected the increased priority placed on training the Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) as part of President
Barack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
’s Afghan “Surge.” It also ensured unity of effort and purpose while helping secure and disperse funding for building all levels of the ANSF.
After securing additional trainers and funding, the reorganization efforts at NTM-A began showing results. Less than a year after Caldwell took command, NTM-A trained an additional 68,000 soldiers for the
Afghan National ArmyThe Afghan National Army is a service branch of the military of Afghanistan, which is currently trained by the coalition forces to ultimately take the role in land-based military operations in Afghanistan. , the Afghan National Army is divided into seven regional Corps. The strength of the Afghan...
and 35,000 for the
Afghan National PoliceThe Afghan National Police - ANP - is the primary national police force in Afghanistan. It serves as a single law enforcement agency all across the country. The Afghan police force was first created with the establishment of the Afghan nation in the early 18th century...
. These additions increased the size of the army to more than 144,000 and the police 115,000 by early November 2010. By early 2011, the ANSF totaled nearly 300,000—just short of the level authorized by the Afghan Government and the
United States CongressThe United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
of 305,000. Despite its success, NTM-A still faces a trainer shortfall, particularly regarding specialized trainers such as helicopter mechanics, medical personnel and intelligence specialists, among others. According to a Washington Post article, Caldwell was optimistic about Canada’s plans to contribute more trainers but maintained more were needed to staff new police training centers, air mentor teams, and medical trainers.
In 2010, while NTM-A ensured the continued increase in the quantity of the ANSF, increasing the quality of training and the soldiers and police fielded was of particular concentration. In 2011, the priorities changed to building sustainability and professionalism into the ANSF while continuing to add overall numbers. As part of this effort, NTM-A is embarking on a screening process for all ANSF personnel to ensure Taliban and criminal elements have not infiltrated the force. Comprehensive screening will augment other recruiting vetting processes that began in 2009. Although creating the enabling organizations and institutions that characterize a modern army, such as staff colleges for officers and NCOs, logistical branches and administrative capabilities, U.S. Congressional leaders and
Department of DefenseThe United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
officials praised NTM-A for its accomplishments over the last year.
Caldwell's efforts in Afghanistan have received praise from figures in the military and government, including Senator
Carl LevinCarl Milton Levin is a Jewish-American United States Senator from Michigan, serving since 1979. He is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
,
United States Secretary of DefenseThe Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
Robert GatesDr. Robert Michael Gates is a retired civil servant and university president who served as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011. Prior to this, Gates served for 26 years in the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council, and under President George H. W....
, and Admiral Mike Mullen.
Promotions
2LT – 1976
1LT – 1978
CPT – 1980
MAJ – 1986
LTC – 1992
COL – 1996
BG – 2001
MG – 2004
LTG – 2007
Decorations and badges (incomplete)
{| width="100%"
|valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor = "#ccccff" align=left
| colspan=2 |
U.S. military decorations
|-
|
|
Distinguished Service MedalThe 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...
(with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
|-
|
|
Defense Superior Service MedalThe Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."...
(with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
|-
|
|
Legion of MeritThe 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 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
|-
|
|
Bronze StarThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
(with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
|-
|
|
Defense Meritorious Service MedalThe Defense Meritorious Service Medal is the third-highest award bestowed upon members of the United States military by the United States Department of Defense...
|-
|
|
Meritorious Service MedalThe 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 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
|-
|
|Joint Service Commendation Medal
|-
|
|Army Commendation Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
|-
|
|Army Achievement Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
|- bgcolor = "#ccccff" align=center
| colspan=2 |
U.S. unit awards
|-
|
|
Joint Meritorious Unit AwardThe Joint Meritorious Unit Award is a military award that was established on June 4, 1981 by Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger and was implemented by Department of Defense Directive 1348.27 dated July 22, 1982...
(with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
|-
|
|
Army Meritorious Unit CommendationThe Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
|-
|
|
Philippine Presidential Unit CitationThe Philippine Presidential Unit Citation is a decoration of the Republic of the Philippines which has been awarded to certain units of the United States military for actions both during and subsequent to the Second World War....
|-
William B. Caldwell, IV is a
United States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Lieutenant GeneralIn the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
who is serving as the Commander, NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan, as well as, Commanding General, Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan.
He replaced Major General Richard P. Formica who was subsequently nominated for Army Space and Missile Defense Command. Lieutenant General Caldwell previously served as the Commanding General,
U.S. Army Combined Arms CenterThe U.S. Army Combined Arms Center is located at Fort Leavenworth and provides leadership and supervision for leader development and professional military and civilian education; institutional and collective training; functional training; training support; battle command; doctrine; lessons learned...
and
Fort LeavenworthFort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
,
KansasKansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
and oversaw the
Command and General Staff CollegeThe United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military officers. The college was established in 1881 by William Tecumseh Sherman as a...
and seventeen other schools, centers and training programs.
Early years
Originally from
Columbus, GeorgiaColumbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
, Caldwell's family moved frequently because his father was in the military and retired as
Fifth Army CommanderLTG William B. Caldwell, III served 32 years in the Army and retired as the Fifth Army commanding general at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. A combat veteran of wars in Korea and Vietnam, he was awarded the Silver Star on three separate occasions for gallantry and heroism under fire...
. During Caldwell's early childhood, his father was stationed at the
United States Military AcademyThe United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
. Growing up there gave him a chance to interact with West Point cadets, who helped teach some youth sports teams, which deeply influenced him:
"I found that I just really had a great respect and admiration for the cadets at the academy. I thought, 'Boy, I'd love to do something like that one day.' Then with time, I thought I'd like to serve in the armed forces, and so that led me to apply for the military academy.
"
Education and academia
Caldwell attended attended the
SHAPE American High School at SHAPESHAPE High School is a DODDS high school for grades 7-12 located at Casteau a town north of the city Mons, Belgium. SHAPE American High School supports the educational needs of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe community...
, Belgium followed by
Hargrave Military AcademyHargrave Military Academy is a private American boarding school located in the town of Chatham, Virginia.Hargrave is a school affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia emphasizing Christian values that focuses on a college and military preparatory program...
, a military high school in Chatham Virginia. From there, he was accepted to the
United States Military AcademyThe United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point,
New YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. After graduation from West Point in 1976, Caldwell served in posts throughout the country and overseas. He continued his education with a master's degree in systems technology from the U. S. Naval Post Graduate School and then a master of military arts and sciences from the School for Advanced Military Studies which is part of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Lt. Gen. Caldwell has also attended the
John F. Kennedy School of GovernmentThe John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
and
Harvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
as a Senior Service College Fellow.
Military operations
Caldwell learned early on that the military required him to be flexible and ready for new challenges. One month prior to leaving his battalion command position in the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii, for example, his commanding general sent him to Haiti to work as his political-military liaison in the U.S. Embassy during
Operation Uphold DemocracyOperation Uphold Democracy was an intervention designed to remove the military regime installed by the 1991 Haitian coup d'état that overthrew the elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide...
in the mid-1990s.
Caldwell took his communications, intelligence and operations cells and worked in the embassy for six months. "I gave up command, formed this organization and took off to go work in an American embassy, which I'd never done in my life", he recalled. "In fact, I'm not even sure I'd ever been in an American embassy overseas in my life. I literally started from scratch."
After his tour in
HaitiHaiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, he commanded the 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, at Fort Drum, New York. He worked in the Office of the Director for Strategic Plans and Policy on the
Joint Chiefs of StaffThe Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
at
the PentagonThe 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...
, and later served as the executive assistant to the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffThe Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces, and is the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council and the Secretary of Defense...
.
Caldwell's duties once again tested his readiness and flexibility after the September 11 attacks in 2001. During this time, Caldwell was serving as deputy director for operations, U.S. Pacific Command,
HawaiiHawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. The command's focus shifted from regional war plans to the global war on terrorism.
The headquarters changed to a 24-7 operations center, Caldwell said. "So, instead of having a cell of about six or eight people that worked 24-7, we now had a cell of about 50 people that worked 24-7."
The operation required reserve component personnel to play a crucial role, the general noted. "They were indispensable in the execution of our operations in the Pacific, absolutely indispensable", he said. "They brought a wealth of knowledge that a lot of our folks who had just come in for the first time in the command did not have. So they proved their weight in gold."
In July 2002, Caldwell was assigned as senior military assistant to the deputy secretary of defense. In this position he served his boss during the preparation, execution, and follow on for
Operation Iraqi Freedom and other aspects of the global war on terrorism.
From May 2004 until June 2006, Caldwell served as the Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division. As the division commander, Caldwell oversaw countless deployments by the units under his command to both Afghanistan and Iraq.
Hurricane Katrina
The 82nd Airborne's 3rd Brigade and Division Artillery along with supporting units deployed to support search-and-rescue and security operations in New Orleans, Louisiana after the city was flooded by Hurricane Katrina in September 2005. In all, 3,600 paratroopers commanded by Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, operated out of New Orleans International Airport under Task Force All-American. The division helped evacuate 6,000 residents, treat 1,352 people, and cleared 185 city blocks of debris.
Multi-National Force - Iraq spokesman
Following his command of the 82nd, Caldwell was assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Effects and spokesperson for the Multi-National Force – Iraq, a position he held for 13 months. During his deployment to Iraq, Caldwell earned the respect and admiration of both national and international media for his candid assessments of the situation in Iraq and for his responsiveness to the needs of the press.
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Caldwell was promoted to the rank of
lieutenant generalIn the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
in June 2007 and served as the Commanding General of the Combined Arms Center at
Fort LeavenworthFort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
, Kansas. As the Commanding General for the Combined Arms Center, he has responsibility for the Command and General Staff College and 17 other schools, centers, and training programs throughout the United States.
The Combined Arms Center is also responsible for: development of the Army’s doctrinal manuals, training of the Army’s commissioned and non-commissioned officers, oversight of major collective training exercises, integration of battle command systems and concepts, and supervision of the Army’s Center for the collection and dissemination of lessons learned. He is currently serving as the Commander, NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan, as well as, Commanding General, Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan.
NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan
Caldwell assumed command of the
NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan (NTM-A)/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A)The NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan operates under a dual-hatted command, with one commander for both the US-led Combined Security Transition Command- Afghanistan and the NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan...
on November 21, 2009. Prior to the activation of NTM-A at that time, CSTC-A was a two-star command headed by then Major General Richard Formica. Elevating the Afghan training mission to a three-star command reflected the increased priority placed on training the Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) as part of President
Barack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
’s Afghan “Surge.” It also ensured unity of effort and purpose while helping secure and disperse funding for building all levels of the ANSF.
After securing additional trainers and funding, the reorganization efforts at NTM-A began showing results. Less than a year after Caldwell took command, NTM-A trained an additional 68,000 soldiers for the
Afghan National ArmyThe Afghan National Army is a service branch of the military of Afghanistan, which is currently trained by the coalition forces to ultimately take the role in land-based military operations in Afghanistan. , the Afghan National Army is divided into seven regional Corps. The strength of the Afghan...
and 35,000 for the
Afghan National PoliceThe Afghan National Police - ANP - is the primary national police force in Afghanistan. It serves as a single law enforcement agency all across the country. The Afghan police force was first created with the establishment of the Afghan nation in the early 18th century...
. These additions increased the size of the army to more than 144,000 and the police 115,000 by early November 2010. By early 2011, the ANSF totaled nearly 300,000—just short of the level authorized by the Afghan Government and the
United States CongressThe United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
of 305,000. Despite its success, NTM-A still faces a trainer shortfall, particularly regarding specialized trainers such as helicopter mechanics, medical personnel and intelligence specialists, among others. According to a Washington Post article, Caldwell was optimistic about Canada’s plans to contribute more trainers but maintained more were needed to staff new police training centers, air mentor teams, and medical trainers.
In 2010, while NTM-A ensured the continued increase in the quantity of the ANSF, increasing the quality of training and the soldiers and police fielded was of particular concentration. In 2011, the priorities changed to building sustainability and professionalism into the ANSF while continuing to add overall numbers. As part of this effort, NTM-A is embarking on a screening process for all ANSF personnel to ensure Taliban and criminal elements have not infiltrated the force. Comprehensive screening will augment other recruiting vetting processes that began in 2009. Although creating the enabling organizations and institutions that characterize a modern army, such as staff colleges for officers and NCOs, logistical branches and administrative capabilities, U.S. Congressional leaders and
Department of DefenseThe United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
officials praised NTM-A for its accomplishments over the last year.
Caldwell's efforts in Afghanistan have received praise from figures in the military and government, including Senator
Carl LevinCarl Milton Levin is a Jewish-American United States Senator from Michigan, serving since 1979. He is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
,
United States Secretary of DefenseThe Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
Robert GatesDr. Robert Michael Gates is a retired civil servant and university president who served as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011. Prior to this, Gates served for 26 years in the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council, and under President George H. W....
, and Admiral Mike Mullen.
Promotions
- 2LT – 1976
- 1LT – 1978
- CPT – 1980
- MAJ – 1986
- LTC – 1992
- COL – 1996
- BG – 2001
- MG – 2004
- LTG – 2007
Decorations and badges (incomplete)
{| width="100%"
|valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor = "#ccccff" align=left
| colspan=2 |
U.S. military decorations
|-
|
|
Distinguished Service MedalThe 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...
(with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
|-
|
|
Defense Superior Service MedalThe Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."...
(with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
|-
|
|
Legion of MeritThe 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 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
|-
|
|
Bronze StarThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
(with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
|-
|
|
Defense Meritorious Service MedalThe Defense Meritorious Service Medal is the third-highest award bestowed upon members of the United States military by the United States Department of Defense...
|-
|
|
Meritorious Service MedalThe 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 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
|-
|
|Joint Service Commendation Medal
|-
|
|Army Commendation Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
|-
|
|Army Achievement Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
|- bgcolor = "#ccccff" align=center
| colspan=2 |
U.S. unit awards
|-
|
|
Joint Meritorious Unit AwardThe Joint Meritorious Unit Award is a military award that was established on June 4, 1981 by Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger and was implemented by Department of Defense Directive 1348.27 dated July 22, 1982...
(with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
|-
|
|
Army Meritorious Unit CommendationThe Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
|-
|
|
Philippine Presidential Unit CitationThe Philippine Presidential Unit Citation is a decoration of the Republic of the Philippines which has been awarded to certain units of the United States military for actions both during and subsequent to the Second World War....
|-
William B. Caldwell, IV is a
United States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Lieutenant GeneralIn the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
who is serving as the Commander, NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan, as well as, Commanding General, Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan.
He replaced Major General Richard P. Formica who was subsequently nominated for Army Space and Missile Defense Command. Lieutenant General Caldwell previously served as the Commanding General,
U.S. Army Combined Arms CenterThe U.S. Army Combined Arms Center is located at Fort Leavenworth and provides leadership and supervision for leader development and professional military and civilian education; institutional and collective training; functional training; training support; battle command; doctrine; lessons learned...
and
Fort LeavenworthFort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
,
KansasKansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
and oversaw the
Command and General Staff CollegeThe United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military officers. The college was established in 1881 by William Tecumseh Sherman as a...
and seventeen other schools, centers and training programs.
Early years
Originally from
Columbus, GeorgiaColumbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
, Caldwell's family moved frequently because his father was in the military and retired as
Fifth Army CommanderLTG William B. Caldwell, III served 32 years in the Army and retired as the Fifth Army commanding general at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. A combat veteran of wars in Korea and Vietnam, he was awarded the Silver Star on three separate occasions for gallantry and heroism under fire...
. During Caldwell's early childhood, his father was stationed at the
United States Military AcademyThe United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
. Growing up there gave him a chance to interact with West Point cadets, who helped teach some youth sports teams, which deeply influenced him:
"I found that I just really had a great respect and admiration for the cadets at the academy. I thought, 'Boy, I'd love to do something like that one day.' Then with time, I thought I'd like to serve in the armed forces, and so that led me to apply for the military academy.
"
Education and academia
Caldwell attended attended the
SHAPE American High School at SHAPESHAPE High School is a DODDS high school for grades 7-12 located at Casteau a town north of the city Mons, Belgium. SHAPE American High School supports the educational needs of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe community...
, Belgium followed by
Hargrave Military AcademyHargrave Military Academy is a private American boarding school located in the town of Chatham, Virginia.Hargrave is a school affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia emphasizing Christian values that focuses on a college and military preparatory program...
, a military high school in Chatham Virginia. From there, he was accepted to the
United States Military AcademyThe United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point,
New YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. After graduation from West Point in 1976, Caldwell served in posts throughout the country and overseas. He continued his education with a master's degree in systems technology from the U. S. Naval Post Graduate School and then a master of military arts and sciences from the School for Advanced Military Studies which is part of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Lt. Gen. Caldwell has also attended the
John F. Kennedy School of GovernmentThe John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
and
Harvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
as a Senior Service College Fellow.
Military operations
Caldwell learned early on that the military required him to be flexible and ready for new challenges. One month prior to leaving his battalion command position in the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii, for example, his commanding general sent him to Haiti to work as his political-military liaison in the U.S. Embassy during
Operation Uphold DemocracyOperation Uphold Democracy was an intervention designed to remove the military regime installed by the 1991 Haitian coup d'état that overthrew the elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide...
in the mid-1990s.
Caldwell took his communications, intelligence and operations cells and worked in the embassy for six months. "I gave up command, formed this organization and took off to go work in an American embassy, which I'd never done in my life", he recalled. "In fact, I'm not even sure I'd ever been in an American embassy overseas in my life. I literally started from scratch."
After his tour in
HaitiHaiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, he commanded the 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, at Fort Drum, New York. He worked in the Office of the Director for Strategic Plans and Policy on the
Joint Chiefs of StaffThe Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
at
the PentagonThe 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...
, and later served as the executive assistant to the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffThe Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces, and is the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council and the Secretary of Defense...
.
Caldwell's duties once again tested his readiness and flexibility after the September 11 attacks in 2001. During this time, Caldwell was serving as deputy director for operations, U.S. Pacific Command,
HawaiiHawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. The command's focus shifted from regional war plans to the global war on terrorism.
The headquarters changed to a 24-7 operations center, Caldwell said. "So, instead of having a cell of about six or eight people that worked 24-7, we now had a cell of about 50 people that worked 24-7."
The operation required reserve component personnel to play a crucial role, the general noted. "They were indispensable in the execution of our operations in the Pacific, absolutely indispensable", he said. "They brought a wealth of knowledge that a lot of our folks who had just come in for the first time in the command did not have. So they proved their weight in gold."
In July 2002, Caldwell was assigned as senior military assistant to the deputy secretary of defense. In this position he served his boss during the preparation, execution, and follow on for
Operation Iraqi Freedom and other aspects of the global war on terrorism.
From May 2004 until June 2006, Caldwell served as the Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division. As the division commander, Caldwell oversaw countless deployments by the units under his command to both Afghanistan and Iraq.
Hurricane Katrina
The 82nd Airborne's 3rd Brigade and Division Artillery along with supporting units deployed to support search-and-rescue and security operations in New Orleans, Louisiana after the city was flooded by Hurricane Katrina in September 2005. In all, 3,600 paratroopers commanded by Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, operated out of New Orleans International Airport under Task Force All-American. The division helped evacuate 6,000 residents, treat 1,352 people, and cleared 185 city blocks of debris.
Multi-National Force - Iraq spokesman
Following his command of the 82nd, Caldwell was assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Effects and spokesperson for the Multi-National Force – Iraq, a position he held for 13 months. During his deployment to Iraq, Caldwell earned the respect and admiration of both national and international media for his candid assessments of the situation in Iraq and for his responsiveness to the needs of the press.
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Caldwell was promoted to the rank of
lieutenant generalIn the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
in June 2007 and served as the Commanding General of the Combined Arms Center at
Fort LeavenworthFort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
, Kansas. As the Commanding General for the Combined Arms Center, he has responsibility for the Command and General Staff College and 17 other schools, centers, and training programs throughout the United States.
The Combined Arms Center is also responsible for: development of the Army’s doctrinal manuals, training of the Army’s commissioned and non-commissioned officers, oversight of major collective training exercises, integration of battle command systems and concepts, and supervision of the Army’s Center for the collection and dissemination of lessons learned. He is currently serving as the Commander, NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan, as well as, Commanding General, Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan.
NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan
Caldwell assumed command of the
NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan (NTM-A)/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A)The NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan operates under a dual-hatted command, with one commander for both the US-led Combined Security Transition Command- Afghanistan and the NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan...
on November 21, 2009. Prior to the activation of NTM-A at that time, CSTC-A was a two-star command headed by then Major General Richard Formica. Elevating the Afghan training mission to a three-star command reflected the increased priority placed on training the Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) as part of President
Barack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
’s Afghan “Surge.” It also ensured unity of effort and purpose while helping secure and disperse funding for building all levels of the ANSF.
After securing additional trainers and funding, the reorganization efforts at NTM-A began showing results. Less than a year after Caldwell took command, NTM-A trained an additional 68,000 soldiers for the
Afghan National ArmyThe Afghan National Army is a service branch of the military of Afghanistan, which is currently trained by the coalition forces to ultimately take the role in land-based military operations in Afghanistan. , the Afghan National Army is divided into seven regional Corps. The strength of the Afghan...
and 35,000 for the
Afghan National PoliceThe Afghan National Police - ANP - is the primary national police force in Afghanistan. It serves as a single law enforcement agency all across the country. The Afghan police force was first created with the establishment of the Afghan nation in the early 18th century...
. These additions increased the size of the army to more than 144,000 and the police 115,000 by early November 2010. By early 2011, the ANSF totaled nearly 300,000—just short of the level authorized by the Afghan Government and the
United States CongressThe United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
of 305,000. Despite its success, NTM-A still faces a trainer shortfall, particularly regarding specialized trainers such as helicopter mechanics, medical personnel and intelligence specialists, among others. According to a Washington Post article, Caldwell was optimistic about Canada’s plans to contribute more trainers but maintained more were needed to staff new police training centers, air mentor teams, and medical trainers.
In 2010, while NTM-A ensured the continued increase in the quantity of the ANSF, increasing the quality of training and the soldiers and police fielded was of particular concentration. In 2011, the priorities changed to building sustainability and professionalism into the ANSF while continuing to add overall numbers. As part of this effort, NTM-A is embarking on a screening process for all ANSF personnel to ensure Taliban and criminal elements have not infiltrated the force. Comprehensive screening will augment other recruiting vetting processes that began in 2009. Although creating the enabling organizations and institutions that characterize a modern army, such as staff colleges for officers and NCOs, logistical branches and administrative capabilities, U.S. Congressional leaders and
Department of DefenseThe United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
officials praised NTM-A for its accomplishments over the last year.
Caldwell's efforts in Afghanistan have received praise from figures in the military and government, including Senator
Carl LevinCarl Milton Levin is a Jewish-American United States Senator from Michigan, serving since 1979. He is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
,
United States Secretary of DefenseThe Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
Robert GatesDr. Robert Michael Gates is a retired civil servant and university president who served as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011. Prior to this, Gates served for 26 years in the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council, and under President George H. W....
, and Admiral Mike Mullen.
Promotions
- 2LT – 1976
- 1LT – 1978
- CPT – 1980
- MAJ – 1986
- LTC – 1992
- COL – 1996
- BG – 2001
- MG – 2004
- LTG – 2007
Decorations and badges (incomplete)
{| width="100%"
|valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor = "#ccccff" align=left
| colspan=2 |
U.S. military decorations
|-
|
|
Distinguished Service MedalThe 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...
(with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
|-
|
|
Defense Superior Service MedalThe Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."...
(with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
|-
|
|
Legion of MeritThe 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 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
|-
|
|
Bronze StarThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
(with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
|-
|
|
Defense Meritorious Service MedalThe Defense Meritorious Service Medal is the third-highest award bestowed upon members of the United States military by the United States Department of Defense...
|-
|
|
Meritorious Service MedalThe 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 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
|-
|
|Joint Service Commendation Medal
|-
|
|Army Commendation Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
|-
|
|Army Achievement Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
|- bgcolor = "#ccccff" align=center
| colspan=2 |
U.S. unit awards
|-
|
|
Joint Meritorious Unit AwardThe Joint Meritorious Unit Award is a military award that was established on June 4, 1981 by Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger and was implemented by Department of Defense Directive 1348.27 dated July 22, 1982...
(with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
|-
|
|
Army Meritorious Unit CommendationThe Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
|-
|
|
Philippine Presidential Unit CitationThe Philippine Presidential Unit Citation is a decoration of the Republic of the Philippines which has been awarded to certain units of the United States military for actions both during and subsequent to the Second World War....
|-
|- bgcolor = "#ccccff" align=center
| colspan=2 |
U.S. service (campaign) medals and service and training ribbons
|-
|
|
National Defense Service MedalThe National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
(with Bronze Service Star)
|-
|
|
Armed Forces Expeditionary MedalThe Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is a military award of the United States military, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John Kennedy...
(with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster)
|-
|
|
Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Service Star 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...
|-
|
|
Afghanistan Campaign MedalThe Afghanistan Campaign Medal is a military award of the United States military which was created by Executive Order 13363 of President George W. Bush on November 29, 2004. The Afghanistan Campaign Medal was designed by the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry....
|-
|
|
Iraq Campaign MedalThe Iraq Campaign Medal is a military award of the United States armed forces which was created by Executive Order 13363 of President George W. Bush on November 29, 2004. The Iraq Campaign Medal was designed by the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry....
|-
|
|
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary MedalThe Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is a United States armed forces military award created by George W. Bush on March 12, 2003 by Executive Order 13289. It recognizes those military service members who have deployed overseas in direct service to the War on Terror from September 11,...
|-
|
|
Armed Forces Service MedalThe Armed Forces Service Medal is a military award of the United States military which was created on January 11, 1996 by President Bill Clinton under...
|-
|
|
Humanitarian Service MedalThe Humanitarian Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States armed forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under...
(with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
|-
|
|
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service MedalThe Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal is a military award which was created under Executive Order 12830 by George H. W. Bush on January 9, 1993...
|-
|
|
Army Service RibbonThe Army Service Ribbon is a military decoration of the United States Army that was established by the Secretary of the Army on 10 April 1981 as announced in Department of the Army General Order 15, dated 10 October 1990....
|-
|
|Army Overseas Service Ribbon (with award numeral "4")
|- bgcolor = "#ccccff" align=center
| colspan=2 |
Non-U.S. service medals and ribbons
|-
|
|NATO Meritorious Service Medal
|-
|
|
NATO Medal for AfghanistanThe NATO Medal is an international military decoration which is awarded to various militaries of the world under the authority of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization . It is manufactured by Eekelers - Centini, International, of Hemiksem, Belgium...
|-
|}
|valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor = "#ccccff" align=center
| colspan=2 |
U.S. badges, patches and tabs
|-
| align=center |
|
Combat Infantryman BadgeThe Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
|-
| align=center |
|
Expert Infantryman BadgeThe Expert Infantryman Badge, or EIB, is a military badge of the United States Army. Although similar in name and appearance to the Combat Infantryman Badge , it is a completely different award: while the CIB is awarded for participation in ground combat, the EIB is presented for completion of a...
|-
| align=center |
|
Combat Action BadgeThe Combat Action Badge is a military badge worn in the U.S. Army. The emblem features both an M9 bayonet and M67 grenade. The Combat Action Badge may be awarded to any soldier after the date of September 18, 2001 performing duties in an area where hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay is...
|-
| align=center |
|Master Parachutist Badge
|-
| align=center |
|Presidential Service Identification Badge
|-
| align=center |
|
Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification BadgeThe Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge is a military badge issued to members of the United States armed forces who are permanently assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense and its subordinate offices, and in addition, to some of the Defense Agencies and Department of...
|-
| align=center |
|Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
|-
| align=center |
|
Ranger TabThe 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...
|-
| align=center |
|82nd Airborne Division Patch
|}
|}
U.S. non-military decorations
- Louisiana Cross of Merit
- Louisiana Humanitarian Service Award
- Honorary Member of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club
- Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander-in-Chief Gold Medal and Citation of Merit Award
- Honorary ROCK of the Year in 2008
- US Department of State Meritorious Honor Award Medal
Foreign military decorations
- Bronze German Army Proficiency Badge
- EUPOL Afghanistan Gold Medal
- Polish Armed Forces Gold Medal
Foreign badges, patches and tabs
- German Bronze Parachutist Badge
- Canadian Parachutist Badge
- British Parachutist Badge
- Irish Parachutist Badge
Articles
- Caldwell, W. (2010). Curing Afghanistan. Foreign Policy. Retrieved April 7, 2010, from http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/04/07/curing_afghanistan.
- Caldwell, W. (2010). Leadership Development, Professionalism, and Transition. Small Wars Journal. Retrieved August 29, 2010, from http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/2010/08/leadership-development-profess.
- Caldwell, W. (2010). Economy of Force to Strategic Cornerstone: The Past, present and Future of the Afghan National Security Forces. Army Magazine. November 2010.
- Caldwell, W. (2010). Towards Transition. Defence Management Journal. November 2010.
- Caldwell, W. (2010). No Trainers? No Transition. NATO Review. November 2010.
- Caldwell, W. (2010). The Challenges of a Multilateral Approach. PRISM. Volume 2, Number 1, November 2010.
- Caldwell, W. (2010). From the Operational to the Strategic: A Post-2011 Opportunity. Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute Policy Update. December 12, 2010.
- Caldwell, W. (2011). Developing Ministries and Security Forces in Afghanistan. Journal of International Peace Operations. Volume 6, Number 4, January 2011.
- Caldwell, W. (2011). Security, Capacity and Literacy. Military Review. January–February 2011.
- Caldwell, W. and Nathan K. Finney. (2011). Building the Security Force that Won't Leave. Joint Force Quarterly. Issue 62, 3rd Quarter 2011.
- Caldwell, W. and Nathan K. Finney. (2011). Helping Afghans Help Themselves. U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings. July 2011.
- Caldwell, W. and Nathan K. Finney. (2011). Developing a Sustainable Security Force. Canadian Military Journal. Summer 2011.
- Caldwell, W. and Keith Detwiler. (2011). Afghanistan: Return on Investment. Armed Forces Journal. August 2011.
- Caldwell, W. and Derek Reveron (2011). Beyond the Tenth Year in Afghanistan: Security Force Assistance and International Security, Foreign Police Research Institute.
OpEds
Blogs
- Caldwell, W. (2010). Update on Progress and Challenges in Developing An Afghan Security Force. Think Progress.
- Caldwell, W. (2010). Literacy as a Matter of Life and Death. Huffington Post.
- Caldwell, W. (2010). No Trainers, No Transition. Allied Command Operations Blog.
- Caldwell, W. (2010). Inspirational Leaders, Incredible Impact. Huffington Post.
- Caldwell, W. (2010). Communicating Their Own Story: Progress in the Afghan National Security Force. MountainRunner.
- Caldwell, W. (2011). Drop by Drop, A River is Formed: Transition Begins in Afghanistan. New Atlanticist. July 19, 2011.
- Caldwell, W. (2011). Heart of Transition in Herat. New Atlanticist. July 22, 2011.
- Caldwell, W. (2011). International Partnership and Transition in Afghanistan. New Atlanticist. July 28, 2011.
- Caldwell, W. (2011). Building the Afghan National Security Force Under Fire. New Atlanticist. August 4, 2011.
- Caldwell, W. (2011). NATO and the Afghan Surge. New Atlanticist. August 15, 2011.
- Caldwell, W. (2011). Building a Capable, Affordable, and Sustainable Afghan National Security Force. New Atlanticist. August 23, 2011.
- Caldwell, W. (2011). Leadership Lessons of an Afghan Colonel. New Atlanticist. August 30, 2011.
- Caldwell, W. (2011). Tragedy, Hope, and 9/11 Remembered. New Atlanticist. September 8, 2011.
- Caldwell, W. (2011). International Partnership and NATO’s Future in Afghanistan. New Atlanticist. September 15, 2011.
- Caldwell, W. (2011). The Afghan National Police. New Atlanticist. September 23, 2011.
- Caldwell, W. (2011). Resilience and Heroism in Afghanistan. New Atlanticist. September 30, 2011.
See also
- LTG Caldwell NTM-A CSTC-A Bio
- U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
The U.S. Army Combined Arms Center is located at Fort Leavenworth and provides leadership and supervision for leader development and professional military and civilian education; institutional and collective training; functional training; training support; battle command; doctrine; lessons learned...
- Command and General Staff College
The United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military officers. The college was established in 1881 by William Tecumseh Sherman as a...
- Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
, KansasKansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
- Multi-National Force - Iraq
- Operation Iraqi Freedom
- Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
- 82nd Airborne Division
- Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
- United States Military Academy
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- International Security Assistance Force
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- 2009 congressional delegation to Afghanistan
External links
- FM 3-0 Operations, February 2008
- FM 3-07 Stability Operations, October 2008
- Combined Arms Center Blog website
- Selected Speeches from Lt. Gen. Caldwell
- "New US Army doctrine culls lessons from RP" (October 10, 2008) by Rodney J. Jaleco, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau
- "Stability Operations: A Road Map from Conflict to Peace - A Preview of the New Army Field Manual 3-07" (October 8, 2008) by Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, Foreign Press Center Briefing
- "Standard Warfare May Be Eclipsed By Nation-Building" (October 5, 2008) by Ann Scott Tyson, Washington Post
- Windows Media Clip of Lt. Gen. Caldwell on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (March 10, 2008)
- "Top General: Let Soldiers Blog" (January 31, 2008) by Noah Shachtman, Wired Blog Network
- Talk to Jazeera - Major General Caldwell (April 11, 2007) by Al Jazeera
- "82nd Airborne Division Becomes 'Waterborne' in New Orleans" (September 21, 2005) by Gerry J. Gilmore, American Forces Press Service
- "Learning to Leverage New Media: The Israeli Defense Forces in Recent Conflicts" (May-June, 2009) by Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, Mr. Dennis Murphy and Mr. Anton Menning, Military Review
- "Fostering a Culture of Engagement" (Sept.-Oct. 2009) by Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, Lt. Col. Shawn Stroud and Mr. Anton Menning, Military Review
- NTM-A/CSTC-A
- ISAF - International Security Assistance Force
- Another Runaway General: Army Deploys Psy-Ops on U.S. Senators (February 23, 2011), by Michael Hastings, Rolling Stone Magazine
- William Caldwell, ‘psy-ops’ general, cleared by Pentagon report, by Elias Groll, Politico Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/60084.html#ixzz1Z7sVG0B0
- Media Engagement: Brussels (February 23, 2011)