Who Is He?:
David Petraeus was born November 7, 1952. He grew up in Cornwall on Hudson, New York, fifty miles north of New York City. He is consistently described as one of America's most impressive military leaders. In early 2007, President George Bush placed him in command of allied forces in Iraq. In April 2008, Petraeus was announced as the the head of U.S. Central Command.
Education:
Petraeus received his bachelor's degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1974. He later received a master's degree and doctorate in international relations from Princeton University.
Experience:
Petraeus has held increasingly important posts in the U.S. Army and served in Haiti, Bosnia, and Iraq. He has been awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star among many other decorations.
Prior to this Petraeus was:
- Commanding General, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth (2005-07)
- Commander, Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq (2004-05)
- Commander, 101st Airborne Division (2002-04)
Statements:
- Report to Congress on the Situation in Iraq (PDF), September 10, 2007
- Interview with Brian Williams, March 9, 2007
- Iraq's Evolving Forces, speech at Center for Strategic and International Studies, November 7, 2005
Fun Facts:
Petraeus's father, Sixtus, was a Dutch sea captain who came to the United States following World War II.
More Information:
- Petraeus's Biography from the Multinational Force-Iraq.
- New U.S. Commander in Iraq is Warrior-Scholar, from ABC News and Reuters.