GENERAL ROBERT W. CONE

COMMANDING GENERAL
UNITED STATES ARMY TRAINING AND DOCTRINE COMMAND
Fort Eustis, VA

General Robert W. Cone assumed duties as Commander, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command on April 29, 2011 after serving as Commander, III Corps and Fort Hood, Texas and Deputy Commanding General - Operations for U.S. Forces - Iraq.

General Cone graduated from the United States Military Academy and was commissioned as an Armor Officer in June 1979. His first duty assignment was in the 2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas, from January 1980 until December 1984. He served as a Cavalry Platoon Leader and Troop Executive Officer in 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, Aide-de-camp to the Assistant Division Commander, Battalion Motor Officer, followed by command of Combat Service Support Company and then Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor. He then attended the Infantry Officer Advanced Course in January 1985.

In July 1985, General Cone began studies at the University of Texas, Austin, earning a Master's Degree in Sociology and upon completion in 1987 was assigned to the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at West Point. He performed duties as an instructor, and later assistant professor in the department before attending the Command and General Staff College in summer 1990. In May 1991, General Cone reported as the Operations Officer, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment where he deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm. Upon redeployment, he served as the Regimental S-3, then Regimental Executive Officer until the Regiment's inactivation in March 1994. General Cone was then assigned as Regimental Executive Officer, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Bliss, Texas, and then assumed command of 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in October 1994. General Cone then attended the Naval War College in 1997 earning a Master's Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.

In summer 1998, General Cone returned to Fort Hood and was assigned as the G-3, 4th Infantry Division and then assumed command of 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. In July 2001, he was assigned to the Joint Staff with duty as Military Director, Joint Advanced Warfighting Program, Institute for Defense Analyses. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003 leading Joint Forces Command's Lessons Learned Collection Team and was subsequently assigned Director, Joint Center for Operational Analysis. In September 2004, General Cone was assigned as Commander, National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California. In June 2007, General Cone deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as Commander, Combined Security Transition Command. Upon redeployment in December 2008, he served briefly as Special Assistant, Commanding General, Training and Doctrine Command before assuming command of III Corps in September 2009. General Cone deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn from March 2010 to February 2011.

His awards and decorations include: the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal (1 OLC), Legion of Merit (2 OLC), Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), Army Achievement Medal, Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge.

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