Thomas D. Waldhauser

Thomas Waldhauser (2016)

Thomas David "Tom" Waldhauser (born December 16, 1953 in South St. Paul , Minnesota ) is a general in the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and was Commander in Chief of the United States Africa Command from July 18, 2016 to July 26, 2019 ( USAFRICOM), a cross- armed regional command of the armed forces of the United States based in Stuttgart-Möhringen .

Education and career

Waldhauser began his career in the US Marine Corps in 1976 after studying at Bemidji State University , Minnesota.

Service in the rank of general

Waldhauser during the 53rd MSC 2017

With a promotion to Brigadier General in 2003, Waldhauser was initially Commanding General of the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory and Deputy Commander in Chief of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Prince William County , Virginia , before becoming Chief of Staff in US Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base in 2006 Tampa , Florida .

Between September 2007 and July 2009, he commanded the rank of major general in the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton , California .

From 2009 onwards, Waldhauser, now Lieutenant General , served as Deputy Commandant for Plans Policies and Operations in the US Department of the Navy , but already took over command of the I. Marine Expeditionary Force and the US Marine Corps Forces in the US Central Command in October of the following year . Between October 2012 and September 2013 he was Senior Military Assistant to the US Secretary of Defense , the last position he held before his appointment to USAFRICOM was that of Director for Joint Force Development on the United General Staff of the US Forces.

On April 28, 2016, US President Barack Obama nominated Waldhauser for supreme command of USAFRICOM. After confirmation by the US Senate , Waldhauser took command and was promoted to general on July 18; he succeeded David Rodriguez ( US Army ), who in turn retired.

Promotions

rank	date
Second lieutenant	1976
First lieutenant	n / A
Captain	n / A
major	n / A
Lieutenant Colonel	n / A
Colonel	2000
Brigadier General	2003
Major General	2007
Lieutenant General	2009
general	2016

Awards

Selection of decorations, sorted based on the Order of Precedence of Military Awards :

• Defense Distinguished Service Medal with double oak leaves
• Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaves
• Legion of Merit
• Bronze star
• Meritorious Service Medal with three gold stars
• Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a gold star
• Navy & Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon
• Navy & Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation
• Joint Meritorious Unit Award
• Navy Unit Commendation
• Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
• National Defense Service Medal with a bronze Service Star
• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
• Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze service stars
• Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars
• Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars
• Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
• Humanitarian Service Medal with a bronze service star
• Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
• Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

See also

• Ranks of the United States Armed Forces
• List of active generals and admirals in the United States Armed Forces

Web links

Commons : Thomas D. Waldhauser  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• USAFRICOM website (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d} Commander - US Marine Corps General Thomas D. Waldhauser. US Africa Command, accessed August 24, 2016 . 
2. ^ General Officer Announcement. US Department of Defense, April 28, 2016, accessed August 24, 2016 . 
3. ^ Ferdinando, Lisa: New Africom Commander to Seek Creative, Viable Solutions to Africa's Challenges. US Department of Defense, July 18, 2016, accessed August 24, 2016 .