Stephen Twitty
Stephen Twitty | |
---|---|
Born | 1963 (age 60–61) Spartanburg,South Carolina |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Army |
Years of service | 1985–2020 |
Rank | Lieutenant General |
Commands | First United States Army 1st Armored Division 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division 3rd Battalion,15th Infantry Regiment |
Battles/wars | Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War |
Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Defense Superior Service Medal(2) Legion of Merit(4) Bronze Star Medal(3) |
Stephen M. Twitty(born 1963) is a retiredlieutenant generalin theUnited States Army.Twitty assumed command ofFirst United States Armyon July 15, 2016,[1]relinquishing command to become deputy commander ofUnited States European Commandon 9 August 2018.[2][3]Previously, he was commanding general ofFort Blissand the1st Armored Division.[4]Twitty was awarded theSilver Starduring Operation Iraqi Freedom. Noted for his relationship with journalistDavid Bloom,[5]who was embedded with hisbattalionduring the invasion of Iraq in 2003, Twitty has served in five combat deployments, including tours in the Gulf War, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait. He has commanded at thecompany,battalion,andbrigadelevel during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Twitty is a graduate ofSouth Carolina State Universityand a member of theOmega Psi Phifraternity.He was inducted into the South Carolina State University ROTC Hall of Fame in 2009, and selected as one of the university's Distinguished Alumni in 2004.
Twitty has a highway named in his honor, State Highway 11, running through his hometown of Chesnee, South Carolina.[6]
Early life and education
[edit]Born inSpartanburg, South Carolina,Twitty is a native ofChesnee, South Carolina.He is a 1985 distinguished military graduate fromSouth Carolina State University.[7]Twitty also holds aMaster of Sciencedegree in Public Administration fromCentral Michigan Universityand a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from theNational Defense University.[7]
Military career
[edit]Twitty is aninfantryman;his duty assignments include rifle platoon leader, scout platoon leader and battalion S-3 air officer from August 1985 to May 1989 with 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division at Fort Campbell. From October 1989 to May 1993, he served as the S-3 air officer for 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment during Operation Desert Storm; Aide-de-camp to the commanding general; and, commander of B Company, 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division atFort Stewart,Georgia.[8]
From May 1993 to 1994, Twitty served as a Joint Chiefs of Staff Intern in the Directorate for Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5) in the Pentagon; and, from 1994 to 1995 he served as the speechwriter for the Army G-3. After completion of Command and General Staff College, he served as a G-3 operations officer with V Corps from June 1996 to April 1997 in Heidelberg, Germany, to include Operation Joint Endeavor in Tazar, Hungary. From April 1997 to June 1999, he served in Schweinfurt, Germany as the executive officer for 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, and the operations officer (S3) for 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.[8]
From June 1999 to June 2001, Twitty served in Mons, Belgium at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe as the aide-de-camp to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and commander United States European Command, including during Operation Allied Response in Kosovo.[8]
From June 2001 to June 2003, Twitty commanded 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, ( "3–15" ) including during Operation Iraqi Freedom. His battalion (Task Force 3–15) was awarded thePresidential Unit Citation.[9]From June 2003 to June 2004, he served as operations officer (G-3) for 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia. At Fort Bliss, he commanded 4th Brigade Combat Team,1st Cavalry Divisionfrom August 2005 to March 2008, including during Operation Iraqi Freedom; later reflagged as 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division from March 2008 to July 2008.[8]
From July 2008 to July 2009, Twitty served as the executive officer to the deputy commanding general of U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado. From July 2009 to September 2010, he served as the chief of staff, United States Army Central, Operation Iraqi Freedom. From September 2010 through March 2012, he served as the deputy commanding general (operations) for the 1st Armored Division at Ft. Bliss. From March 2012 to April 2013, Twitty served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Communication, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan.[8]
Twitty served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations forUnited States Army Forces Commandat Fort Bragg, North Carolina.[6]Twitty leaves First Army to serve as deputy commander ofEUCOMon 9 August 2018.[3]
Later career
[edit]Twitty founded consulting firm Twitty and Associates LLC. Twitty serves in a number of senior business positions including as Board Advisor at AI companyDataminrand robotics companySarcos.He is a National Security and Military Analyst atMSNBC.[10]
Awards and decorations
[edit]- Combat Infantryman Badge(2nd award)
- Expert Infantryman Badge
- Ranger Tab
- Basic Parachutist Badge
- Air Assault Badge
- Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
- Army Staff Identification Badge
- 3rd Infantry DivisionCombat Service Identification Badge
- United States European CommandBadge
- 327th Infantry RegimentDistinctive Unit Insignia
- 10Overseas Service Bars
- Army Distinguished Service Medal[2]
- Silver Star
- Defense Superior Service Medal(1 OLC)
- Legion of Merit(3 OLC)
- Bronze Star(2 OLC)
- Meritorious Service Medal(4 OLC)
- Joint Service Commendation Medal
- Army Commendation Medal(2 OLC)
- Army Achievement Medal(1 OLC)
- Army Presidential Unit Citation
- National Defense Service Medal(with 1Service Star)
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
- Southwest Asia Service Medal(with 2 service stars)
- Kosovo Campaign Medal
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal
- Iraq Campaign Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Armed Forces Service Medal
- Army Service Ribbon
- Army Overseas Service Ribbon(with bronzeaward numeral"6" )
- NATO Medalfor the former Yugoslavia
- Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
- Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Personal life
[edit]Twitty is married to Karen Wilson Twitty and has two daughters.[6]
Upon relinquishing command of First Army, Twitty noted that his grandfathers had served in First Army, in a segregated military, and that First Army's centenary would be 100 years, on the next day, 10 August 2018.[2]
References
[edit]- ^"First Army welcomes new commander".
- ^abcW. Wayne Marlow (August 9, 2018) Lt. Gen. Twitty relinquishes command of First Army
- ^abHerb Trix (Aug 8, 2018) Twitty Leaves First Army
- ^1st AD, Fort Bliss change command: Maj. Gen. Pat White takes ‘Old Ironsides’ helm[usurped]access date: 2016-06-15
- ^"Remembering Journalist David Bloom: His Last Thoughts".20 October 2007. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007.
{{cite web}}
:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^abcEl Paso Times, (5-27-2013) Twitty recalls his troopsaccessdate=2014-08-07
- ^ab"Century of Service: Lt. Gen. Stephen M. Twitty – Pritzker Military Museum & Library – Chicago".pritzkermilitary.org.
- ^abcdeLTG STEPHEN M. TWITTY(2016) ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY (AUSA), Arlington, VA
- ^In particular, on 7 April 2003, Twitty's battalion (TF 3–15) decisively defeatedswarmingtactics in an all-day battle.Sean J. A. Edwards (Sept 2004), Doctoral thesis: Swarming and the Future of Warfare,pp280-286
- ^"Stephen M. Twitty"(PDF).Council on Foreign Relations. 2022.Retrieved9 June2022.
External links
[edit]- 1963 births
- Living people
- South Carolina State University alumni
- African-American United States Army personnel
- United States Army personnel of the Gulf War
- United States Army personnel of the Iraq War
- United States Army personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- United States Army generals
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal