Robert Bruce Abrams (born November 18, 1960) is a retired four-star general in the United States Army who last served as the commander of United States Forces Korea.[3] He concurrently served as the commander of United Nations Command and commander of R.O.K.-U.S. Combined Forces Command. He previously served as the 22nd commanding general of United States Army Forces Command from August 10, 2015 to October 17, 2018. He was a 1982 graduate of the United States Military Academy where he was commissioned as an armor officer. During his years of active service, he has held command and staff positions across the Army and joint community in Germany, the United States, Southwest Asia and South Korea. Abrams comes from a family of career military officers. His father was former Army Chief of Staff General Creighton W. Abrams Jr., and both of his elder brothers, Creighton and John, were Army general officers.[4]
Robert B. Abrams | |
|---|---|
 Robert B. Abrams as Commander, United States Forces Korea in 2018 | |
| Nickname(s) | Abe |
| Born | November 18, 1960[1] West Germany (present-day Germany) |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1982–2021 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | United Nations Command United States Forces Korea Combined Forces Command United States Army Forces Command 3rd Infantry Division Fort Irwin National Training Center 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment |
| Battles / wars | Gulf War Iraq War War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (6) Bronze Star Medal (4) |
| Spouse(s) |
Connie C. Clevenger (m. 1992) |
| Relations | General Creighton W. Abrams Jr. (father) Brigadier General Creighton W. Abrams III (brother) General John N. Abrams (brother) |
He relinquished command of United States Command, Combined Forces Command and United States Forces Korea to General Paul LaCamera on July 2, 2021 and retired soon after.[5][6]
Assignments
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Abrams' tours of duty with war-fighting units include the 3rd Armored Division as a lieutenant; the 1st Cavalry Division as a captain, and as a major in the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, as a lieutenant colonel (including battalion command and as the Division G3) and colonel (including command of a brigade combat team and as the division chief of staff). His joint experience includes serving as a Strategic War Planner for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with responsibility for the United States Central Command's Area of Operations; and as the Director of the Joint Center of Excellence for IED Defeat, a subordinate of the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Agency (JIDA).
Commands
editAbrams has commanded at every level from company through divisional command. His first command was of D Company and Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment. He deployed the company in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Abrams's next command assignment was at battalion level, with 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.
Later, Abrams served as the commander of the 1st Brigade Combat Team (Iron Horse), 1st Cavalry Division, where he deployed to East Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II, as commanding general of Fort Irwin & the National Training Center, and most recently as commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia from 2011 to 2013, during which he served as commander of Regional Command South in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Abrams has extensive operational experience, having served as an operations officer at squadron, regimental and divisional level. Abrams has also served as an instructor, written doctrine and developed training at the United States Army Armor School, and as executive officer to the Commanding General United States Army Europe and Seventh Army.
Abrams's general officer assignments also include service as the Deputy Commanding General, Combined Arms Center-Training, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and the commander of the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California.
In 2015, Abrams was assigned as Commanding General, United States Army Forces Command, which oversees all United States Army combat units in the continental United States.
On October 11, 2018, the Senate confirmed his nomination to command United States Forces Korea.[7] Abrams relinquished command of Army Forces Command to his deputy commander, Lieutenant General Laura Richardson, on October 16,[8] and assumed command of United States Forces Korea from General Vincent K. Brooks on November 7.[4]
In 2020, Abrams was among the candidates shortlisted to replace Admiral Philip S. Davidson as the commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command,[9] but Admiral John C. Aquilino was nominated instead.[10][11][12]
In May 2021, Abrams was bestowed the Korean name Woo Byung-soo[a] (Korean: 우병수) by the ROK-US Alliance Friendship Association in honor of "his contributions to the alliance and defense of South Korea".[13]
His retirement ceremony was held on August 31, 2021.[14]
Education
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Abrams holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy, a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a master's degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.
His military schooling includes the Armor Basic [Cavalry] and Advanced Courses, Basic Airborne Course, Ranger School [Class 5–83], the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.
Awards and decorations
editMedals and awards earned by Abrams include:[15][16]
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| Defense Distinguished Service Medal w/ bronze oak leaf cluster[17] | Army Distinguished Service Medal w/ bronze oak leaf cluster |
| Legion of Merit w/ one silver oak leaf cluster |
Bronze Star Medal w/ three bronze oak leaf clusters |
Defense Meritorious Service Medal |
| Meritorious Service Medal w/ two oak leaf clusters |
Joint Service Commendation Medal | Army Commendation Medal w/ three oak leaf clusters |
| Army Achievement Medal w/ two oak leaf clusters |
National Defense Service Medal w/ one bronze service star |
Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ three bronze campaign stars |
| Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ one campaign star |
Iraq Campaign Medal w/ two campaign stars |
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |
| Army Service Ribbon | Army Overseas Service Ribbon w/ bronze award numeral 4 |
NATO Medal for Service with ISAF |
| Order of National Security Merit (1st Grade)[18] | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) |
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) |
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| Joint Meritorious Unit Award w/ 4 oak leaf clusters |
Valorous Unit Award | Meritorious Unit Commendation |
 United Nations Command Badge[19] |
4 Overseas Service Bars
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Notes
edit- ^ In this Korean name, the family name is Woo.
References
edit- ^ "Register of Graduates and Former Cadets of the United States Military Academy". Association of Graduates, USMA. 18 July 1991 – via Google Books.
- ^ Kentucky, U.S., Marriage Index, 1973-1999.
- ^ "Commander UNC/CFC/USFK - Gen. Robert B. Abrams". www.usfk.mil. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
- ^ a b Gamel, Kim (2018-11-07). "Abrams takes command of USFK amid nuclear talks with North Korea". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
- ^ "WEBCAST: USFK CHANGE OF COMMAND". DVIDS. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
- ^ Oh Seok-min; Choi Soo-hyang (2021-07-02). "Gen. LaCamera takes office as new U.S. Forces Korea chief". Yonhap News Agency.
- ^ Kheel, Rebecca (2017-10-12). "U.S. commanders for troops in South Korea, South America confirmed by Senate". The Hill. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
- ^ Meinhardt, Eve (2018-10-17). "Abrams relinquishes command of FORSCOM". www.army.mil. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
- ^ LaGrone, Sam (2020-12-03). "PACFLT Commander Aquilino Formally Nominated to Lead INDO-PACOM". USNI News. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
- ^ Lubold, Gordon; Youssef, Nancy A. (2020-11-30). "Trump Expected to Name New Indo-Pacific Command Head". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
- ^ "Flag Officer Announcement". U.S. Department of Defense. 2020-12-03. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
- ^ "PN2393 - Adm. John C. Aquilino - Navy, 116th Congress (2019-2020)". www.congress.gov. 2020-12-02. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
- ^ "US Forces Korea commander to receive Korean name at farewell event". The Korea Times. 2021-05-06. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
- ^ "WEBCAST: SPECIAL RETIREMENT REVIEW IN HONOR OF GENERAL ROBERT ABRAMS". DVIDS. Retrieved 2021-08-26.
- ^ "BG Abrams Bio" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-04.
- ^ "BG Abrams bio on DoD" (PDF).
- ^ "UNC / CFC / USFK Change of Command". Flickr. 2021-07-02.
- ^ Nam Hyun-woo (2021-07-01). "President honors outgoing USFK commander for his service". The Korea Times.
- ^ a b "USFK Change of Command". DoD.