John Abizaid

{{Short description|American military leader & diplomat (born 1951)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Use American English|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = John Abizaid | image = John P. Abizaid official photo (cropped)(2).jpg | office = United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia | president = Donald Trump | term_start = 16 June 2019 | term_end = 20 January 2021 | predecessor = Joseph W. Westphal | successor = Michael Ratney | office1 = 8th Commander of the United States Central Command | president1 = George W. Bush | term_start1 = 7 July 2003 | term_end1 = 16 March 2007 | predecessor1 = Tommy Franks | successor1 = William J. Fallon | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|4|1|df=y}} | birth_place = Redwood City, California, U.S. | children = 3, including Christine | death_date = | death_place = | education = U.S. Military Academy (BS) Harvard University (MA) | allegiance = United States | branch = United States Army | branch_label = Branch | service_years = 1973–2007 | service_years_label = Years | rank = General | commands = {{ubil|U.S. Central Command|U.S. Military Academy|1st Infantry Division|504th PIR|3rd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment}} | battles = Grenada War Gulf War Bosnian War Kosovo War War in Afghanistan Iraq War | battles_label = Wars | mawards = {{ubil|Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3)|Army Distinguished Service Medal|{{nobr|Defense Superior Service Medal}}|Legion of Merit (6)|Bronze Star Medal|Officer of the Order of Australia}} | module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=GEN John Abizaid Testifies on the Threat of Islamic Extremism in the Middle East.ogg|title=John Abizaid's voice|type=speech|description=Abizaid, while CENTCOM commander, speaks on the threat of Islamic extremism in the Middle East Recorded 29 September 2005}} | caption = Official portrait, 2019 }} '''John Philip Abizaid''' (born 1 April 1951) is a retired United States Army general and former United States Central Command (CENTCOM) commander who served as the United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 2019 to 2021.

In 2007, Abizaid retired after 34 years of service.<ref>{{cite news|access-date=2 May 2007|url=http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/05/army_abizaid_retires_070502w/|title=Former CentCom chief retires|first=Jim|last=Tice|date=2 May 2007|work=Army Times}}</ref> As of 2007, Abizaid is employed as a fellow of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.<ref>{{cite news|access-date=15 June 2007|url=http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2007/may16/krasabiz-051607.html|date=10 May 2007|work=Stanford Report|title=Stanford welcomes back retired Army general, political scientist|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621132934/http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2007/may16/krasabiz-051607.html|archive-date=21 June 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> He assumed the Distinguished Chair of the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point in December 2007. Abizaid was appointed to the board of directors of RPM International on 24 January 2008, and also sits on the board of directors of the Defense Ventures Group.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wrhi.com/2010/08/spratt-to-tour-defense-venture-group-facility-in-lancaster |title=Spratt to tour Defense Venture Group facility in Lancaster | News Talk 94.3 WRHI |date=23 August 2010 |access-date=7 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100902192713/http://www.wrhi.com/2010/08/spratt-to-tour-defense-venture-group-facility-in-lancaster/ |archive-date=2 September 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2008, he was selected as a Montgomery Fellow at Dartmouth College.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/releases/2008/10/10.html |title=Dartmouth News − Retired U.S. General John Abizaid to Discuss, "The United States and the Middle East: Strategic Choices for the Way Ahead," October 14 as a Montgomery Fellow − 10/10/08 |access-date=21 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016073440/http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/releases/2008/10/10.html |archive-date=16 October 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 13 November 2018, he was nominated as the United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Trump names retired general John Abizaid to be ambassador to Saudi Arabia |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=14 November 2018 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-names-retired-general-john-abizaid-to-be-ambassador-to-saudi-arabia/2018/11/13/ccf62336-e79d-11e8-a939-9469f1166f9d_story.html}}</ref> He was confirmed by the United States Senate as ambassador on 10 April 2019, and sworn in on 30 April 2019.<ref name="thehill.com">{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/438226-senate-confirms-trumps-pick-for-ambassador-to-saudi-arabia|title=Senate confirms Trump's pick for ambassador to Saudi Arabia|first=Jesse|last=Byrnes|date=10 April 2019|website=TheHill}}</ref> Abizaid formally presented his credentials to King Salman on 16 June 2019.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1140205696442650624 |title=US Ambassador John Abizaid, Indian Ambassador Dr. Ausaf Sayeed join other envoys in presenting their credentials to King Salman in Jeddah this morning |date=16 June 2019 |newspaper=Al-Bilad English |access-date=9 July 2019}}</ref> He resigned on 20 January 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-20|title=Message for U.S. Citizens: A Farewell Message from U.S. Ambassador John Abizaid to the American Citizen Community in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia|url=http://sa.usembassy.gov/message-for-u-s-citizens-a-farewell-message-from-u-s-ambassador-john-abizaid-to-the-american-citizen-community-in-the-kingdom-of-saudi-arabia/|access-date=2021-02-26|website=U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Saudi Arabia|language=en-US}}</ref> He now serves as senior advisor at Albright Stonebridge Group.<ref>{{Cite web |title=News {{!}} Albright Stonebridge Group |url=https://www.albrightstonebridge.com/news/press-release-dentons-global-advisors-asg-welcomes-gen-john-abizaid-jason-hyland-senior |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=www.albrightstonebridge.com}}</ref>

==Early life and education== Abizaid was born in Redwood City, California, to a family of Lebanese Maronite Catholics; his grandparents had immigrated from Lebanon in the 19th century.<ref name="GroundTruthSPT">{{cite news |last=de la Garza |first=Paul |date=3 September 2006 |title=In search of ground truth |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2006/09/03/Floridian/In_search_of_ground_t.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110619020746/http://www.sptimes.com/2006/09/03/Floridian/In_search_of_ground_t.shtml |archive-date=19 June 2011 |access-date=12 June 2011 |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times}}</ref> He was raised in Coleville, California, where he graduated from high school in 1969. His father, who served in the United States Navy as a machinist during World War II, raised him after Abizaid's mother died of cancer.<ref name=GroundTruthSPT />

Abizaid's military education includes the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York (Class of 1973); Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced courses, Armed Forces Staff College, and a U.S. Army War College Senior Fellowship at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.{{citation needed|date=August 2025}}

In his civilian studies, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Middle Eastern studies at Harvard University, and was an Olmsted Scholar at the University of Jordan in Amman, Jordan. Abizaid greatly impressed his teachers at Harvard University. Nadav Safran, the director of the Harvard Center for Middle Eastern Studies kept Abizaid's 100-page paper on defense policy for Saudi Arabia, the only paper of a master's student he has kept, saying, "It was absolutely the best seminar paper I ever got in my 30-plus years at Harvard."<ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. Commander's Background Considered a Strength in War with Iraq|date=27 March 2003|work=The Boston Globe|last2=Swidey|first2=Neil|ref=A28|last1=Barnard|first1=Anne}}</ref>

==Career== thumb|left|Abizaid in 2003 [[File:US Navy 030707-N-5891B-009 U.S. Army Gen. John P. Abizaid accepts the command flag from the Honorable Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, during the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) change of command ceremony.jpg|thumb|left|General Abizaid accepts the CENTCOM command guidon from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on 7 July 2003.]] [[File:President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney meet with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and General John Abizaid.jpg|thumb|left|Abizaid with President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in the Oval Office in May 2004]]

Abizaid was commissioned a second lieutenant of infantry upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, Class of June 1973. He started his career with the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served as a rifle and scout platoon leader. He commanded companies in the 2nd and 1st Ranger Battalions, leading a Ranger Rifle Company during the invasion of Grenada. In 1983, he jumped from an MC-130 onto a landing strip in Grenada and ordered one of his Rangers to drive a bulldozer like a tank toward Cuban troops as he advanced behind it—a move highlighted in the 1986 Clint Eastwood film, ''Heartbreak Ridge''.

Abizaid commanded the 3rd Battalion, 325th Airborne Regiment combat Team in Vicenza, Italy, during the Persian Gulf War and deployed with the battalion in Northern Iraq to provide a safe haven for the Kurds.

His brigade command was the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. He served as the Assistant Division Commander, 1st Armored Division, in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Following that tour, he served as the 66th Commandant at the United States Military Academy at West Point. At West Point, he reined in hazing rituals and revamped the curriculum. Later, he took command of the 1st Infantry Division, the "Big Red One," in Würzburg, Germany, from David L. Grange, which provided the first U.S. ground forces into Kosovo. He served as the Deputy Commander (Forward), Combined Forces Command, U.S. Central Command during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff assignments include a tour with the United Nations as Operations Officer (G-3) for Observer Group Lebanon and a tour in the Office of the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. European staff tours include assignments in both the Southern European Task Force and Headquarters, U.S. Army Europe. Abizaid also served as Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Director of Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5) on the Joint Staff and Director of the Joint Staff.

Following the Iraq War and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, Abizaid assumed command of Central Command from General Tommy Franks. He was under consideration to become the chief of staff of the Army in 2003, but declined the appointment.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Grossman|first=Elaine|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24819977|title=News analysis: Schoomaker choice sends ripple effect through Army and beyond|date=2003-08-04|access-date=2024-10-13|journal=Inside the Army|volume=15|issue=31|pages=13–15|publisher=Inside Washington Publishers|jstor=24819977}}</ref>

[[File:Secretary Pompeo Officiates the Swearing-In Ceremony for Ambassador Abizaid (46825826325).jpg|thumb|right|Abizaid is sworn in as the United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in 2019]]

On 20 December 2006, it was announced that Abizaid would step down from his position and retire in March 2007. He had planned to retire earlier, but stayed at the urging of Donald Rumsfeld.<ref>{{cite news|first=Peter |last=Spiegel |title=Top general in Mideast to retire |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-na-generals20dec20,0,4569132.story?coll=la-home-headlines |work=Los Angeles Times |date=20 December 2006 |access-date=21 December 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106164231/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-na-generals20dec20%2C0%2C4569132.story?coll=la-home-headlines |archive-date=6 January 2007}}</ref> On 16 March 2007, Abizaid transferred command to Admiral William J. Fallon, after serving longer as commander of U.S. Central Command than any of his predecessors.

On 8 September 2016, Abizaid was appointed advisor to Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/retired-gen-abizaid-to-advise-ukraines-defense-minister|title=Retired Gen. Abizaid to advise Ukraine's defense minister|last=Burns|first=Robert|date=8 September 2016|work=Military Times|access-date=8 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909142001/http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/retired-gen-abizaid-to-advise-ukraines-defense-minister|archive-date=9 September 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 13 November 2018, he was nominated as the U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-names-retired-general-john-abizaid-to-be-ambassador-to-saudi-arabia/2018/11/13/ccf62336-e79d-11e8-a939-9469f1166f9d_story.html|title=Trump names retired general John Abizaid to be ambassador to Saudi Arabia|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=14 November 2018}}</ref> He was confirmed by the United States Senate as ambassador on 10 April 2019, and sworn in on 30 April 2019.<ref name="thehill.com"/> Abizaid formally presented his credentials to King Salman on 16 June 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1140205696442650624|title=US Ambassador John Abizaid, Indian Ambassador Dr. Ausaf Sayeed join other envoys in presenting their credentials to King Salman in Jeddah this morning|date=16 June 2019|newspaper=Al-Bilad English|access-date=9 July 2019}}</ref>

==Personal life== Abizaid is married<ref name=GroundTruthSPT /> and has three children, including Christine Abizaid.<ref name=GroundTruthSPT /> He learned Arabic in the military.<ref name=GroundTruthSPT />

===Global War on Terrorism speech=== In November 2005, Abizaid gave a speech on the Global War on Terrorism at the Naval War College.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/pdf/abizaid_comments120905_3.pdf |title=Notes From a Student at the Naval War College on Army Gen. Abizaid's Recent Speech |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051211090346/http://www.c-span.org/pdf/abizaid_comments120905_3.pdf |archive-date=11 December 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===2006–2007 comments on Iraq=== [[File:Former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security visits IPSC (22946122007).jpg|thumb|Abizaid and Tom Ridge speak with Pavel Tkachuk in 2016]] On 3 August 2006, Abizaid, in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the following about the situation on the ground in Iraq: "I believe that the sectarian violence is probably as bad as I've seen it, in Baghdad in particular, and that if not stopped, it is possible that Iraq could move towards civil war." He also testified, "I'm optimistic that that slide [toward civil war] can be prevented".<ref>{{cite news|first=Thom|last=Shanker|title=U.S. General Says Iraq Could Slide Into a Civil War|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/04/world/middleeast/04rumsfeld.html?ex=1166850000&en=4520d5821fbe62ff&ei=5070|work=The New York Times|date=4 August 2006|access-date=21 December 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017060114/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/04/world/middleeast/04rumsfeld.html?ex=1166850000&en=4520d5821fbe62ff&ei=5070|archive-date=17 October 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Bob Woodward on Abizaid and Murtha=== thumb|right|Abizaid briefs the press on the findings of the Dover Port Mortuary Independent Review in the Pentagon in 2012 In ''State of Denial: Bush at War, Part III'' (as excerpted in ''Newsweek'' magazine), Bob Woodward of ''The Washington Post'' wrote that on 16 March 2006, Abizaid was in Washington to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee. "He painted a careful but upbeat picture of the situation in Iraq." Subsequently, "he went over to see Congressman John Murtha (D-Pa), the 73-year old veteran Marine who had introduced a resolution the previous November calling for the redeployment of troops from Iraq as soon as practicable." Abizaid said he wanted to speak frankly, and "according to Murtha, Abizaid raised his hand for emphasis and held his thumb and forefinger a quarter of an inch from each other and said, "We're that far apart."{{citation needed|date=August 2025}}

On 1 October 2006, an interview of Woodward by CBS reporter Mike Wallace was broadcast on the television show ''60 Minutes''. Wallace mentioned the Murtha-Abizaid conversation. Wallace asked Woodward to confirm that Murtha had told him of this tale of meeting with Abizaid; Woodward nodded his head in assent and said yes.<ref>{{cite video|people=Bob Woodward, Mike Wallace|title=Bob Woodward: State of Denial|url=http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/scp_v3/viewer/index.php?pid=16598&rn=49750&cl=908754&ch=334515&src=news|medium=TV-Series|work=60 Minutes|date=1 October 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219140516/http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/scp_v3/viewer/index.php?pid=16598|archive-date=19 February 2007}}</ref>

===Iran's nuclear program=== In remarks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies reported on 17 September 2007, Abizaid stated, "We need to press the international community as hard as we possibly can, and the Iranians, to cease and desist on the development of a nuclear weapon and we should not preclude any option that we may have to deal with it." He also said, "I believe that we have the power to deter Iran, should it become nuclear."

"There are ways to live with a nuclear Iran," Abizaid said, "Let's face it, we lived with a nuclear Soviet Union, we've lived with a nuclear China, and we're living with (other) nuclear powers as well."<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070918/ap_on_go_ot/abizaid_iran Abizaid: World could abide nuclear Iran] Yahoo News, by Robert Burns Mon 17 Sep,{{Dead link|date=February 2012}}</ref>

==Awards and decorations== Abizaid has been decorated for service, to include:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/releases/2009/04/23a.html |title=Dartmouth 2009 Honorary Degree Recipient John P. Abizaid (Doctor of Laws) |access-date=11 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026053117/http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/releases/2009/04/23a.html |archive-date=26 October 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.usis.com/Advisory-board.aspx |title=USIS Advisory Board members bio |access-date=11 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215153735/http://www.usis.com/Advisory-Board.aspx |archive-date=15 February 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mershoncenter.osu.edu/events/Archived%20Events/07-08%20events/february08/abizaid.htm |title=Guest speaker Gen John P. Abizaid |access-date=11 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701080953/http://mershoncenter.osu.edu/events/Archived%20Events/07-08%20events/february08/abizaid.htm |archive-date=1 July 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> {| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |- |colspan="4"|File:Combat Infantry Badge.svg |- |colspan="4"|110px |- |colspan="4"|220px |- |colspan="4"|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Defense_Distinguished_Service_ribbon.svg|106px}}22px22px {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg|106px}} |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=US_Defense_Superior_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg|106px}} |{{ribbon devices|number=5|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|106px}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=106px}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Defense_Meritorious_Service_ribbon.svg|106px}} |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Service ribbon.svg|width=106px}}22px22px22px |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}}22px22px |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army_Achievement_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106px}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}18px18px |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|other_device=arrowhead|ribbon=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=KosovoRib.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed_Forces_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Humanitarian Service ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army_Service_Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army_Overseas_Service_Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=United Nations Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=AUS_Order_of_Australia_%28military%29_BAR.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=GER Bundeswehr Honour Cross Gold ribbon.svg|width=106}} |106px |- |colspan="2"|125px |colspan="2"|125px |- |colspan="2"|125px |colspan="2"|125px |- |colspan="4"|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg|width=106px}} {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Valorous Unit Award ribbon.svg|width=106px}} 106px |} {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |- !Badge | colspan="12"|Combat Infantryman Badge |- !Badge | colspan="12"|Master Parachutist Badge {{small|with 1 combat jump star}} |- !Badge | colspan="12"|German Parachutist Badge {{small|(bronze)}} |- !1st row | colspan="6"|Defense Distinguished Service Medal {{small|with 2 bronze Oak leaf clusters}} | colspan="6"|Distinguished Service Medal |- !2nd row |colspan="3"|Defense Superior Service Medal |colspan="3"|Legion of Merit {{small|with 1 silver Oak leaf cluster}} |colspan="3"|Bronze Star |colspan="3"|Defense Meritorious Service Medal |- !3rd row |colspan="3"|Meritorious Service Medal {{small|with 3 bronze Oak leaf clusters}} |colspan="3"|Army Commendation Medal {{small|with 2 bronze Oak leaf clusters}} |colspan="3"|Army Achievement Medal |colspan="3"|National Defense Service Medal {{small|with 2 bronze Service stars}} |- !4th row |colspan="3"|Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal {{small|with Arrowhead Device and 1 bronze Campaign star}} |colspan="3"|Southwest Asia Service Medal {{small|with 1 bronze Campaign star}} |colspan="3"|Kosovo Campaign Medal {{small|with 1 bronze Campaign star}} |colspan="3"|Armed Forces Service Medal |- !5th row |colspan="3"|Humanitarian Service Medal |colspan="3"|Army Service Ribbon |colspan="3"|Army Overseas Service Ribbon |colspan="3"|United Nations Medal {{small|for UNTSO}} |- !6th row |colspan="3"|NATO Medal {{small|for ex-Yugoslavia}} |colspan="3"|Order of Australia {{small|(Military Division)}} |colspan="3"|German Bundeswehr Cross of Honour {{small|in gold}} |colspan="3"|Kuwait Liberation Medal {{small|(Kuwait)}} |- !Badges |colspan="6"|Ranger Tab |colspan="6"|75th Ranger Regiment {{small|Combat Service Identification Badge}} |- !Badges |colspan="6"|Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge |colspan="6"|United States Army Staff Identification Badge |- !Unit awards |colspan="4"|Joint Meritorious Unit Award |colspan="4"|Valorous Unit Award |colspan="4"|Superior Unit Award |}

===International decorations=== * 60px Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tisn.gov.au/portal/govgazonline.nsf/C55675277B018581CA2572A500083AA6/$file/S%2051.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706122651/http://www.tisn.gov.au/portal/govgazonline.nsf/C55675277B018581CA2572A500083AA6/%24file/S%2051.htm|url-status=dead|title=Appointed an Honorary Officer (AO) in the Military Division of the Order of Australia|archivedate=6 July 2011}}</ref> * 60px Gold Cross of Honour of the Bundeswehr (''Ehrenkreuz der Bundeswehr in Gold'')

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading== * {{cite book|last=Cloud|first=David|author2=Greg Jaffe|year=2009|title=The Fourth Star: Four Generals and the Epic Struggle for the Future of the United States Army|publisher=Random House}}

==External links== {{commons category}} * [https://www.westpointcoh.org/interviews/preparing-for-war-after-9-11 Interview with GEN(R) John Abizaid discussing 11 September 2001] on the West Point Center for Oral History; see also www.westpointcoh.org * [https://www.westpointcoh.org/interviews/the-education-and-maturation-of-a-future-centcom-commander Interview with GEN(R) John Abizaid about his career on the West Point Center for Oral History]; see also www.westpointcoh.org * [https://web.archive.org/web/20101202054427/http://westpointaog.org/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid=3476 "West Point Association of Graduates Distinguished Graduate Award Recipient 2009"]

{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-bef|before=Tommy Franks}} {{s-ttl|title=Commander of the United States Central Command|years=2003–2007}} {{s-aft|after=William J. Fallon}} |- {{s-dip}} {{s-bef|before=Joseph W. Westphal}} {{s-ttl|title=United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia|years=2019–2021}} {{s-aft|after=Michael Ratney}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abizaid, John}} Category:1951 births Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Saudi Arabia Category:American people of Lebanese descent Category:Commandants of the Corps of Cadets of the United States Military Academy Category:Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences alumni Category:Honorary officers of the Order of Australia Category:Living people Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) Category:Recipients of the Badge of Honour of the Bundeswehr Category:Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit Category:Recipients of the Order of Saint Maurice Category:United States Army generals Category:United States Army Rangers Category:United States Military Academy alumni Category:University of Jordan alumni Category:Recipients of the Humanitarian Service Medal Category:United States Army personnel of the Gulf War Category:United States Army personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Category:United States Army personnel of the Iraq War