Robert B. Abrams

{{short description|US Army general}} {{for|the New York Attorney General|Robert Abrams}}{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}{{Use American English|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox military person | name = Robert B. Abrams | image = Gen. Robert B. Abrams.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Official portrait, 2018 | nickname = Abe | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|11|18}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xXreAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Robert+Bruce+Abrams%22|title=Register of Graduates and Former Cadets of the United States Military Academy|date=18 July 1991|publisher=Association of Graduates, USMA.|via=Google Books}}</ref> | birth_place = [[West Germany]] (present-day [[Germany]]) | death_date = | death_place = | burial_place = | allegiance = United States | branch = [[United States Army]] | service_years = 1982–2021 | rank = [[General (United States)|General]] | service_number = | unit = | commands = [[United Nations Command]] [[United States Forces Korea]] [[ROK/US Combined Forces Command|Combined Forces Command]] [[United States Army Forces Command]] [[3rd Infantry Division (United States)|3rd Infantry Division]] [[Fort Irwin National Training Center]] [[1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division]] 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment | battles = [[Gulf War]] [[Iraq War]] [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]] | awards = {{nowrap|[[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]] (2)}} [[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Army Distinguished Service Medal]] (2) [[Legion of Merit]] (6) [[Bronze Star Medal]] (4) | spouse = {{marriage|Connie C. Clevenger|1992}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Kentucky, U.S., Marriage Index, 1973-1999}}</ref> | relations = General [[Creighton Abrams|Creighton W. Abrams Jr.]] (father) Brigadier General [[Creighton W. Abrams III]] (brother) General [[John N. Abrams]] (brother) | other_work = }} '''Robert Bruce Abrams''' (born 18 November 1960) is a retired four-star [[General (United States)|general]] in the [[United States Army]] who last served as the commander of [[United States Forces Korea]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Commander UNC/CFC/USFK - Gen. Robert B. Abrams|url=https://www.usfk.mil/Leadership/Article-View/Article/1685489/commander-unccfcusfk/|access-date=2020-12-22|website=www.usfk.mil}}</ref> He concurrently served as the commander of [[United Nations Command]] and commander of [[ROK/US Combined Forces Command|R.O.K.-U.S. Combined Forces Command]]. He previously served as the 22nd commanding general of [[United States Army Forces Command]] from 10 August 2015 to 17 October 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, [[West Asia|Southwest Asia]] and South Korea. Abrams comes from a family of career military officers. His father was former [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|Army Chief of Staff]] General [[Creighton Abrams|Creighton W. Abrams Jr.]], and both of his elder brothers, Creighton and [[John N. Abrams|John]], were Army [[general officer]]s.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Gamel|first=Kim|date=2018-11-07|title=Abrams takes command of USFK amid nuclear talks with North Korea|url=https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/abrams-takes-command-of-usfk-amid-nuclear-talks-with-north-korea-1.555679|access-date=2020-12-22|website=Stars and Stripes}}</ref>

He relinquished command of United States Command, Combined Forces Command and United States Forces Korea to General [[Paul LaCamera]] on 2 July 2021 and retired soon after.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/26398|title=WEBCAST: USFK CHANGE OF COMMAND|access-date=2021-06-28|website=DVIDS}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Oh Seok-min|author2=Choi Soo-hyang|url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20210702005600325|title=Gen. LaCamera takes office as new U.S. Forces Korea chief|date=2021-07-02|website=Yonhap News Agency}}</ref>

==Assignments== [[File:Abrams Esper (48494456626).jpg|thumb|Abrams (left) with US Secretary of Defense [[Mark Esper]] in 2019]] Abrams' tours of duty with war-fighting units include the [[3rd Armored Division (United States)|3rd Armored Division]] as a [[lieutenant]]; the [[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Cavalry Division]] as a [[Captain (United States)|captain]], and as a [[Major (United States)|major]] in the [[3rd Cavalry Regiment (United States)]], as a [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]] (including battalion command and as the Division G3) and [[Colonel (United States)|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 Organization]] (JIDA).

==Commands== Abrams 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|8th Cavalry Regiment]]. He deployed the company in support of Operations [[Gulf War|Desert Shield]] and [[Gulf War|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]] in support of [[2004 in Iraq|Operation Iraqi Freedom II]], as commanding general of [[Fort Irwin National Training Center|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]].

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 Africa]] and [[United States Army Europe and Africa|Seventh Army]].

Abrams's [[general officer]] assignments also include service as the Deputy Commanding General, [[United States Army Combined Arms Command|Combined Arms Center-Training]], [[Fort Leavenworth]] and the commander of the [[Fort Irwin National Training Center]] at [[Fort Irwin National Training Center]].

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 11 October 2018, the [[United States Senate|Senate]] confirmed his nomination to command [[United States Forces Korea]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/411115-commanders-for-troops-in-korea-south-america-confirmed|title=U.S. commanders for troops in South Korea, South America confirmed by Senate|last=Kheel|first=Rebecca|date=2017-10-12|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|access-date=2017-10-13|language=en}}</ref> Abrams relinquished command of Army Forces Command to his deputy commander, Lieutenant General [[Laura J. Richardson|Laura Richardson]], on 16 October,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Meinhardt|first=Eve|date=2018-10-17|title=Abrams relinquishes command of FORSCOM|url=https://www.army.mil/article/212549/abrams_relinquishes_command_of_forscom|access-date=2020-12-22|website=www.army.mil|language=en}}</ref> and assumed command of United States Forces Korea from General [[Vincent K. Brooks]] on 7 November.<ref name=":1" />

In 2020, Abrams was among the candidates shortlisted to replace Admiral [[Philip S. Davidson]] as the commander of [[United States Indo-Pacific Command]],<ref>{{Cite news|last=LaGrone|first=Sam|date=2020-12-03|title=PACFLT Commander Aquilino Formally Nominated to Lead INDO-PACOM|language=en-US|website=[[United States Naval Institute]]|url=https://news.usni.org/2020/12/03/pacflt-commander-aquilino-formally-nominated-to-lead-indo-pacom|access-date=2020-12-07}}</ref> but Admiral [[John C. Aquilino]] was nominated instead.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Lubold|first1=Gordon|last2=Youssef|first2=Nancy A.|date=2020-11-30|title=Trump Expected to Name New Indo-Pacific Command Head|language=en-US|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-expected-to-name-new-indo-pacific-command-head-11606753476|access-date=2020-12-01|issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-03|title=Flag Officer Announcement|url=https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2434629/flag-officer-announcement/|access-date=2020-12-03|website=U.S. Department of Defense}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-12-02|title=PN2393 - Adm. John C. Aquilino - Navy, 116th Congress (2019-2020)|website=www.congress.gov|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/116th-congress/2393|access-date=2020-12-03}}</ref>

In May 2021, Abrams was bestowed the Korean name Woo Byung-soo{{family name footnote|lang=Korean|Woo}} ({{korean|hangul=우병수}}) by the ROK-US Alliance Friendship Association in honor of "his contributions to the alliance and defense of South Korea".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021/05/205_308364.html|title=US Forces Korea commander to receive Korean name at farewell event|date=2021-05-06|access-date=2021-06-30|website=The Korea Times}}</ref>

His retirement ceremony was held on 31 August 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/26727|title=WEBCAST: SPECIAL RETIREMENT REVIEW IN HONOR OF GENERAL ROBERT ABRAMS|access-date=2021-08-26|website=DVIDS}}</ref>

==Education==

[[File:UNC, CFC, USFK Change of Command 10.jpg|thumb|Abrams gives farewell remarks during the United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea change of command ceremony on 2 July 2021 at Barker Field.]]

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 [[United States Army Command and General Staff College]], and the [[United States Army War College|Army War College]].

==Awards and decorations== Medals and awards earned by Abrams include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jieddo.dod.mil/content/docs/20100926_bio_Abrams.pdf|title=BG Abrams Bio|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004192945/https://www.jieddo.dod.mil/content/docs/20100926_bio_Abrams.pdf|archive-date=2011-10-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defense.gov/dodcmsshare/BloggerAssets/2008-12/12180810205520081217_BGAbrams_bio.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015061534/http://www.defense.gov/dodcmsshare/BloggerAssets/2008-12/12180810205520081217_BGAbrams_bio.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 October 2012|title=BG Abrams bio on DoD}}</ref>

{{center|[[File:Combat Action Badge.svg|110px]] [[Combat Action Badge]]}}

{| style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;" |+ '''Personal Awards''' |- |colspan="3" align="center"|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}} {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}} |- |{{ribbon devices|number=5|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=80}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|name=Bronze Star ribbon|width=80}}[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|18px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|18px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|18px]] |[[File:Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|80px]] |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|18px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|18px]] |[[File:Joint Service Commendation ribbon.svg|80px]] |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|18px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|18px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|18px]] |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|18px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|18px]] |{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg|width=80}}[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|14px]][[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|14px]][[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|14px]] |- |{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|name=Afghanistan Campaign ribbon|width=80}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|14px]][[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|14px]] |[[File:Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg|80px]] |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Service Ribbon.svg|width=80}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=numeral|ribbon=Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg|width=80}}[[File:Award numeral 4.png|17px]] |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=NATO Medal ISAF ribbon bar.svg|width=80}} |- |[[File:Tong-il Security Medal Ribbon.svg|80x80px]] |[[File:Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) Ribbon.png|80x80px]] |[[File:Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg|80px]] |}

{|class="wikitable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; margin-bottom: -1px;" |- |colspan="3"| [[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]] w/ bronze oak leaf cluster<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/unc-cfc-usfk/51283505492/in/album-72157719485570114/|title=UNC / CFC / USFK Change of Command|date=2021-07-02|website=Flickr}}</ref> |colspan="3"| [[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Army Distinguished Service Medal]] w/ bronze oak leaf cluster |- |} {|class="wikitable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; margin-top: -1px;" |- |[[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 (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]] w/ two oak leaf clusters |[[Commendation Medal]] |[[Commendation Medal]] w/ three oak leaf clusters |- |[[Achievement Medal]] w/ two oak leaf clusters |[[National Defense Service Medal]] w/ one bronze [[service star]] |[[Southwest Asia Service Medal]] w/ three bronze [[service star|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]] |[[Overseas Service Ribbon#Army|Army Overseas Service Ribbon]] w/ bronze [[award numeral]] 4 |[[NATO Medal|NATO Medal for Service with ISAF]] |- |[[Order of National Security Merit|Order of National Security Merit (1st Grade)]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Nam Hyun-woo|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021/07/113_311458.html|title=President honors outgoing USFK commander for his service|date=2021-07-01|website=The Korea Times}}</ref> |[[Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)|Kuwait Liberation Medal]] ([[Saudi Arabia]]) |[[Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)|Kuwait Liberation Medal]] ([[Kuwait]]) |}

{|style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;" |+ '''Unit Awards ''' |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg|width=80}}[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|18px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|18px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|18px]][[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|18px]] |[[File:Valorous Unit Award ribbon.svg|80px]] |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=80}} |}

{|class="wikitable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; margin-bottom: -1px;" |- |[[Joint Meritorious Unit Award]] w/ 4 oak leaf clusters |[[Valorous Unit Award]] |[[Meritorious Unit Commendation]] |}

{|class="wikitable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; margin-bottom: -1px;" |+ '''Identification and service badges ''' |- |[[File:1-8cav.gif|80px]] [[8th Cavalry Regiment]] [[Distinctive unit insignia]] |[[File:United States Air Force Parachutist Badge.svg|90px]] [[Parachutist Badge (United States)|Basic Parachutist Badge]] |[[File:Ranger Tab.svg|80px]] [[Ranger tab]] |- |[[File:1st Cavalry Division CSIB.png|85px]] [[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Cavalry Division]] [[Combat Service Identification Badge]]<ref name="USFK Change of Command">{{cite web|url=https://mobile.twitter.com/thejointstaff/status/1060590477353893888/photo/4|title=USFK Change of Command|publisher=DoD}}</ref> |[[File:Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge.png|110px]] [[Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge]] |[[File:Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg|110px]] [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] |} {|class="wikitable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; margin-top: -1px;" |- |[[File:United Nations Command logo.svg|95px]] [[United Nations Command]] Badge<ref name="USFK Change of Command"/> |colspan="2" align="center"|4 [[Overseas Service Bar]]s [[File:ArmyOSB.svg|70px]] [[File:ArmyOSB.svg|70px]] [[File:ArmyOSB.svg|70px]] [[File:ArmyOSB.svg|70px]] |}

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{C-SPAN|69320}}

{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-bef|before=[[Dana J. H. Pittard]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Commanding General of the [[Fort Irwin National Training Center]]|years=2009-2011}} {{s-aft|after=[[Terry R. Ferrell]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Tony Cucolo]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Commanding General of the [[3rd Infantry Division (United States)|3rd Infantry Division]]|years=2011–2013}} {{s-aft|after=[[John M. Murray]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Thomas D. Waldhauser]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Senior Military Assistant to the [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]]|years=2013–2015}} {{s-aft|after=[[Ronald F. Lewis]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Mark Milley|Mark A. Milley]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Commanding General of [[United States Army Forces Command]]|years=2015–2018}} {{s-aft|after=[[Michael X. Garrett]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Vincent K. Brooks]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Commander of [[United Nations Command]] Commander of [[United States Forces Korea]] Commander of [[ROK/US Combined Forces Command]]|years=2018–2021}} {{s-aft|after=[[Paul LaCamera]]}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abrams, Robert B.}} [[Category:1960 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:United States Army personnel of the Iraq War]] [[Category:United States Army personnel of the Gulf War]] [[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]] [[Category:Central Michigan University alumni]] [[Category:United States Army War College alumni]] [[Category:United States Army generals]] [[Category:United States Military Academy alumni]] [[Category:Commanders, United States Forces Korea]]