John P. McLaren
Encyclopedia
John P. McLaren, Jr. served in the United States Army from 1974 to 2011. He retired at the rank of Major General
in the United States Army on August 29, 2011.
Major General John P. McLaren Jr. served as the Commanding General of the 80th Training Command (TASS) from May 17, 2008 to August 29, 2011. Prior to this assignment he worked as the Vice Commander of the Joint War Fighting Center and Deputy Joint Force Trainer at U.S. Joint Forces Command in Suffolk, Virginia. As Deputy Joint Force Trainer he helped lead the USJFCOM joint force training effort to conduct and support the development of capabilities that train the individual services to fight together as a team. He also served as the Deputy Commander of Second Fleet for Joint Task Force Operations.
Born in Savannah, GA and raised in an Air Force family, he entered the Army in 1974, and, after receiving his Regular Army commission as a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers, he served at Fort Meade, MD until leaving active duty in May 1978.
He has held numerous command positions at various levels both on active duty and in the U.S. Army Reserve. General McLaren most recently served as the commander of the Iraq Assistance Group within Multinational Corps - Iraq. As the commander of the group, he directed the military transition teams assigned to Iraqi army units at the battalion, brigade and division level—coaching, mentoring, and partnering with them in fighting the Counter Insurgency Battle in Iraq. During this mission, then Brigadier General McLaren, was the senior representative of the largest mobilization call up of 80th Division Soldiers since World War II. Prior to his deployment to Iraq, General McLaren served as the Assistant Division Commander– Operations for the 80th Division (Institutional Training) as well as numerous brigade and battalion level command and staff positions within the Division.
and a master's degree in strategic studies from the Army War College. He is a registered professional engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
, the Bronze Star
, the Meritorious Service Medal
with one silver and one bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Action Badge
, the Expert Infantryman Badge
, the Ranger Tab
and the Parachutist Badge
.
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
in the United States Army on August 29, 2011.
Major General John P. McLaren Jr. served as the Commanding General of the 80th Training Command (TASS) from May 17, 2008 to August 29, 2011. Prior to this assignment he worked as the Vice Commander of the Joint War Fighting Center and Deputy Joint Force Trainer at U.S. Joint Forces Command in Suffolk, Virginia. As Deputy Joint Force Trainer he helped lead the USJFCOM joint force training effort to conduct and support the development of capabilities that train the individual services to fight together as a team. He also served as the Deputy Commander of Second Fleet for Joint Task Force Operations.
Born in Savannah, GA and raised in an Air Force family, he entered the Army in 1974, and, after receiving his Regular Army commission as a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers, he served at Fort Meade, MD until leaving active duty in May 1978.
He has held numerous command positions at various levels both on active duty and in the U.S. Army Reserve. General McLaren most recently served as the commander of the Iraq Assistance Group within Multinational Corps - Iraq. As the commander of the group, he directed the military transition teams assigned to Iraqi army units at the battalion, brigade and division level—coaching, mentoring, and partnering with them in fighting the Counter Insurgency Battle in Iraq. During this mission, then Brigadier General McLaren, was the senior representative of the largest mobilization call up of 80th Division Soldiers since World War II. Prior to his deployment to Iraq, General McLaren served as the Assistant Division Commander– Operations for the 80th Division (Institutional Training) as well as numerous brigade and battalion level command and staff positions within the Division.
Civilian Life
As a Citizen-Soldier, Major General McLaren retired as a Supervisory Civil Engineer from the U.S. Navy after over thirty-three years of federal service. He currently works for a construction company in Newport News Virginia where he is the Director of Business Development and Construction Operations. He is married and lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia with his family.Education
Major General McLaren graduated from the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Infantry Advanced Course, the Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. He has a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the Virginia Military InstituteVirginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
and a master's degree in strategic studies from the Army War College. He is a registered professional engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Awards
His awards and decorations include the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit Legion of MeritLegion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
, the Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
with one silver and one bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Action Badge
Combat Action Badge
The Combat Action Badge is a military badge worn in the U.S. Army. The emblem features both an M9 bayonet and M67 grenade. The Combat Action Badge may be awarded to any soldier after the date of September 18, 2001 performing duties in an area where hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay is...
, the Expert Infantryman Badge
Expert Infantryman Badge
The Expert Infantryman Badge, or EIB, is a military badge of the United States Army. Although similar in name and appearance to the Combat Infantryman Badge , it is a completely different award: while the CIB is awarded for participation in ground combat, the EIB is presented for completion of a...
, the Ranger Tab
Ranger Tab
The Ranger Tab is a service school military decoration of the United States Army signifying completion of the 61-day long Ranger School course in small-unit infantry combat tactics in woodland, mountain, and swamp operations. In December 2009 a British NCO earned the Ranger tab...
and the Parachutist Badge
Parachutist Badge
The Parachutist Badge or Parachutist Brevet is a military badge awarded by the Armed Forces of most countries in the world to soldiers who receive the proper parachute training and accomplish the required number of jumps. It is difficult to assess which country was the first to introduce such award...
.
Decorations and badges
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service MedalDefense Superior Service MedalThe Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."...
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
Bronze StarBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal (United States)The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
with one silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Combat Action BadgeCombat Action BadgeThe Combat Action Badge is a military badge worn in the U.S. Army. The emblem features both an M9 bayonet and M67 grenade. The Combat Action Badge may be awarded to any soldier after the date of September 18, 2001 performing duties in an area where hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay is...
Expert Infantryman BadgeExpert Infantryman BadgeThe Expert Infantryman Badge, or EIB, is a military badge of the United States Army. Although similar in name and appearance to the Combat Infantryman Badge , it is a completely different award: while the CIB is awarded for participation in ground combat, the EIB is presented for completion of a...
Ranger TabRanger TabThe Ranger Tab is a service school military decoration of the United States Army signifying completion of the 61-day long Ranger School course in small-unit infantry combat tactics in woodland, mountain, and swamp operations. In December 2009 a British NCO earned the Ranger tab...
Parachutist BadgeParachutist BadgeThe Parachutist Badge or Parachutist Brevet is a military badge awarded by the Armed Forces of most countries in the world to soldiers who receive the proper parachute training and accomplish the required number of jumps. It is difficult to assess which country was the first to introduce such award...
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