Joseph Fil
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General
Joseph F. Fil, Jr. (b. Portola Valley, California
) was commissioned a Second Lieutenant
in the United States Army
in June 1976. He is a Distinguished Military Graduate of San José State University
. He has served in Army units in the United States, Germany, Belgium and Iraq.
from San Jose State University, a Masters of Military Arts and Science from the United States Army Command and General Staff College, a Masters of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University
and a Masters of Science in National Security and Strategic Studies from the National Defense University
. He is a graduate from the Armor Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the National War College
. He has served in various command and staff positions at the battalion, brigade, division, combat training centers, Army Staff, NATO and Multi-National Security Transition Command.
In 1984, after serving at Fort Stewart, Fil served as Research and Development Officer, School of Acquisition Management, United States Army Logistics Management Center, Fort Lee, Virginia followed by services as an Armor Staff Officer, Armored Family of Vehicles Task Force, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, Washington, D.C. in 1986.
Upon completion of the Command and General Staff College in 1989, he served as the Operations Officer and later as Executive Officer 3d Battalion, 35th Armor, 1st Armored Division
in Bamberg
, Germany. In 1990, Fil served as Logistics Officer, 3d Brigade, 1st Armored Division during Operations Desert Shield/Storm
and later as Executive Officer, 3d Brigade, 1st Armored Division in Bamberg, Germany. In 1992, Fil was reassigned to Fort Hood, Texas
where he commanded 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division.
After completing the National War College in Washington, D.C., Fil was assigned to Operations Group at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California. There he served as the Senior Armor Task Force Trainer, Senior Brigade Combat Team Trainer and then he served as the Deputy Commander/Chief of Staff for Fort Irwin. In 1997, Lieutenant General Fil returned to Fort Hood, Texas and commanded 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. In 1999, he returned to Germany and served as Commander, Operations Group for the United States Army Combat Maneuver Training Center at the Hohenfels Training Area in Hohenfels
, Germany.
In 2000, he was reassigned to SHAPE, Belgium as Chief, Requirements and Programs Branch, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Policy, Supreme Allied Powers Europe/Deputy Commanding General, United States Army, NATO, Belgium. Upon returning to the United States in 2002, Fil served as the Commanding General, National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California. From September 2004 to October 2005, Fil served as the Commanding General, Civilian Police Assistance Training Team, Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq. From November 2005 to February 2008, Fil served as the Commanding General, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. In November 2006, then Major General Fil deployed the division to Iraq and served as the Commanding General, Multi National Division - Baghdad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom during the "surge." In February 2008, Fil relinquished command of 1st Cavalry Division, was promoted to Lieutenant General (LTG) and assumed command of Eighth United States Army and Chief of Staff/United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea.
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Joseph F. Fil, Jr. (b. Portola Valley, California
Portola Valley, California
Portola Valley is an incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, United States. The population was 4,353 at the 2010 census. It was named for Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola, who led the first party of Europeans to explore the San Francisco Peninsula, in 1769.Portola Valley is one of the...
) was commissioned a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in June 1976. He is a Distinguished Military Graduate of San José State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
. He has served in Army units in the United States, Germany, Belgium and Iraq.
Education
His education includes a Bachelor of Science Degree in AnthropologyAnthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
from San Jose State University, a Masters of Military Arts and Science from the United States Army Command and General Staff College, a Masters of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
and a Masters of Science in National Security and Strategic Studies from the National Defense University
National Defense University
The National Defense University is an institution of higher education funded by the United States Department of Defense, intended to facilitate high-level training, education, and the development of national security strategy. It is chartered by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with Navy Vice Admiral...
. He is a graduate from the Armor Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the National War College
National War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
. He has served in various command and staff positions at the battalion, brigade, division, combat training centers, Army Staff, NATO and Multi-National Security Transition Command.
Personal history
In 1977, his first assignment was with 2d Battalion 68th Armor Battalion, 8th Infantry Division, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany. There he served as a platoon leader in Charlie Company, the Executive Officer for Alpha Company, Battalion S-1 and Battalion S-4. Following his attendance at the Armor Officer Advanced Course, Fil was assigned to the 24th Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia in May 1981. There he served as Assistant Operations Officer, 1st Brigade, commander Alpha Company, 2d Battalion, 70th Armor and Operations Officer, 2d Battalion, 70th Armor.In 1984, after serving at Fort Stewart, Fil served as Research and Development Officer, School of Acquisition Management, United States Army Logistics Management Center, Fort Lee, Virginia followed by services as an Armor Staff Officer, Armored Family of Vehicles Task Force, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, Washington, D.C. in 1986.
Upon completion of the Command and General Staff College in 1989, he served as the Operations Officer and later as Executive Officer 3d Battalion, 35th Armor, 1st Armored Division
1st Armored Division (United States)
The 1st Armored Division—nicknamed "Old Ironsides"—is a standing armored division of the United States Army with base of operations in Fort Bliss, Texas. It was the first armored division of the U.S...
in Bamberg
Bamberg
Bamberg is a city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in Upper Franconia on the river Regnitz, close to its confluence with the river Main. Bamberg is one of the few cities in Germany that was not destroyed by World War II bombings because of a nearby Artillery Factory that prevented planes from...
, Germany. In 1990, Fil served as Logistics Officer, 3d Brigade, 1st Armored Division during Operations Desert Shield/Storm
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
and later as Executive Officer, 3d Brigade, 1st Armored Division in Bamberg, Germany. In 1992, Fil was reassigned to Fort Hood, Texas
Fort Hood, Texas
Fort Hood is a United States military post located outside of Killeen, Texas. The post is named after Confederate General John Bell Hood. It islocated halfway between Austin and Waco, about from each, within the U.S. state of Texas....
where he commanded 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division.
After completing the National War College in Washington, D.C., Fil was assigned to Operations Group at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California. There he served as the Senior Armor Task Force Trainer, Senior Brigade Combat Team Trainer and then he served as the Deputy Commander/Chief of Staff for Fort Irwin. In 1997, Lieutenant General Fil returned to Fort Hood, Texas and commanded 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. In 1999, he returned to Germany and served as Commander, Operations Group for the United States Army Combat Maneuver Training Center at the Hohenfels Training Area in Hohenfels
Hohenfels
Hohenfels is a municipality in the district of Konstanz in Baden-Württemberg in Germany....
, Germany.
In 2000, he was reassigned to SHAPE, Belgium as Chief, Requirements and Programs Branch, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Policy, Supreme Allied Powers Europe/Deputy Commanding General, United States Army, NATO, Belgium. Upon returning to the United States in 2002, Fil served as the Commanding General, National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California. From September 2004 to October 2005, Fil served as the Commanding General, Civilian Police Assistance Training Team, Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq. From November 2005 to February 2008, Fil served as the Commanding General, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. In November 2006, then Major General Fil deployed the division to Iraq and served as the Commanding General, Multi National Division - Baghdad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom during the "surge." In February 2008, Fil relinquished command of 1st Cavalry Division, was promoted to Lieutenant General (LTG) and assumed command of Eighth United States Army and Chief of Staff/United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea.