Robert L. Caslen
Encyclopedia
Robert L. Caslen Jr. is a United States Army
general officer who is currently serving as the commanding general of NATO Training Mission-Iraq. Most recently, he served as the commanding general of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth
. In December 2009, Caslen was nominated to be a lieutenant general
in conjunction with his nomination to be Commandant of the United States Army Command and General Staff College
at Fort Leavenworth
which took effect in March 2010.
Caslen grew up in Connecticut
and Massachusetts
. He graduated the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1975 and played center on the Army football team. He also earned a master’s degree in business administration from Long Island University
and a Master of Science degree from Kansas State Univ ersity.
During Desert Storm he was executive officer of the 2nd Battalion, 187th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
He brigade operations officer, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); J-3 in Honduras
for Joint Task Force Bravo in 1998; executive officer to the deputy commander in Haiti
during Operation Uphold Democracy
in 1994-1995; commander of the 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division (Light); senior brigade C2 observer/controller, Operations Group, Joint Readiness Training Center; chief of staff of the 101st Airborne Division; and commander of the 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (1999).
He was at the Pentagon
during the 911 attacks where he was an assistant deputy director of strategic planning and policy. He helped search for wounded and also worked on the air conditioning system following the attack.
He hief of staff of the 10th Mountain Division (Light) (2003)at Fort Drum
; assistant division commander (Maneuver) of the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) (2004); deputy director for the War on Terrorism, J-5, the Joint Staff (2005-June 2006); director of the Joint Staff's Detainee Affairs Division and commandant of cadets for the Military Academy at West Point, a post he left in May 2008.
From May 2008 to December 2009 he served as commander of the 25th Infantry Division (United States). In October he returned from a tour with the division in the Iraq War. Prior to this he had served two tours in the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
and one tour in the Gulf War
.
In Afghanistan he was chief of staff for Combined Joint Task Force-
180 (CJTF-180) in Afghanistan from May through September 2002 He was a commander of Operation Champion Sword
.
According to a report by the Office of Inspector General "violated the ethical guidelines of the military that forbid officers to promote private organizations" when he appeared in a video for the Christian Embassy
. Other generals that appeared in the video included Vincent K. Brooks and Air Force generals Peter U. Sutton and Jack J. Catton Jr. At the time he was Commandant of Cadets at West Point. In a letter he said he would be more vigilant about such improprieties going forward.
In July he was nominated to be chief of Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq.
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...
general officer who is currently serving as the commanding general of NATO Training Mission-Iraq. Most recently, he served as the commanding general of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
. In December 2009, Caslen was nominated to be a lieutenant general
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
in conjunction with his nomination to be Commandant of the United States Army Command and General Staff College
Commandant of the United States Army Command and General Staff College
The Commandant of the United States Army Command and General Staff College is the highest ranking official at the United States Army's Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, installation. The position is similar to the West Point Superintendent and is roughly equivalent to the chancellor or president of an...
at Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
which took effect in March 2010.
Caslen grew up in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. He graduated the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1975 and played center on the Army football team. He also earned a master’s degree in business administration from Long Island University
Long Island University
Long Island University is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution of higher education in the U.S. state of New York.-History:...
and a Master of Science degree from Kansas State Univ ersity.
During Desert Storm he was executive officer of the 2nd Battalion, 187th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
He brigade operations officer, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); J-3 in Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
for Joint Task Force Bravo in 1998; executive officer to the deputy commander in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
during Operation Uphold Democracy
Operation Uphold Democracy
Operation Uphold Democracy was an intervention designed to remove the military regime installed by the 1991 Haitian coup d'état that overthrew the elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide...
in 1994-1995; commander of the 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division (Light); senior brigade C2 observer/controller, Operations Group, Joint Readiness Training Center; chief of staff of the 101st Airborne Division; and commander of the 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (1999).
He was at the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
during the 911 attacks where he was an assistant deputy director of strategic planning and policy. He helped search for wounded and also worked on the air conditioning system following the attack.
He hief of staff of the 10th Mountain Division (Light) (2003)at Fort Drum
Fort Drum
Fort Drum is a United States Army base in New York near the Canadian border.Fort Drum may also refer to:*Fort Drum, Florida, a nearly-uninhabited town in the United States*Fort Drum , Philippines...
; assistant division commander (Maneuver) of the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) (2004); deputy director for the War on Terrorism, J-5, the Joint Staff (2005-June 2006); director of the Joint Staff's Detainee Affairs Division and commandant of cadets for the Military Academy at West Point, a post he left in May 2008.
From May 2008 to December 2009 he served as commander of the 25th Infantry Division (United States). In October he returned from a tour with the division in the Iraq War. Prior to this he had served two tours in the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
and one tour in the Gulf War
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...
.
In Afghanistan he was chief of staff for Combined Joint Task Force-
180 (CJTF-180) in Afghanistan from May through September 2002 He was a commander of Operation Champion Sword
Operation Champion Sword
Operation Champion Sword was a joint military operation by the forces of the United States and Afghanistan as part of an International Security Assistance Force against the Taliban and allies. Lasting for a week, the operation resulted in the capture of 14 militants and homemade bomb-makers, as...
.
According to a report by the Office of Inspector General "violated the ethical guidelines of the military that forbid officers to promote private organizations" when he appeared in a video for the Christian Embassy
Christian Embassy
The Christian Embassy is an evangelical organization affiliated with Campus Crusade for Christ. Like its parent organization, Christian Embassy describes itself as non-political and interdenominational.-Mission statement:...
. Other generals that appeared in the video included Vincent K. Brooks and Air Force generals Peter U. Sutton and Jack J. Catton Jr. At the time he was Commandant of Cadets at West Point. In a letter he said he would be more vigilant about such improprieties going forward.
In July he was nominated to be chief of Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq.