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Carter Ham

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Carter Ham
Ham in March 2011
Born (1952-02-16) February 16, 1952 (age 72)
Portland, Oregon, United States[1]
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1973–2013
RankGeneral
CommandsUnited States Africa Command
United States Army Europe
1st Infantry Division
Battles / warsGulf War

Iraq War

First Libyan Civil War

AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal (4)
Legion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star Medal

Carter Frederick Ham[2] (born February 16, 1952) is a retired United States Army General Officer who served as the second commander of United States Africa Command.[3] As commander of Africa Command, he led Operation Odyssey Dawn, the initial United States role in the 2011 military intervention in Libya.

Ham served as the commanding general of the United States Army Europe and Seventh Army from August 28, 2008, to March 8, 2011. Prior to that, he served as Director for Operations (J-3) at the Joint Staff from August 2007 to August 2008 and the commanding general, 1st Infantry Division from August 2006 to August 2007, and was the commander of Operation Able Sentry in Macedonia in the mid-1990s, during the Yugoslav wars.

Post-retirement, Ham served as president and CEO of the Association of the United States Army from July 2016 to September 2021.[4]

Early life and education

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Ham was born on February 16, 1952, in Portland, Oregon. He attended high school at Charles F. Brush High School in Lyndhurst, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. He received the rank of Eagle Scout as a youth in 1965. Ham is a 1976 Distinguished Military Graduate of John Carroll University in the Cleveland suburb of University Heights, Ohio. During his military career, he achieved a Masters of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, in Newport, Rhode Island.[5] In 2012, his final full year as a U.S. Army officer, the Boy Scouts of America bestowed upon him the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.

Military career

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Ham as lieutenant colonel commanding U.S. forces in Camp Able Sentry, Macedonia, speaking to Admiral William Owens in 1995.
Ham speaking to reporters during a press briefing at the Pentagon in October 2005.
Ham in 2006.
Ham being sworn in as the commander of USAREUR by Michael Mullen in August 2008.

Ham enlisted in the United States Army in 1973 and served as an infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division before being accepted in the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (Army ROTC) while attending John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. An ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate, Ham was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1976. He later received his master's degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, as well as graduating from several military schools including the Infantry Officer Basic Course, the Armor Officer Advanced Course, the Naval War College's College of Naval Command and Staff, and the Air War College. He is a member of the John Carroll University ROTC Hall of Fame. He and his wife, Christi, are both John Carroll University graduates.

Ham's early assignments included service at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and tours of duty in Italy and Germany. After graduating from the Armor Officer Advanced Course, he was a Recruiting Area Commander in Lima, Ohio. In 1984, he served with a joint service unit in support of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

From 1984 until 1989, Ham served as Assistant Inspector General, then as Battalion Operations Officer (S-3) and Executive Officer with the Opposing Force (OPFOR) at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California. He attended the College of Naval Command and Staff, graduating with distinction in 1990, and was then assigned to the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Ham served a tour as an advisor with a Saudi Arabian National Guard Brigade in Riyadh as part of OPM-SANG then returned to Fort Benning, where he was the executive officer for the Infantry School. Ham commanded the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry in Vilseck, Germany including a six-month tour with the United Nations Protection Forces in the Republic of Macedonia. Following battalion command, he was the Senior Observer/Controller of the Timberwolf Team at the Combat Maneuver Training Center, Hohenfels, Germany.

Ham graduated from the Air War College in 1997 then returned to Germany, where he served as Operations Officer (G-3), then Chief of Staff, 1st Infantry Division. From 1999 to 2001 he commanded the 29th Infantry Regiment at Fort Benning, then served as Deputy Director for Resources and Analysis (J-8) for United States Central Command at MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida and in Doha, Qatar, during which time he was selected for promotion to brigadier general. Ham was assigned as the deputy commanding general for training and readiness, I Corps at Fort Lewis, Washington in August 2003. In January 2004, he assumed command of Multinational Brigade (Task Force Olympia) – North in Mosul, Iraq serving there until February 2005. During his time in Iraq, Ham suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, which was caused by his attending the aftermath of a deadly suicide bombing at a mess hall. He later sought treatment for his condition and publicly encouraged other soldiers to do the same.[6]

Returning from Iraq, Ham served as the deputy director for regional operations, J-3, on The Joint Staff. Ham assumed command of the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas, in August 2006 and served as the commanding general until July 2007, returning to The Joint Staff as director for operations, J-3. On August 28, 2008, Ham became the 34th Commanding General of the United States Army Europe headquartered at Campbell Barracks, Heidelberg, Germany. In 2010, Ham served as co-chair for the comprehensive review of issues associated with the repeal of the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy.[7]

The United States Senate, confirmed Ham's nomination to become the next Commanding General of United States Africa Command, headquartered at Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany, in November 2010.[8] He assumed the post on March 8, 2011.

Ham was in command of United States forces enforcing the Libyan no-fly zone, along with Admiral Samuel J. Locklear.[citation needed] Described as "in charge of the coalition effort", Ham on March 21, 2011, said, "there would be coalition airstrikes on Colonel Qaddafi's mobile air defenses and that some 80 sorties – only half of them by the United States – had been flown on Monday."[9] Admiral Locklear, aboard the flagship Mount Whitney, had tactical command of the Operation Odyssey Dawn joint taskforce.[10] Ham also said he had "full authority to attack the regime's forces if they refused to comply with President Barack Obama's demands that they pull back from Ajdabiya, Misrata and Zawiya," according to one report.[who?] Earlier, he said that the United States was not working with the Libyan rebels. "Our mission is not to support any opposition forces," Ham said by video feed to the Pentagon from his headquarters in Stuttgart.[9]

Ham was in overall command of military forces when the September 11, 2012, terrorist attacks were launched on the American consulate and CIA annex in Benghazi, Libya. According to his June 2013 Congressional testimony, Ham chose not to deploy close air support during the attack, based on a lack of situational awareness about the circumstances on the ground. He denied the allegation by some Republicans that President Barack Obama or others in Obama's administration had ordered him to "stand down" a planned rescue mission that was ready to deploy.

After a 24-month tour of duty[11] as Commander Africa Command, Ham was succeeded by General David M. Rodriguez.[12] General Ham retired in June 2013.[7]

Views

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Ham was quoted in an online Washington Post article by Greg Miller and Craig Whitlock, posted on October 1, 2012, that, as saying, that, as a result of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb's overtaking and capturing more territory in Mali in Africa, and possessing arms from Libya after the Libyan Civil War which overthrew Muammar Gaddafi, there is the possibility of the U.S. assisting, but not leading, counterterrorism operations done by other countries. A more radical step would be the use of drones.[13]

While speaking in December 2012 at Chatham House, Ham said while he would not characterize the U.S.-China relationship in Africa as adversarial, the two countries had taken different approaches to the continent. The United States focused on investment in human capital while China focused on infrastructure development.[14]

Post-retirement

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In 2015, Ham was elected chairman of the National Commission on the Future of the Army, an eight-member panel tasked with making recommendations on the size, force structure and capabilities of the Army. The committee was disbanded soon after publishing its findings on January 28, 2016.[15][16]

Ham became an executive vice president of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) in February 2016. He succeeded Gordon R. Sullivan as President and CEO of AUSA on July 1, 2016.[17][18] He relinquished the presidency to Robert Brooks Brown on September 30, 2021.[19][20]

Dates of rank

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Second lieutenant (O-1)* First lieutenant (O-2)* Captain (O-3)* Major (O-4)* Lieutenant colonel (O-5)*
June 2, 1976 June 2, 1978 August 1, 1980 June 1, 1987 September 1, 1992
Colonel (O-6)* Brigadier general (O-7)* Major general (O-8)* Lieutenant general (O-9*) General (O-10)*
April 1, 1998 October 1, 2003 February 1, 2005 August 1, 2007 August 1, 2008

Note:
* The O-1, etc. designates the pay grade.

Major duty assignments

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Training officer, II Reserve Officer Training Corps Region, 4th Basic Combat Training Brigade 1976
Section leader, Combat Support Company, 1st Battalion, 509th Infantry (Airborne Combat Team) 1977–1978
S-1 (Personnel), 2d Battalion, 22d Infantry, 4th Infantry Division 1978–1979
Commander, C Company, 2d Battalion, 22d Infantry, 8th Infantry Division 1979–1981
Student, Armor Officer Advanced Course 1981–1982
Lima area commander, Columbus District Recruiting Command 1982–1984
Detachment commander, Forward Military Support Element, 1984 Summer Olympics 1984
Assistant inspector general, National Training Center 1984–1986
S-3 (Air), 6th Battalion (Mechanized), 31st Infantry 1986–1987
Executive officer, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 52d Infantry 1987–1989
Student, College of Naval Command and Staff, U.S. Naval War College 1989–1990
Executive officer, United States Army Infantry School 1990–1993
Commander, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division 1993–1995
Senior task force observer/controller, Operations Group, Combat Maneuver Training Center 1995–1996
Student, United States Air Force Air War College 1996–1997
Chief of staff, 1st Infantry Division 1997–1999
Commander, Infantry Training Support Brigade, 29th Infantry Regiment 1999–2001
Deputy director, J-8, United States Central Command 2001–2003
Deputy commanding general for training and readiness, U.S. I Corps 2003–2004
Commander, MNB North (Task Force Olympia) (Mosul, Iraq) 2004–2005
Deputy director for regional operations, J-3, The Joint Staff 2005–2006
Commander, 1st Infantry Division 2006–2007
Director for operations (J-3), The Joint Staff 2007–2008
Commanding general, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army 2008–2011
Commander, United States Africa Command 2011–2013

Decorations and badges

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Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Army Distinguished Service Medal (with one bronze oak leaf cluster)
Defense Superior Service Medal (with three oak leaf clusters)
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Legion of Merit (with oak leaf cluster)
Bronze Star Medal
Silver oak leaf cluster
 Meritorious Service Medal (with silver oak leaf cluster)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal (with two oak leaf clusters)
Army Achievement Medal (with two oak leaf clusters)
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with two oak leaf clusters)
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Superior Unit Award (with oak leaf cluster)
National Defense Service Medal (with two bronze service stars)
Bronze star
 Southwest Asia Service Medal (with service star)
Iraq Campaign Medal (with two service stars)
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon (with bronze award numeral 3)
United Nations Medal
NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia
Polish Army Medal in Gold[21]
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Combat Action Badge
Expert Infantryman Badge
Basic Parachutist Badge (United States)
Ranger Tab
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
United States Africa Command Badge
I Corps Combat Service Identification Badge
6th US Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
4 Overseas Service Bars.

References

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  1. ^ "S.Hrg 111-896 Nominations before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Second Session, 111th Congress" (PDF). November 18, 2010.
  2. ^ "Commencement". John Carroll University. May 30, 1976. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  3. ^ Seasoned combat leader takes over Africa Command Archived February 19, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "AUSA - Executive Leadership". Association of the United States Army. December 16, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  5. ^ 2018 Air and Missile Hot Topic Speaker Bios
  6. ^ Brook, Tom Vanden (November 25, 2008). "General's story puts focus on stress stemming from combat". USA Today. Gannett Co., Inc. Archived from the original on February 7, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
  7. ^ a b "General (Retired) Carter F. Ham". Response Systems to Adult Sexual Assault Crimes Panel (RSP), United States Department of Defense. November 7, 2013. Archived from the original on March 12, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  8. ^ "General Carter F. Ham: Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe (biography)" (PDF). U.S. Army Europe. February 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 6, 2012.
  9. ^ a b Bumiller, Elisabeth, and Kareem Fahim, "U.S.-Led Assault Nears Goal in Libya", The New York Times, March 21, 2011 (March 22, 2011 p. A1 NY ed.). Earlier web version titled: "Qaddafi Forces Hold Strategic Town as Allied Attacks Continue." Retrieved 2011-03-21.
  10. ^ MacAskill, Ewen, and Nick Hopkins, “Libyan operation hampered by confusion and dispute: Lack of resolution over who will take control of military operation tests patience of US”, The Guardian 21 March 2011 18.59 GMT. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
  11. ^ Scarborough, Rowan (November 7, 2012). "Head of Africa Command not forced out". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on November 8, 2012.
  12. ^ "General Carter F. Ham, Former Commander (March 2011 – April 2013)". U.S. Africa Command. July 24, 2013. Archived from the original on September 1, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  13. ^ Miller, Greg; Whitlock, Craig (October 1, 2012). "White House secret meetings examine al-Qaeda threat in North Africa". The Washington Post.
  14. ^ "General Ham at the Chatham House, London". Africom. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013.
  15. ^ Sfc. Jacob Boyer (October 8, 2015). "National Commission on the Future of the Army visits Meade to discuss reserve component issue". U.S. Army Reserve. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  16. ^ "National Commission on the Future of the Army (NCFA): Background and Issues for Congress". February 5, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  17. ^ "RETIRED ARMY GENERAL CARTER F. HAM JOINS ASSOCIATION OF THE U.S. ARMY STAFF". Association of the United States Army. February 26, 2016.
  18. ^ "HAM WILL SUCCEED SULLIVAN AS AUSA PRESIDENT AND CEO". Association of the United States Army. April 1, 2016.
  19. ^ "BROWN TO SUCCEED HAM AS AUSA PRESIDENT AND CEO". Association of the United States Army. June 22, 2021.
  20. ^ "HAM RETIRES AFTER 5 YEARS AS AUSA PRESIDENT AND CEO". Association of the United States Army. October 1, 2021.
  21. ^ Generał Carter F. Ham w Polsce Archived June 3, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (photo) Archived September 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine – wp.mil.pl
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