David Petraeus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Petraeus
|
|
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2011
|
|
| 4th Director of the Central Intelligence Agency | |
| In office 6 September 2011 – 9 November 2012 |
|
| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | Michael Morell |
| Preceded by | Leon Panetta |
| Succeeded by | John Brennan |
| Commander of the International Security Assistance Force | |
| In office 4 July 2010 – 18 July 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Stanley A. McChrystal |
| Succeeded by | John R. Allen |
| Commander of United States Central Command | |
| In office 31 October 2008 – 30 June 2010 |
|
| Preceded by | Martin Dempsey (acting) |
| Succeeded by | John R. Allen (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
David Howell Petraeus
7 November 1952 Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (before 2002) Independent (since 2002) |
| Spouse |
Holly Knowlton
(m. 1974) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | United States Military Academy (BS) Princeton University (MPA, PhD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1974–2011 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | International Security Assistance Force United States Forces-Afghanistan United States Central Command Multinational Force-Iraq United States Army Combined Arms Center Fort Leavenworth Multinational Security Transition Command-Iraq 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars |
See list
|
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal (4) Army Distinguished Service Medal (3) Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (4) Bronze Star with valor NATO Meritorious Service Medal Officer of the Order of Australia (More) |
David Howell Petraeus (born November 7, 1952) is a retired U.S. Army general and a public official. He is known for his important roles in the U.S. military and government.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
David Petraeus was born in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York. His mother, Miriam Sweet, was a librarian. His father, Sixtus Petraeus, was a sea captain from the Netherlands. His father came to the United States during World War II.
David grew up in Cornwall-on-Hudson and finished high school there in 1970. He then attended the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Life at West Point
At West Point, David was a top student. He was also active in sports, playing on the soccer and ski teams. He graduated in 1974, ranking among the top 5% of his class.
While at West Point, he met Holly Knowlton, whose father was the superintendent of the academy. They married two months after David graduated. Holly is very smart and speaks several languages. She graduated with high honors from Dickinson College. They have two children, Anne and Stephen.
David's son, Stephen, also joined the Army. David gave him the oath of office when he became an officer in 2009. Stephen later served in Afghanistan.
Education and Military Training
After graduating from West Point, Petraeus continued his education. He earned a Master's degree and a Ph.D. in international relations from Princeton University. He also taught at the U.S. Military Academy from 1985 to 1987.
Leading Military Education
From 2005 to 2007, Petraeus was the commanding general of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He oversaw the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center (CAC) there. This role meant he was in charge of many military schools and training programs. He also helped develop the Army's training guides.
During his time at CAC, Petraeus helped create a very important guide called Counterinsurgency. This guide teaches soldiers how to deal with rebellions and conflicts where enemies are not traditional armies. He made sure soldiers learned to think flexibly and adapt to new situations.
Military Career Highlights
David Petraeus began his military career as an infantry officer in 1974. He completed Ranger School, a tough training program, with high honors. His career focused on light infantry, which involves soldiers moving quickly without heavy vehicles.
He held many important positions throughout his career. He served as an aide to General John Galvin, a high-ranking officer. He also worked at the Pentagon, the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense.
Leading Forces in Conflict Zones
Petraeus held several top leadership roles. From 2007 to 2008, he commanded the Multinational Force Iraq (MNF-I). In this role, he was in charge of all the international forces in Iraq.
From 2008 to 2010, he led the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM). This command oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East and parts of Asia.
His last military assignments were as commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and U.S. Forces – Afghanistan (USFOR-A). He led these forces in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2011.
Petraeus retired from the U.S. Army on August 31, 2011. At his retirement ceremony, he received the Army Distinguished Service Medal. High-ranking officials praised his leadership and strategies. Admiral Michael Mullen, a top military leader, compared him to famous American generals like Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Promotions and Ranks
Petraeus rose through the ranks during his military career. Here is a list of his promotions:
| Rank | Date |
|---|---|
 Second lieutenant |
June 5, 1974 |
 First lieutenant |
June 5, 1976 |
 Captain |
August 8, 1978 |
 Major |
August 1, 1985 |
 Lieutenant colonel |
April 1, 1991 |
 Colonel |
September 1, 1995 |
 Brigadier general |
January 1, 2000 |
 Major general |
January 1, 2003 |
 Lieutenant general |
May 18, 2004 |
 General |
February 10, 2007 |
Director of the CIA
After retiring from the Army, President Barack Obama nominated David Petraeus to lead the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The CIA is a government agency that collects information about other countries to protect the United States.
The United States Senate approved his nomination. Petraeus officially became the Director of the CIA on September 6, 2011. He served in this role until November 9, 2012, when he resigned.
Activities After Retirement
Since retiring, David Petraeus has taken on various roles in academia and business.
- In 2013, he became an honorary chairman of the OSS Society.
- He was named a visiting professor at Macaulay Honors College in New York.
- The University of Southern California appointed him as a Judge Widney Professor. This title is for important people in arts, sciences, and leadership.
- He joined Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., an investment firm, as chairman of their KKR Global Institute.
- He also joined the board of advisers for Team Rubicon, a disaster relief organization.
- In 2013, he became a senior vice president at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a research group focused on defense.
- He joined Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government to lead a project about North American competitiveness.
- In 2014, the University of Exeter in England named him an honorary visiting professor.
- He has given lectures at various universities and military colleges.
- He is a member of many organizations focused on foreign policy, national security, and veterans' support.
Personal Life
David Petraeus has stated that he does not vote in elections. He stopped voting after being promoted to major general in 2002. He believes this helps him be seen as non-political.
Awards and Honors
David Petraeus has received many awards and honors throughout his career. These include military decorations, service medals, and civilian awards.
Military Awards
He has been awarded several top U.S. military decorations, such as:
- Defense Distinguished Service Medal (four times)
- Army Distinguished Service Medal (three times)
- Defense Superior Service Medal (twice)
- Legion of Merit (four times)
- Bronze Star with valor device
He also earned badges like the Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Action Badge, and Master Parachutist Badge.
Civilian Honors
Petraeus has received many civilian awards and recognitions:
- In 2007, Time magazine named him one of the "100 Most Influential Leaders."
- He was a runner-up for Time's "Person of the Year" in 2007.
- He received the George F. Kennan Award in 2009 for his work in foreign policy.
- In 2010, he received the Irving Kristol Award from the American Enterprise Institute.
- He has received several honorary doctorates from universities like Eckerd College and the University of Pennsylvania.
- In 2012, he received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
- In 2013, the New-York Historical Society started a lecture series named after him.
- In 2020, the Institute for the Study of War launched "The General David H. Petraeus Center for Emerging Leaders."
Images for kids
-
David Petraeus with his son Stephen in Afghanistan, 2010.
See also
In Spanish: David Petraeus para niños
