Albert Bryant Jr. (born February 22, 1952) is a retired

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

, best known for service as the Chief of Western Hemisphere Operations during and in the aftermath of the

September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercia ...

and for his tenure as the Assistant Division Commander of the 4th Infantry Division at the time of the division's detection and capture of deposed Iraqi president

Sadaam Hussein Saddam Hussein ( ; ar, صدام حسين, Ṣaddām Ḥusayn; 28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was an Iraqi politician who served as the fifth president of Iraq from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003. A leading member of the revolution ...

. Bryant also served as the Deputy Commander of

Fort Knox Fort Knox is a United States Army installation in Kentucky, south of Louisville and north of Elizabethtown. It is adjacent to the United States Bullion Depository, which is used to house a large portion of the United States' official gold res ...

, Kentucky, and the United States Army's Armor School. As Chief of Staff of

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...

Kosovo Force The Kosovo Force (KFOR) is a North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO-led international NATO peacekeeping, peacekeeping force in Kosovo. Its operations are gradually reducing until Kosovo Security Force, Kosovo's Security Force, established in 2 ...

(KFOR), Bryant was the highest ranking American general on the KFOR leadership team in the lead up to Kosovo independence.

Early life and education

Bryant was born on February 22, 1952, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and is of

African African or Africans may refer to: * Anything from or pertaining to the continent of Africa: ** People who are native to Africa, descendants of natives of Africa, or individuals who trace their ancestry to indigenous inhabitants of Africa *** Ethn ...

Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of va ...

, and Irish-Scottish Celtic ancestry. His parents are retired U.S. Army Reserve Brigadier General and Congressional Gold Medal recipient, Albert Bryant Sr., an original Montford Point Marine, and Mable Bryant (née Lun), a nurse. The eldest of five siblings, including writer and novelist

Lori Bryant-Woolridge Lori Anne Bryant-Woolridge (born May 25, 1958) is an African-American/Chinese-American author and speaker, known for contributions to the chick-lit genre. Early life Bryant-Woolridge was born in the San Francisco Bay Area to a biracial father, ...

, Bryant was reared in the

San Francisco Bay Area The San Francisco Bay Area, often referred to as simply the Bay Area, is a populous region surrounding the San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun Bay estuaries in Northern California. The Bay Area is defined by the Association of Bay Area Go ...

. He attended Newark High School in Newark, California. Bryant graduated in 1970 with an appointment to the

United States Military Academy The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort, since it sits on strategic high groun ...

at West Point. Bryant earned an undergraduate degree in General Engineering from West Point, and holds a master's degree in Operations Analysis from

Stanford University Stanford University, officially Leland Stanford Junior University, is a private research university in Stanford, California. The campus occupies , among the largest in the United States, and enrolls over 17,000 students. Stanford is consider ...

in Palo Alto, California. He holds an additional graduate degree from the U.S. Army

Command and General Staff College The United States Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC or, obsolete, USACGSC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military ...

School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS).

Career

Bryant was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, Armor Branch, from the

U.S. Military Academy The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort, since it sits on strategic high groun ...

in 1974. After graduation, he attended the Armor Officer Basic Course and then assigned to 3d Squadron, 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment, Amberg,

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

as platoon leader and troop executive officer. Following the Armor Officer's Advanced Course, he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 67th Armor, 2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood,

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

, as S3 (Air) and then as Commander, Company A. ActorBruceWillis Iraq

Bryant attended graduate school at

Palo Alto, California Palo Alto (; Spanish language, Spanish for "tall stick") is a charter city in the northwestern corner of Santa Clara County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area, named after a Sequoia sempervirens, coastal redwood tree kno ...

, receiving his Masters of Science Degree in Operations Research and Systems Analysis in 1983. In 1986, Bryant attended the United States Army's

and the Army's School of Advanced Military Studies receiving a Masters of Military Arts and Sciences. Subsequently he was assigned as Chief, Plans and Exercises G3, 5th Infantry Division, Fort Polk,

Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...

, and then as Executive Officer, 1st Battalion 70th Armor, and then as S3 for the 1st Raider Brigade. In 1991, Bryant joined the Army Staff and the Directorate of Program Analysis and Evaluation as a Combat Systems Analyst. In 1993, he assumed command of the 4th Battalion, 67th Armor "Bandits", 1st Armored Division, Friedberg, Hesse Germany. Upon completion of command he was reassigned as Chief of Plans, G3,

V Corps 5th Corps, Fifth Corps, or V Corps may refer to: France * 5th Army Corps (France) * V Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars * V Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French Army ...

and served as Chief Planner for Operation Joint Endeavor, IFOR operations in

Bosnia Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and He ...

. Interviews with Bryant and a description of his planning efforts in support of Operation Joint Endeavor are featured in the 2005 book ''Armed Peacekeepers in Bosnia.'' In 1996, Bryant returned from deployment attending the Army War College's Operational Warfighting Fellowship at

Fort Leavenworth Fort Leavenworth () is a United States Army installation located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, in the city of Leavenworth, Kansas, Leavenworth. Built in 1827, it is the second oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C., an ...

Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...

. In April 1998 he assumed command of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Riley, Kansas. Departing the "Bulldog Brigade" in 2000 he assumed duties as Chief, Western Hemisphere Operations, J3, the Joint Staff in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, serving as Chief of Western Hemisphere Operations during and in the aftermath of the

. Bryant was then assigned to the United States Army

as the Director, Center for Army Tactics and selected for promotion to brigadier general in March 2003. In June 2003, Bryant was assigned as Assistant Division Commander (Support), 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) and Task Force Ironhorse conducting combat operations as part of

Operation Iraqi Freedom {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Iraq War {{Nobold, {{lang, ar, حرب العراق (Arabic) {{Nobold, {{lang, ku, شەڕی عێراق (Kurdish languages, Kurdish) , partof = the Iraq conflict (2003–present), I ...

. It was during this time that the 4th ID played the primary role in the location and capture of fugitive deposed Iraqi dictator

Saddam Hussein Saddam Hussein ( ; ar, صدام حسين, Ṣaddām Ḥusayn; 28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was an Iraqi politician who served as the fifth president of Iraq from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003. A leading member of the revolution ...

. In April 2004, the Division redeployed to Fort Hood, Texas, to refit in preparation for future operations, and Bryant reported to duty at

Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia to ...

, to serve as the Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Armor Center and Fort Knox, and head the Unit of Action Maneuver Battle Lab, or UAMBL. BG Bryant NATO KFOR Installation 01

The following year, Bryant was selected to represent the United States as Chief of Staff of

's internationally staffed Kosovo Force,

KFOR KFOR may refer to: * KFOR (AM), a radio station (1240 AM) licensed to Lincoln, Nebraska, United States * KFOR-TV, a television station (channel 4 analog/27 digital) licensed to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States * KFOR-TV (Nebraska), a defunct ...

, and relocated to

Kosovo Kosovo ( sq, Kosova or ; sr-Cyrl, Косово ), officially the Republic of Kosovo ( sq, Republika e Kosovës, links=no; sr, Република Косово, Republika Kosovo, links=no), is a partially recognised state in Southeast Euro ...

. He assumed his position at a NATO installation ceremony on June 27, 2005, becoming the senior American official on the KFOR HQ command leadership team. Bryant's final military assignment was as the Director of Integration, Headquarters, Department of the Army, G8, at the

Pentagon In geometry, a pentagon (from the Greek πέντε ''pente'' meaning ''five'' and γωνία ''gonia'' meaning ''angle'') is any five-sided polygon or 5-gon. The sum of the internal angles in a simple pentagon is 540°. A pentagon may be simpl ...

, where he supervised the planning and direction of equipment systems worldwide for the U.S. Army, synchronizing equipment deliveries with manning and training requirements, and served as chairman of the Army Reset Task Force.

Campaigns

* Operation Joint Endeavor, assigned as Chief of Plans, G3,

, serving as Chief Planner, IFOR operations in Bosnia; 1995–1996 *

, assigned as Assistant Division Commander (Support), 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized), and Task Force Ironhorse, based in Tikrit, Iraq; 2003–2004 * NATO Operation,

, KFOR Chief of Staff, Kosovo; 2006–2007

Later work

Since retiring from active duty service, Bryant has served as an international civilian consultant on military, diversity, and executive management matters, primarily based alternately in the

United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (The Middle East). It is located at th ...

and the

Washington, D.C., metropolitan area The Washington metropolitan area, also commonly referred to as the National Capital Region, is the metropolitan area centered on Washington, D.C. The metropolitan area includes all of Washington, D.C. and parts of the states of Maryland, Virgi ...

Personal life

Bryant has been married since 1975 to the former Renée Saxton, daughter of retired Army and Illinois National Guard Brigadier General Richard Saxton. They have four children. Their eldest son is broadcaster and writer Benjamin Bryant, who is best known in military circles as the lead editor of the 2010 DoD reports recommending the repeal of the 1993

Don't Ask, Don't Tell "Don't ask, don't tell" (DADT) was the official United States policy on military service of non-heterosexual people, instituted during the Clinton administration. The policy was issued under Department of Defense Directive 1304.26 on December ...

law.

Awards and decorations

Medals and ribbons

Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a high award of a nation. Examples include: *Distinguished Service Medal (Australia) (established 1991), awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force for distinguished leadership in action * Distinguishe ...

Defense Superior Service Medal The Defense Superior Service Medal (DSSM) is a military decoration of the United States Department of Defense, which is presented to United States Armed Forces service members who perform superior meritorious service in a position of significant ...

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...

(2 Oak Leaf Clusters) * Bronze Star ribbon

Bronze Star The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. Wh ...

Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon

Defense Meritorious Service Medal * Meritorious Service Medal ribbon

Meritorious Service Medal (7 Oak Leaf Clusters) * Army Commendation Medal ribbon

Army Commendation Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters) * Army Achievement Medal ribbon

Army Achievement Medal ( Oak Leaf Cluster) *

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal *

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOT-EM) is a United States Armed Forces award created by George W. Bush on 12 March 2003, through Executive Order 13289. The medal recognizes those military service members who have deployed over ...

National Defense Service Medal (2 Stars) * USA - Army Outstanding Civilian Service Award

Meritorious Public Service Medal The Meritorious Public Service Medal formerly the Outstanding Civilian Service Award is the third highest honor within the public service awards scheme of the Department of the Army that can be awarded to a private citizen. Eligibility The Secre ...

NATO Medal Non-Article 5 - Operations in the Balkans

NATO Non-Article 5 Medal *

Combat Action Badge * US Army Airborne basic parachutist badge

Parachutist Badge Honors and decorations bestowed on Bryant by foreign governments include: * GER Bundeswehr Honour Cross Gold ribbon

German Cross of Honour of the Bundeswehr in GoldKFOR CHRONICLE 07
/ref> * Medaglia commemorativa operazioni di pace BAR

Italian Commemorative Cross for Peace Operations Bryant is also a 1998 recipient of the ''Draper Armor Leadership Award for Excellence in Leadership'' from the Draper Combat Leadership Trust Fund Council, and has named to the U.S. Cavalry and Armor Association's Order of St. George, in addition to various community and professional recognitions and honors.

Gallery

File:Edmund P. Giambastiani Roland Kather.jpg, Bryant observes as Admiral

Edmund Giambastiani Edmund Peter Giambastiani Jr. (born May 4, 1948) is a retired United States Navy admiral who served as the seventh vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2005 to 2007. He retired in 2007, after 37 years of service. Early life and educati ...

greets German Lieutenant General Roland Kather in May 2007. File:University of Kentucky President Lee Todd, Jr. receives an award from Army General Albert Bryant, Jr..jpg, Bryant in September 2005, presenting

University of Kentucky The University of Kentucky (UK, UKY, or U of K) is a Public University, public Land-grant University, land-grant research university in Lexington, Kentucky. Founded in 1865 by John Bryan Bowman as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentu ...

President Lee Todd Jr. with an award. File:BG Bryant NATO KFOR Installation 04.jpg, Bryant reviews international troops at his

Installation. File:BG Albert Bryant Pinned by Renee Bryant at 4th Infantry Division Ceremony.jpg, Bryant is pinned in a promotion ceremony by his wife, military families advocate Renee Bryant. File:MG Raymond Odierno and BG Albert Bryant Jr at 4th Infantry Division Ceremony.jpg, MG

Raymond Odierno Raymond Thomas Odierno (8 September 1954 – 8 October 2021) was an American military officer who served as a four-star general of the United States Army and as the 38th chief of staff of the Army. Prior to his service as chief of staff, Odiern ...

and Bryant at 4th Infantry Division Ceremony File:BG Albert Bryant Jr greeted by Montfort Point Marine and Congressional Gold Medal Recipient BG Albert Bryant Sr.jpg, Bryant is greeted warmly by his father, original Montfort Point Marine and Congressional Gold Medal Recipient, Albert Bryant, Sr.

Bibliography

Bryant has authored three monographs on military-related matters, including: * * *

References

External links

''Inside KFOR:'' "Brig. General Albert Bryant, KFOR's New Chief of Staff" ''Black Engineer'' "African-American Military Leaders 2006"''United States Army Command and General Staff College Faculty: Colin Powell, Miles Browning, Albert Bryant Jr., Charles T. Mcdowell'' barnesandnoble.com
* * ttp://www.kctcs.edu/todaysnews/index.cfm?tn_date=2005-12-06#2432 ''Elizabethtown News-Enterprise:'' "Knox goes high-tech with new digital range”br>''Washington Post:'' "When Soldier Food Gets Dressed Up for Promotion"
* ttps://archive.today/20070801165529/http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php?story_id_key=8297 ''Army News Service:'' “Big Boost to Army Operations”br> Knox LTC Commencement Coverage: commencement remarks at the Army Leaders' Training Course by BG Albert Bryant Jr.''AirForceLink:'' "COMUSAFE visits Film City's Kosovo Airmen"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bryant, Albert Jr. 1952 births Living people People from the San Francisco Bay Area African-American United States Army personnel United States Army personnel of the Iraq War American people of Chinese descent American people of Irish descent American people of Scottish descent Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Badge of Honour of the Bundeswehr Stanford University alumni United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni United States Army Command and General Staff College faculty United States Army generals United States Military Academy alumni People from Pine Bluff, Arkansas