Curtis Alan Buzzard is a United States Army major general who serves as the commanding general of the United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence and

Fort Benning Fort Benning is a United States Army post near Columbus, Georgia, adjacent to the Alabama–Georgia border. Fort Benning supports more than 120,000 active-duty military, family members, reserve component soldiers, retirees and civilian employees ...

since July 14, 2022. Prior to that, he served as the deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and training of the United States Army Forces Command from January 2022 to June 2022, and as the 78th

Commandant of Cadets of the United States Military Academy The Commandant of Cadets is the ranking officer in charge of the Corps of Cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. The commandant is head of the Department of Tactics and, under the superintendent is responsible for th ...

from June 2019 to May 2021.

Education

Buzzard earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He later received a

Master of Public Administration The Master of Public Administration (M.P.Adm., M.P.A., or MPA) is a specialized higher professional post graduate degree in public administration, similar/ equivalent to the Master of Business Administration but with an emphasis on the issues of ...

degree from the Harvard Kennedy School and a master's degree in military science from the Marine Corps University.

Military career

Buzzard graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1992 and was commissioned as a

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

in the

82nd Airborne Division The 82nd Airborne Division is an Airborne forces, airborne infantry division (military), division of the United States Army specializing in Paratrooper, parachute assault operations into denied areasSof, Eric"82nd Airborne Division" ''Spec Ops ...

as a

rifle A rifle is a long-barreled firearm designed for accurate shooting, with a barrel that has a helical pattern of grooves ( rifling) cut into the bore wall. In keeping with their focus on accuracy, rifles are typically designed to be held with ...

platoon leader. He went on to serve in numerous command roles as company leader within several different units, including the 1st Battalion,

504th Parachute Infantry Regiment The 504th Infantry Regiment, originally the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (504th PIR), is an airborne forces regiment of the United States Army, part of the 82nd Airborne Division, with a long and distinguished history. The regiment was f ...

, 2nd Squadron,

11th Armored Cavalry Regiment The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment ("Blackhorse Regiment") is a unit of the United States Army garrisoned at the Fort Irwin National Training Center in California. Although termed an armored cavalry regiment, it is being re-organized as a multi ...

and later in the

3rd Infantry Regiment The 3rd United States Infantry Regiment is a regiment of the United States Army. It currently has three active battalions, and is readily identified by its nickname, The Old Guard, as well as Escort to the President. The regimental motto is ' ...

. Buzzard later attended the Marine Corps University and returned to the 82nd Airborne Division as a battalion operations officer and battalion executive officer. He later served as commander of the 1st Battalion, 505th Infantry Regiment. Buzzard then served as the

US Army War College The United States Army War College (USAWC) is a U.S. Army educational institution in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on the 500-acre (2 km2) campus of the historic Carlisle Barracks. It provides graduate-level instruction to senior military officer ...

Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and returned to the 82nd Airborne Division, where he served as the division G3 and later commanded the division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team. Buzzard also served as the army military aide to the president, serving presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Buzzard served tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. On June 28, 2019 Colonel Buzzard was appointed Commandant of the United States Corps of Cadets at West Point. On October 4, 2019, Buzzard was promoted to brigadier general. In March 2021, it was announced that Buzzard would become deputy chief of staff for operations for NATO's Operation Resolute Support, which trains and assists

Afghan Security Forces The Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), also known as the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF), were the military and internal security forces of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Structure The Afghan National Security For ...

; deputy commanding general for operations for U.S. Forces-Afghanistan (USFOR-A); and commander of U.S. National Support Element Command-Afghanistan for

Operation Freedom's Sentinel Operation Freedom's Sentinel (OFS) was the official name used by the U.S. government for the mission succeeding Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in continuation of the War in Afghanistan as part of the larger Global War on Terrorism. Operation F ...

(part of Resolute Support). After the 2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Buzzard will lead the Defense Security Cooperation Management Office Afghanistan in Qatar. He will administer funding and over-the-horizon aircraft maintenance support for the

Afghan National Defense and Security Forces Afghan may refer to: *Something of or related to Afghanistan, a country in Southern-Central Asia *Afghans, people or citizens of Afghanistan, typically of any ethnicity ** Afghan (ethnonym), the historic term applied strictly to people of the Pas ...

, also supporting the newly-formed US Forces Afghanistan Forward, in charge of American troops in Afghanistan. He assumed command in late July. In July 2021, Buzzard was nominated for promotion to major general. He was reassigned as commanding general of the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence in March 2022, and assumed command on July 14, 2022.

Personal life

Buzzard is married and is a father of three daughters.

Awards and decorations

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 ...

(3 awards) *

Bronze Star Medal 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 ...

(3 awards) * Meritorious Service Medal (6 awards) * Army Commendation Medal (3 awards) * Air Assault Badge * Army Staff Badge * Combat Infantryman's Badge *

Expert Infantryman's Badge The Expert Infantryman Badge, or EIB, is a special skills badge of the United States Army. The EIB was created with the CIB by executive order in November 1943 during World War II. Currently, it is awarded to U.S. Army personnel who hold infan ...

* Master Parachutist Badge * Presidential Service Badge *

Ranger Tab In the United States Army, tabs are cloth and/or metal arches displaying a word or words signifying a special skill that are worn on U.S. Army uniforms. On the Army Combat Uniform and Army Service Uniform, the tabs are worn above a unit's Should ...

*Numerous foreign jump wings

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Buzzard, Curtis A. Year of birth missing (living people) Living people United States Military Academy alumni Military personnel from Pennsylvania United States Army Rangers Harvard Kennedy School alumni Marine Corps University alumni United States Army personnel of the Iraq War United States Army personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) United States Military Academy people Recipients of the Legion of Merit United States Army generals Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal