John P. McLaren, Jr. is a retired United States Army major general.

Early life and education

Born in Savannah, Georgia, and raised in an Air Force family, McLaren entered the United States Army in 1974 and, after receiving his Regular Army commission as a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers, he served at Fort Meade, Maryland, until leaving active duty in May 1978. McLaren graduated from the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Infantry Advanced Course, the Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. He has a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the Virginia Military Institute and a master's degree in strategic studies from the Army War College. He is a registered professional engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Military career

McLaren held numerous command positions at various levels both on active duty and in the United States Army Reserve. He was the commander of the

Iraq Assistance Group The Iraq Assistance Group (IAG) was a joint service U.S. military command responsible to Multi-National Corps Iraq. It coordinated military transition teams assisting the reborn Iraqi Army, the Federal Police, the Department of Border Enforcemen ...

within Multinational Corps – Iraq. As the commander of the group, he directed the military transition teams assigned to Iraqi army units at the battalion, brigade and division level-coaching, mentoring, and partnering with them in fighting the Counter Insurgency Battle in Iraq. During this mission, then Brigadier General McLaren was the senior representative of the largest mobilization call up of 80th Division Soldiers since World War II. Prior to his deployment to Iraq, McLaren served as the Assistant Division Commander – Operations for the 80th Division (Institutional Training) as well as numerous brigade and battalion level command and staff positions within the division. McLaren served as the Commanding General of the 80th Training Command from May 17, 2008 to August 29, 2011. Prior to this assignment he worked as the Vice Commander of the Joint War Fighting Center and Deputy Joint Force Trainer at U.S. Joint Forces Command in Suffolk, Virginia. As Deputy Joint Force Trainer he helped lead the USJFCOM joint force training effort to conduct and support the development of capabilities that train the individual services to fight together as a team. He also served as the Deputy Commander of Second Fleet for Joint Task Force Operations.

Civilian life

McLaren retired as a Supervisory Civil Engineer from the United States Navy after more than thirty-three years of federal service. He currently works for a construction company in Newport News Virginia where he is the Director of Business Development and Construction Operations. He is married and lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia with his family.

Awards

McLaren's awards and decorations include the

Army Distinguished Service Medal The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a military decoration of the United States Army that is presented to soldiers who have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility. Th ...

, the

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 ...

, the

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 ...

, the Meritorious Service Medal with one silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Combat Action Badge, the

Expert Infantryman 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 ...

, the

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 ...

and the Parachutist Badge.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McLaren, John P. Year of birth missing (living people) Living people United States Army generals Recipients of the Legion of Merit Virginia Military Institute alumni United States Army personnel of the Iraq War United States Army War College alumni Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal United States Army reservists