Robert Laird Ord III (born May 12, 1940) is a retired lieutenant general of the United States Army who served as commander of United States Army Pacific from 1993 until 1996.

Early life and education

Born in Philadelphia and raised in New Jersey, Ord graduated from Rancocas Valley Regional High School in 1958. He is an alumnus of the United States Military Academy with a B.S. degree in 1962 and the

Georgia Institute of Technology The Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly referred to as Georgia Tech or, in the state of Georgia, as Tech or The Institute, is a public research university and institute of technology in Atlanta, Georgia. Established in 1885, it is part of ...

with an M.S. degree in industrial management in 1972. He also received military education at the United States Army War College.

Military career

During the Vietnam War, Ord commanded an Infantry company of the 25th Division in 1966. He then worked as a Personnel Staff Officer for the headquarters of the United States Army Vietnam. Later in the conflict, from 1972 to 1973, he worked as a Senior Adviser for the 41st Ranger Command and as Chief of Plans and Operations for Region IV. Ord's major commands were the US Total Army Personnel Command in Alexandria, Virginia, from 1990 to 1992, and the 25th Infantry Division prior to taking command of United States Army Pacific (USARPAC). Other significant duties were Chief of Staff for the Combined Field Army in Korea from 1987 to 1989. He also served as Assistant Division Commander for the 7th Infantry Division in Fort Ord, California. He retired in June 1996. Ord's awards 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

Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...

, 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 ...

, the

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 ...

, and 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 ...

. In 2002, he was named Dean of the Naval Postgraduate School of International Graduate Studies (SIGS). In August 2018, President Donald Trump appointed Ord to the American Battle Monuments Commission. He was sworn in on October 16, 2018.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ord, Robert 1940 births Living people Military personnel from Philadelphia Rancocas Valley Regional High School alumni United States Military Academy alumni Military personnel from New Jersey United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War Recipients of the Air Medal Recipients of the Silver Star Georgia Tech alumni United States Army War College alumni Recipients of the Legion of Merit United States Army generals Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) Naval Postgraduate School faculty