Stephen M. Twitty (born 1963) is a retired

lieutenant general Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...

in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

. Twitty assumed command of

First United States Army First Army is the largest OC/T organization in the U.S. Army, comprising two divisions, ten brigades, and more than 7,500 Soldiers. Its mission is to partner with the U.S. Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve to enable leaders and deli ...

on July 15, 2016, relinquishing command to become deputy commander of

United States European Command The United States European Command (EUCOM) is one of the eleven Unified Combatant Command, unified combatant commands of the United States military, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Its area of focus covers and 51 countries and territori ...

on 9 August 2018.Herb Trix (Aug 8, 2018) Twitty Leaves First Army
/ref> Previously, he was commanding general of

Fort Bliss Fort Bliss is a United States Army post in New Mexico and Texas, with its headquarters in El Paso, Texas. Established in 1848, the fort was renamed in 1854 to honor William Wallace Smith Bliss, Bvt.Lieut.Colonel William W.S. Bliss (1815–1853 ...

and the 1st Armored Division. Twitty was awarded 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 a ...

during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Noted for his relationship with journalist David Bloom, who was embedded with his

battalion A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of up to one thousand soldiers. A battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and subdivided into several Company (military unit), companies, each typically commanded by a Major (rank), ...

during the invasion of Iraq in 2003, Twitty has served in five combat deployments, including tours in the Gulf War, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait. He has commanded at the

company A company, abbreviated as co., is a Legal personality, legal entity representing an association of legal people, whether Natural person, natural, Juridical person, juridical or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members ...

, and

brigade A brigade is a major tactical military unit, military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute ...

level during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Twitty is a graduate of South Carolina State University and a member of the

Omega Psi Phi Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. () is a List of African-American fraternities, historically African-American Fraternities and sororities, fraternity. It was founded on November 17, 1911 at Howard University. Omega Psi Phi is a founding member of ...

fraternity A fraternity (; whence, "wikt:brotherhood, brotherhood") or fraternal organization is an organization, society, club (organization), club or fraternal order traditionally of men but also women associated together for various religious or secular ...

. He was inducted into the South Carolina State University ROTC Hall of Fame in 2009, and selected as one of the university's Distinguished Alumni in 2004. Twitty has a highway named in his honor, State Highway 11, running through his hometown of Chesnee, South Carolina.

Early life and education

Born in

Spartanburg, South Carolina Spartanburg is a city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. The city had a population of 38,732 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in South Carolina, 11th ...

, Twitty is a native of Chesnee, South Carolina. He is a 1985 distinguished military graduate from South Carolina State University. Twitty also holds a

Master of Science A Master of Science (; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree. In contrast to the Master of Arts degree, the Master of Science degree is typically granted for studies in sciences, engineering and medici ...

degree in Public Administration from

Central Michigan University Central Michigan University (CMU) is a Public university, public research university in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States. It was established in 1892 as a private normal school and became a state institution in 1895. CMU is one of the eigh ...

and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the

National Defense University National Defence (or Defense) University (or College) may refer to: :''Alphabetical by country'' University * Marshal Fahim National Defense University, Afghanistan * National Defense University (Azerbaijan) * People's Liberation Army National Defe ...

Military career

Twitty is an

infantryman Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

; his duty assignments include rifle platoon leader, scout platoon leader and battalion S-3 air officer from August 1985 to May 1989 with 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division at Fort Campbell. From October 1989 to May 1993, he served as the S-3 air officer for 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment during Operation Desert Storm; Aide-de-camp to the commanding general; and, commander of B Company, 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division at

Fort Stewart Fort Stewart is a United States Army post in the U.S. state of Georgia. It lies primarily in Liberty and Bryan counties, but also extends into smaller portions of Evans, Long, and Tattnall Counties. The nearby city of Hinesville, along with ...

, Georgia. From May 1993 to 1994, Twitty served as a Joint Chiefs of Staff Intern in the Directorate for Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5) in the Pentagon; and, from 1994 to 1995 he served as the speechwriter for the Army G-3. After completion of Command and General Staff College, he served as a G-3 operations officer with V Corps from June 1996 to April 1997 in Heidelberg, Germany, to include Operation Joint Endeavor in Tazar, Hungary. From April 1997 to June 1999, he served in Schweinfurt, Germany as the executive officer for 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, and the operations officer (S3) for 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.LTG STEPHEN M. TWITTY
(2016) ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY (AUSA), Arlington, VA From June 1999 to June 2001, Twitty served in Mons, Belgium at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe as the aide-de-camp to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and commander United States European Command, including during Operation Allied Response in Kosovo. From June 2001 to June 2003, Twitty commanded 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, ("3–15") including during Operation Iraqi Freedom. His battalion (Task Force 3–15) was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.In particular, on 7 April 2003, Twitty's battalion (TF 3–15) decisively defeated

swarming Swarm behaviour, or swarming, is a collective animal behaviour, collective behaviour exhibited by entities, particularly animals, of similar size which aggregate together, perhaps milling about the same spot or perhaps moving ''en masse'' or a ...

tactics in an all-day battle
Sean J. A. Edwards (Sept 2004), Doctoral thesis: Swarming and the Future of Warfare
pp280-286 From June 2003 to June 2004, he served as operations officer (G-3) for 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia. At Fort Bliss, he commanded 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division from August 2005 to March 2008, including during Operation Iraqi Freedom; later reflagged as 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division from March 2008 to July 2008. From July 2008 to July 2009, Twitty served as the executive officer to the deputy commanding general of U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado. From July 2009 to September 2010, he served as the chief of staff, United States Army Central, Operation Iraqi Freedom. From September 2010 through March 2012, he served as the deputy commanding general (operations) for the 1st Armored Division at Ft. Bliss. From March 2012 to April 2013, Twitty served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Communication, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan. Twitty served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations for United States Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Twitty leaves First Army to serve as deputy commander of EUCOM on 9 August 2018.

Later career

Twitty founded consulting firm Twitty and Associates LLC. Twitty serves in a number of senior business positions including as Board Advisor at AI company Dataminr and robotics company Sarcos. He is a National Security and Military Analyst at

MSNBC MSNBC is an American cable news channel owned by the NBCUniversal News Group division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. Launched on July 15, 1996, and headquartered at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan, the channel primarily broadcasts r ...

Awards and decorations

Combat Infantryman Badge The Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) is a United States Army military decoration. The badge is awarded to infantrymen and Special Forces (United States Army), Special Forces soldiers in the rank of Colonel (United States), colonel and below, wh ...

(2nd award) * Expert_Infantry_Badge

Expert Infantryman Badge * Ranger_Tab

Ranger Tab * United States Air Force Parachutist Badge

Basic Parachutist Badge * AirAssault

Air Assault Badge * Joint Chiefs of Staff seal

Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge * United States Army Staff Identification Badge

Army Staff Identification Badge * 3rd Infantry Division CSIB

3rd Infantry Division Combat Service Identification Badge * USEUCOM

Badge *

327th Infantry Regiment

Distinctive Unit Insignia A distinctive unit insignia (DUI) is a metallic Heraldry, heraldic badge or device worn by soldiers in the United States Army. The DUI design is derived from the coat of arms authorized for a unit. DUIs may also be called "distinctive insignia" (D ...

10 Overseas Service Bars *

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. ...

* Defense Superior Service Medal (1 OLC) *

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States military, military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievemen ...

(3 OLC) *

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 ...

(2 OLC) * Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC) * Joint Service Commendation Medal *

Army Commendation Medal The Commendation Medal is a mid-level Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issu ...

(2 OLC) * Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC) * Army Presidential Unit Citation *

National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) is a service award of the United States Armed Forces established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. It was awarded to every member of the U.S. Armed Forces who served during any one of four s ...

(with 1

Service Star A service star is a miniature bronze or silver five-pointed star in diameter that is authorized to be worn by members of the eight uniformed services of the United States on medals and ribbons to denote an additional award or service period. T ...

) *

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John F. Kennedy. The medal is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who, a ...

Southwest Asia Service Medal The Southwest Asia Service Medal (SASM or SWASM) was a military award of the United States Armed Forces which was created by order of President George H.W. Bush on March 12, 1991. The award is intended to recognize those military service member ...

(with 2 service stars) * Kosovo Campaign Medal * Afghanistan Campaign Medal * Iraq Campaign Medal * Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal * Global War on Terrorism Service Medal * Armed Forces Service Medal * Army Service Ribbon * Award numeral 6

Army Overseas Service Ribbon (with bronze award numeral "6") *

NATO Medal The NATO Medal is an international military decoration which is awarded to various militaries of the world under the authority of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It is manufactured by Eekelers-Centini Intl, of Hemiksem, Belgium. Ba ...

for the former Yugoslavia * Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) * Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Personal life

Twitty is married to Karen Wilson Twitty and has two daughters.El Paso Times, (5-27-2013) Twitty recalls his troops
accessdate=2014-08-07 Upon relinquishing command of First Army, Twitty noted that his grandfathers had served in First Army, in a segregated military, and that First Army's centenary would be 100 years, on the next day, 10 August 2018.W. Wayne Marlow (August 9, 2018) Lt. Gen. Twitty relinquishes command of First Army
/ref>

Early life and education

Military career

Later career

Awards and decorations

Personal life

References

External links