Douglas Lute

Education

Lute was born in Michigan City, Indiana, on November 3, 1952. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1975. His first assignment was to the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Bindlach, Germany, where he commanded C Troop. He earned a MPA degree from Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University in 1983 and taught in the Department of Social Science at West Point.

Second Cavalry

Following attendance at the British Army Staff College, he returned to the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment as operations officer, serving both at the squadron and regimental levels. In 1990–91 he deployed and fought with the regiment in Operation Desert Storm, and later served on the staff of the chief of staff of the United States Army.

Advancement

Lute commanded 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry at Fort Hood, Texas, in 1992–94. He then served on the Joint Staff in the J-5 Directorate for Strategic Plans and Policy, and held a War College Fellowship at the Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C.

From 1998 to 2000 he commanded the Second Cavalry Regiment, part of XVIII Airborne Corps, at Fort Polk, Louisiana. In 2001, he was appointed brigadier general.{{cite web|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=2918|title=Flag and General Officer Announcements|access-date=2007-08-12

In June 2004, Lute began more than two years as director of operations (J-3) at United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), during which he oversaw combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as other operations in the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Horn of Africa. He was appointed to the rank of major general in 2004, and to the rank of lieutenant general in 2006. He assumed the duties of director of operations of the Pentagon's Joint Staff in September 2006.

National Security Council

On June 28, 2007, the Senate confirmed Lute to serve as the deputy national security advisor. He remained in the position after his retirement from active duty in 2010.

On 10 August 2007, Lute stated that the United States should "consider" reinstating the military draft to relieve the "stressed" volunteer service from multiple tours of duty.{{cite news |access-date=2007-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814192914/http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/10/war.adviser.draft.ap/index.html |archive-date=2007-08-14 |url-status=dead

Awards and decorations

During his military career he received:

• Defense Superior Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
• Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
• Bronze Star Medal
• Defense Meritorious Service Medal
• Meritorious Service Medal (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters)
• Joint Service Commendation Medal
• Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
• Army Achievement Medal
• Parachutist Badge
• Ranger Tab
• Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
• Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
• Army Staff Identification Badge

Lobbying

In January 2021, Lute joined BGR Group to chair its international and defense practices.

References

References

1. (August 2013). "Douglas Lute confirmation".
2. Press statement from the White House, Office of the Press Secretary, May 23, 2013
3. "Ambassador Doug Lute – Keough School – University of Notre Dame".
4. "Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute".
5. Tucker, Spencer C.. (2010-10-08). "The Encyclopedia of Middle East Wars: The United States in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts [5 volumes]: The United States in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts". ABC-CLIO.
6. "Former Commander MNB East Brigadier General Douglas E. Lute US, Army".
7. FELLER, BEN. (2007-05-15). "Bush Names Pentagon General 'War Czar'". Washington Post.
8. "Douglas Lute".
9. (October 29, 2004). "Flag and General Officer Announcements". DefenseLink.
10. (July 19, 2006). "General Officer Announcement". DefenseLink.
11. "Meet President Bush's new 'war czar'".
12. (February 5, 2012). "Obama may pick Lute for European command". [[The Washington Post]].
13. [http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/liberal_lobby_lacks_context.html Liberal Lobby Lacks Context] {{webarchive. link. (2007-09-30 . FactCheck.org. Retrieved on 2012-03-01.)
14. [http://www.riley.army.mil/bigredone/commandteam/former/ADC/Lute,%20Douglas%20E.htm Riley.army.mil] {{webarchive. link. (July 28, 2010)
15. (January 27, 2021). "BGR Group Enlists Retired General Lute".