Tommy Franks Bio

General Tommy Franks is a retired General in the United States Army. He is a decorated 4-Star General and Commander-in-Chief in the United States Central Command, where he oversaw a 25-country region, including the Middle East.

General Franks led the U.S. Army in the attack on the Taliban in Afghanistan in response to the Sep. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon. In 2003, he led the invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and his regime.

Prior to retiring from the military in 2003, his four-decade military career saw him lead American and Coalition troops in two strategic high-level campaigns in the Middle East—Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq.

General Franks is the recipient of five Distinguished Service Medals, four Legions of Merit, four Bronze Stars and three Purple Hearts, which he earned serving in the Vietnam war. In May 2004, Queen Elizabeth II appointed him Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) and in December of that same year was awarded the nation’s highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush.

He travels the world on speaking tours and in Aug. 2004, released his autobiography, American Soldier, which became a New York Times Best Seller.

He currently sits on the Board of Directors of the National Park Foundation and is an advisor to the Central Command Memorial Foundation and the Military Child Education Coalition. He is also a spokesman for the Southeastern Guide Dogs Organization. A museum dedicated to him lies in Hobart, Oklahoma.

General Franks resides in Roosevelt, Oklahoma, with his wife Cathryn Carley Franks. He has a daughter and three grandchildren.

• Appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II, 2004
• Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush, 2004
• Commander of Third (U.S.) Army/Army Forces Central Command, Atlanta, Georgia, 1997
• Promoted to General and assignment as Commander in Chief, United States Central Command, 1997
• U.S. 2nd Infantry Division, Korea, 1995-1997
• CJG3 of Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea, South Korea, 1994
• First Director, Louisiana Maneuvers Task Force, Office of Chief of Staff of the Army, Fort Monroe, Virginia, 1992
• During 1991-1992, assigned as Assistant Commandant of the Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, 1991-1992
• Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver), 1st Cavalry Division, Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, 1990-1991
• III Corps Deputy Assistant G3, commander of Division Artillery, U.S. 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, 1987
• Chief of Staff, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, 1987
• Commander 2nd Battalion, 78th Field Artillery, West Germany, 1981
• Congressional Activities Team and Executive Assistant, Office of the Chief of Staff, Army, 1977
• Army Inspector General in the Investigations Division, The Pentagon, 1976
• Squadron S-3 Commander, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Commanded 1st Squadron Howitzer Battery, West Germany, 1973
• Regimental Assistant S-3, 84th Armored Engineer Company, Vietnam
• Forward Observer, Aerial Observer, and Assistant S-3 with 2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery, U.S. 9th Infantry Division, Republic of Vietnam
• Fire Direction Officer and Fire Support Officer, 5th Battalion (mechanized), 60th Infantry, Vietnam
• Commissioned Second Lieutenant, Artillery and Missile Officer Candidate School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, 1967
• Recipient of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
• Recipient of (two) Distinguished Service Medals
• Recipient of (four) Legion of Merit Awards
• Recipient of the Bronze Star with Valor device and two oak leaf clusters
• Recipient of the Purple Heart (two oak leaf clusters), during Vietnam tour
• Recipient of the Air Medal with Valor Device
• Recipient of the Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device

• M.S., Public Administration, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, year unknown
• Graduate, Armed Forces Staff College and the Army War College, year unknown
• B.A., Business Administration, University of Texas at Arlington, 1971
• Distinguished Graduate, Artillery Officer Candidate School, 1967

Website:  Franks & Associates, LLC