Deputy Commander, U.S. European Command

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. William B. Garrett III assumed duties as Deputy Commander of U.S. European Command in July 2014.

Prior to that, he served as Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Staff for U.S. Army Forces Command in Fort Bragg, N.C. He was responsible for manning, equipping, and training 265,000 active component Soldiers, and training and readiness oversight of 560,000 Soldiers of the Army National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve.

Garrett also served as Chief of Staff, United States Forces – Iraq and as Commanding General, United States Army Africa and United States Army Southern European Task Force, Vicenza, Italy. Other assignments include tours of duty with: the 6th Infantry Division; 10th Mountain Division; 25th Infantry Division; 82nd Airborne Division; XVIII Airborne Corps; U.S. Army Combined Arms Center; U.S. Special Operations Command; the Army Staff; and the Joint Staff. He has served operational tours in Grenada, Egypt, Haiti, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

He was commissioned in the Army as an infantry officer after graduating from North Georgia College in Dahlonega, Georgia. He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Army Command and General Staff College, the School of Advanced Military Studies, and the National War College. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Management from Webster University; a Master of Arts degree in Military Art and Science from the Army Command and General Staff College; and a Master of Science degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from National Defense University.

Garrett has been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and other awards and decorations. He has earned the Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, and Pathfinder Badge.

Download printable biography here.