Opening Remarks
Opening Remarks
MG Eric J. Wesley
Major General Eric Wesley is currently serving as the Commanding General, Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning, Georgia.
MG Wesley was commissioned as an Armor Officer from the United States Military Academy in 1986. He began his career as a Tank Platoon Leader, Scout Platoon Leader, and Battalion Logistics Officer in 2-70 Armor of the 1st Armored Division in Germany. In May 1991, he was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas where he commanded a tank company in 1-34 Armor until Dec 1993. He then spent three and a half years with the United States Army Special Operations Command, and deployed in support of operations in Bosnia.
In June of 1998, he was assigned to the 2nd Brigade of the 3d Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia, where he served as a Battalion and Brigade Operations Officer and the Brigade Executive Officer. In September 2002, he deployed with 2nd Brigade to Operation Desert Spring in Kuwait, followed by Operation Iraqi Freedom, where 2nd Brigade led the 3rd Infantry Division's attack into Baghdad. Upon redeployment, he led the staff effort to move the division to a modular organization.
MG Wesley returned to Fort Riley in June of 2004 and assumed command of a tank battalion, the 1st Battalion, 13th Armor. He deployed the "13th Tank" back to Iraq for combat operations in Baghdad from January 2005 to January 2006. Upon relinquishing command, he remained at Fort Riley serving as the Operations Officer of the 1st Infantry Division until June of 2007. One year later, he returned to the Big Red One and assumed command of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. After command, he deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan where he served as the Chief of Future Operations for the International Security Assistance Force. He then served for two years in the White House on the National Security Council as the Director for Afghanistan-Pakistan Policy. He later returned to Afghanistan where he was the Director for Plans, ISAF Joint Command in Afghanistan. He later served as the Deputy Commanding General (Support) for the 1st Infantry Division. He most recently served on the Army Staff as G8, Deputy PAE.
MG Wesley's military education includes the Armor Officer Basic Course, the Armor Officer Advanced Course, and the Command and General Staff College. He is a graduate of the National War College, earning a Master's Degree in National Security Strategy. Eric also holds a Master's Degree in International Relations from Troy State University.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Joint Service Commendation Medal. He has also earned the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Ranger Tab.
Video shown by MG Wesley during his talk: