John M. Murray

John Michael “Mike” Murray (born 1960) is a United States Army general, the first commanding general of United States Army Futures Command (AFC), a new four-star Army Command (ACOM) headquartered in Austin, Texas. Murray was previously the G-8, a deputy chief of staff to the Chief of Staff of the United States Army (CSA). G-8s serve as principal advisor to the CSA for materiel requirements, as military counterpart to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics, and technology (ASA(ALT)).[3] Modernization reform is the focus of AFC, which means readiness for a nearer-term future, whereas immediate readiness is the charter for the current ACOMs: FORSCOM, TRADOC and AMC, as well as the army service component commands, such as USARPAC.[4] Previous modernization efforts involved five and ten year plans, but a goal for AFC is to reduce the requirements definition stage from five years to one year.[5]

John M. Murray
General John M. Murray September 2018
Birth name	John Michael Murray
Nickname(s)	Mike
Born	1959 or 1960 (age 60–61)[1] Kenton, Ohio, United States
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1982–present
Rank	General
Commands held	United States Army Futures Command 3rd Infantry Division[2] 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars	War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Awards	Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (3) Bronze Star Medal (4)

On July 16, 2018, Murray was nominated for a fourth star and appointment as Army Futures Command's first commanding general;[6][7] his appointment was confirmed 20 August 2018.[8] He assumed command four days later.[9] On 1 September 2020 General Murray was appointed to lead an in-depth Army 15-6 investigation of those activities and leadership of Fort Hood which led to the murder of Specialist Vanessa Guillen at that installation.[10]

Education

Murray was born in Kenton, Ohio, the son of John and Janet Murray.[11] He received his commission as an infantry officer via the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program upon graduation from the Ohio State University in 1982. Throughout his career, Murray has served in leadership positions and commanded from company through division, with various staff assignments at the highest levels of the army.[2]

Military career

Murray has held numerous command positions. His command assignments include: Commanding General Joint Task Force-3; Deputy Commanding General – Support for United States Forces Afghanistan; Commander Bagram Airfield; Commanding General 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia; Commander, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, at Fort Hood, Texas while serving on Operation Iraqi Freedom; Commander, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany; Commander, C Company, 1-12th Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Carson, Colorado.

Murray also served as the Director, Force Management, the Pentagon; Assistant Deputy Director for Joint Training, J-7, Joint Staff, Suffolk, Virginia; Director, Joint Center for Operational Analysis, United States Joint Forces Command, Suffolk, Virginia; Deputy Commanding General (Maneuver), 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; Deputy Commanding General (Maneuver), Multi-National Division-Baghdad Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq; G-3 (Operations), III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas; Chief of Staff, III Corps and Fort Hood, Fort Hood, Texas; C-3, Multi-National Corps-Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq; G-3 (Operations), 1st Infantry Division, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany; Chief, Space Control Protection Section, J-33, United States Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado; S-3 (Operations), later Executive Officer, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; Chief, Plans, G-1, III Corps and Fort Hood, Fort Hood, Texas. General Murray hails from Kenton, Ohio.

Personal life

Murray and his wife, Jane, have three daughters and eight grandchildren.[2][12]

Awards and decorations

	Combat Infantryman Badge
	Expert Infantryman Badge
	Basic Parachutist Badge
	Ranger tab
	Air Assault Badge
	Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
	Army Staff Identification Badge
	3rd Infantry Division Combat Service Identification Badge
	18th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
	8 Overseas Service Bars

Army Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster

Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster

Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters

Bronze Star Medal with three oak leaf clusters

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters

Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster

Joint Service Achievement Medal

Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster

Joint Meritorious Unit Award

Meritorious Unit Commendation

National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star

Southwest Asia Service Medal with two service stars

Afghanistan Campaign Medal with service star

Iraq Campaign Medal with silver service star

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Army Service Ribbon

Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 5

NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia

References

1. Mike Cronin (19 July 2019) The General in Austin
2. John Murray's biography as submitted to Congress
3. "Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8 | Home". www.g8.army.mil. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
4. U.S. ARMY PACIFIC (USARPAC), an ASCC
5. US Army Futures Command to reform modernization, says secretary of the Army
6. "PN2622 — Lt. Gen. John M. Murray — Army". U.S. Congress. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
7. McBride, Courtney (24 May 2018). "General selected to lead Army Futures Command". Inside Defense. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
8. Austin gets its general; Army Futures Command leader confirmed
9. Lt. Gen. John M. Murray promoted to general and first to lead Army Futures Command
10. US Army Public Affairs (1 September 2020) Army announcement on Fort Hood leadership "There are currently several investigations underway at Fort Hood which are tasked with reviewing a wide range of topics and concerns. Gen. Murray will roll those efforts into a more complete and comprehensive investigation that will delve into all activities and levels of leadership."
    • Army Regulation 15–6 (1 April 2016) Procedures for Administrative Investigations and Boards of Officers
11. Thomas, Alun (29 December 2008). ""First Team's" newest one-star". Retrieved 13 September 2018.
12. Army Futures Command (08.24.2018) Lt. Gen. John M. Murray promoted to general and first to lead Army Futures Command [Image 1 of 2]