Robert B. Abrams


Robert Bruce Abrams is a four-star general in the United States Army who currently serves as the commander of United States Forces Korea. He concurrently serves as the commander of United Nations Command and commander of R.O.K.-U.S. Combined Forces Command. He previously served as the 22nd commanding general of United States Army Forces Command from August 10, 2015 to October 17, 2018. He is a 1982 graduate of the United States Military Academy where he was commissioned as an Armor officer. During his years of active service, he has held command and staff positions across the Army and Joint Community in Germany, the United States, Southwest Asia and South Korea. Abrams comes from a family of career military officers. His father was former Army Chief of Staff, General Creighton W. Abrams Jr., and both of his elder brothers, Creig and John, were Army general officers.

Assignments

Abrams' tours of duty with war-fighting units include the 3rd Armored Division as a lieutenant; the 1st Cavalry Division as a captain, and as a major in the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, as a lieutenant colonel and colonel. His joint experience includes serving as a Strategic War Planner for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with responsibility for the United States Central Command's Area of Operations; and as the Director of the Joint Center of Excellence for IED Defeat, a subordinate of the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Agency.

Commands

Abrams has commanded at every level from company through divisional command. His first command was of D Company and Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment. He deployed the company in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Abrams's next command assignment was at battalion level, with 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.
Later, Abrams served as the commander of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, where he deployed to East Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II, as commanding general of Fort Irwin & the National Training Center, and most recently as commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia from 2011 to 2013, during which he served as commander of Regional Command South in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Abrams has extensive operational experience, having served as an operations officer at squadron, regimental and divisional level. Abrams has also served as an instructor, written doctrine and developed training at the United States Army Armor School, and as executive officer to the Commanding General United States Army Europe and Seventh Army.
Abrams's general officer assignments also include service as the Deputy Commanding General, Combined Arms Center-Training, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and the commander of the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California.
In 2015, Abrams was assigned as Commanding General, United States Army Forces Command, which oversees all United States Army combat units in the continental United States.
On September 17, 2018, the Senate Armed Service Committee's website showed that Abrams was scheduled to attend a hearing on his nomination to command United States Forces Korea. The Senate confirmed his nomination on October 11. Abrams relinquished command of Army Forces Command to its deputy commander, Lieutenant General Laura Richardson, on October 16, and assumed command of United States Forces Korea from General Vincent K. Brooks on November 7.

Education

Abrams holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy, a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a master's degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.
His military schooling includes the Armor Basic and Advanced Courses, Basic Airborne Course, Ranger School , the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.

Awards and decorations

Medals and awards earned by Abrams include:

Combat Action Badge
;Personal Awards
Defense Distinguished Service Medal

;Unit Awards
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
w/ 4 oak leaf clusters		Valorous Unit AwardMeritorious Unit Commendation

;Identification and service badges

8th Cavalry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
Basic Parachutist Badge
Ranger tab

1st Cavalry Division Combat Service Identification Badge
Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge