John F. Campbell
Lieutenant General, U.S. Army
Vice Chief of Staff

John F. Campbell graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in the Class of 1979 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. His career began as a Rifle Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer and Anti-tank Platoon Leader with the 3rd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment in Wiesbaden, Germany.

After attending the Infantry Officers Advanced Course and the Special Forces Qualification Course, Campbell served as a Battalion Adjutant and Operational Detachment Alpha Commander in 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, NC, followed by assignments in the 82nd Airborne Division as Commander of Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment and as the Division G-3 Air Officer.

Campbell was then assigned as the Assistant Professor of Military Science, and then the Professor of Military Science, at the University of California, Davis.

He was selected to attend the Command and General Staff College, after which he was again assigned to Fort Bragg and the 82nd Airborne Division, where he served as the Division G-3 Training Officer, Brigade Operations Officer for the 2nd Brigade, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment and as the Aide-de-Camp for the XVIII Airborne Corps Commander (deployed during Operation Uphold Democracy).

Campbell commanded the 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, HI, followed by attendance at the United States Army War College in Carlisle, PA. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the Joint Staff.

Campbell Commanded the 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division and the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment and deployed his Brigade Combat Team to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Following that command, Campbell was assigned to the Army Staff and served as the Executive Officer to the 35th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, Peter J. Schoomaker.

After his promotion to Brigadier General he was assigned to Fort Hood, TX, as the Deputy Commanding General for Maneuver for the 1st Cavalry Division and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the DCG-M for Multinational Division-Baghdad for both the 4th Infantry Division and the 1st Cavalry Division.

Major General Campbell served as Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, KY, from July 2009 to August 2011. In June 2010, he deployed the Division and assumed command of Combined Joint Task Force-101, Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan until May 2011.

Lieutenant General Campbell assumed duties as the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (G-3/5/7), U.S. Army, on 7 September 2011.

On 8 March 2013, Campbell was promoted to the four-star rank of General and sworn in as the Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Army.

On 23 July 2014, Campbell was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to succeed General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. as Commander, International Security Assistance Force and United States Forces—Afghanistan. GEN Campbell was succeeded by General John William Nicholson, Jr. on 2 March 2016.

General Campbell retired on 1 May 2016.

Medals, Awards, Badges & Tabs

Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Army Distinguished Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Bronze Star Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars
Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon with Award Numeral 5
NATO Meritorious Service Medal
NATO Medal (ISAF)
Army Presidential Unit Citation with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Commendation with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Combat Infantryman Badge
Master Parachutist Badge
Pathfinder Badge
Expert Infantryman Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge
Ranger Tab
Special Forces Tab

Promotion Dates

Second Lieutenant - 6 June 1979
First Lieutenant - 21 February 1981
Captain - 1 June 1983
Major - 1 October 1990
Lieutenant Colonel - 1 April 1995
Colonel - 1 June 2000
Brigadier General - 1 October 2005
Major General - 7 November 2008
Lieutenant General - 6 September 2011
General - 8 March 2013