A long list of credentials follows the newly named 58th superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Lt. Gen. David H. Huntoon, Jr., who was nominated for the position by President Obama, left his standing as director of the Army Staff at the Pentagon – just one of many commanding positions he has held.
And it's the combination of many things he has accomplished throughout his career that makes him right for the job, said Lt. Col. Brian Tribus, director of U.S. Army Public Affairs and Communications.
The 1973 West Point graduate, who attended the academy at the same time as Gen. David Petraeus, Commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, has been executive officer to the chief of staff of the U.S. Army, senior officer for Operation Just Cause, deputy director of plans for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and deputy director of plans in the 18th Airbone Corps.
One day, Huntoon's son also will be a West Point graduate. The experience of being a parent of a cadet and Huntoon's personal attendance at West Point gives him a unique perspective for the job, Tribus said.
Huntoon, a former deputy commandant of the Army War College, is familiar with leading students.
"In terms of crafting curriculum and making sure that curriculum is relevant to what students will go out and do...that is great experience," Tribus said.
He served as the assistant division commander of the First Cavalry Division, commanded the Fifth Battalion, 20th Infantry at Camp Casey in Korea and was chief of plans for CJ3 Combined Forces Command and United Nations Command in Yongsan.
"He knows what it takes to lead soldiers," Tribus said.
Huntoon replaced Lt. Gen. Franklin L. Hagenbeck.
"Changes in leadership are part of Army life; while we are sad to see the Hagenbecks go, we are thankful for (Gen. Hagenbeck's) service ... but we're very excited about working with Gen. Huntoon, and change is good in the way that it brings new ideas and thoughts," Tribus said.
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