Ben Hodges

Frederick Benjamin "Ben" Hodges is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general and head of the Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis.

Brief Biography

Ben Hodges was born April 16, 1958.

He graduated from the Army Academy in 1980 as an infantry officer. He served as a platoon commander and company commander in the 2nd Armored Division in Germany.

In 1984, he graduated from the Infantry Officer Development Course.

He served in the 101st Airborne Division.

In 1989, Hodges became an instructor at the U.S. Army Infantry School.

He attended the Command and General Staff College and graduated from the Military High School in 1993.

In 1995, he became Assistant Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

In 1997, he became commander of the 101st Airborne Battalion.

From 1999-2000, he was a congressional liaison officer in the Office of the Chief of the Legislative Liaison.

In 2001, he graduated from the National War College.

In 2002, he became commander of the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Regiment and led the brigade in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In 2004, Hodges became assistant chief of staff of the 18th Airborne Corps. At the same time, he was assistant chief of staff for the Multi-National Corps in Iraq.

In 2009, Hodges became director of operations for Regional Command South in Afghanistan.

In 2010, he became director of the Pakistani coordination cell at Joint Staff Afghanistan.

In 2012, he assumed command of Allied Ground Forces.

In November 2014, Hodges became commander of the U.S. Army's European Army, a position he held for three years before retiring in 2017.