Anthony Gerard "Tony" Crutchfield (born May 3, 1960) is a retired United States Army lieutenant general who was the deputy commander of United States Pacific Command from 2014 to 2017, having previously served as its chief of staff from 2012 to 2014. An aviation officer by branch, Crutchfield served in several aviation commands throughout his career, culminating in command of the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker from 2010 to 2012. As USAACE commander, he was responsible for the training, doctrine, organizational structure, and future technology development for 90,000 aviation soldiers and over 4,000 aircraft. He retired on April 7, 2017, after 34 years of distinguished service.[3]
Anthony G. Crutchfield | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nickname(s) | Tony[1] |
| Born | May 3, 1960 Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1982–2017 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands | United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division 1st Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment |
| Battles / wars | War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (3) Bronze Star Medal (2) |
| Alma mater | Marshall University (BA) Webster University (BA) United States Army War College (MS) |
| Spouse(s) |
Kimberly "Kimmy" D. Crutchfield
(m. 1982) |
| Children | 2 |
| Other work | Vice President, Army Systems - Defense, Space and Security Government Operations, Boeing (2017–present) |
He now serves as vice president for Army Systems - Defense, Space and Security Government Operations for The Boeing Company, joining the company in July 2017.[1]
Military career and education
editCrutchfield earned his commission in 1982 from the ROTC program at Marshall University. He later earned a M.A. degree in Business Administration from Webster University and a M.S. degree in strategic studies[1] from the Army War College. Since 1986, he has been a pilot of the AH-64 Apache. Units he served with in his early career include 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment; 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment; and 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment.[4]
As a field officer, Crutchfield commanded 1st Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment from 1998 to 2000 before proceeding to the Army War College to pass the bar for promotion to colonel. He was deployed to Afghanistan as commander of the Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division in 2003, remaining in the region until the brigade returned to Fort Drum in 2004. He then served as executive officer to the Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command from 2004 to 2007 and then as Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Accessions Command from 2007 to 2008.[4]
Brigadier General Crutchfield assumed command of the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker from James O. Barclay III on August 19, 2010, leading the center until August 10, 2012, when he relinquished command to Kevin W. Mangum. He was promoted to major general on February 3, 2011, with his family and former mentor, retired three-star general Thomas F. Metz in attendance.[5][6][7][8]
After two years as chief of staff of United States Pacific Command (USPACOM), Crutchfield was promoted to lieutenant general in a ceremony at Fort Rucker and became deputy commander of PACOM on June 6, 2014.[9][4]
Crutchfield retired on April 7, 2017, after 34 years of distinguished service. His retirement ceremony was hosted by then Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army Daniel B. Allyn and PACOM commander Harry B. Harris Jr. at Conmy Hall, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, where he also received the Defense Distinguished Service Medal in recognition of his service to the country.[3]
Controversy
editIn 2015, the Inspector General of the Department of Defense launched an investigation amid an allegation that Crutchfield misused government funds for his promotion ceremony to lieutenant general. The allegation was an anonymous report claiming that Crutchfield "invented a way to get a free plane ticket" to travel from PACOM headquarters in Hawaii to Fort Rucker solely for his promotion ceremony.[10] It was found that Crutchfield spent $3,821.61[11] on a 7-day trip to Alabama en route to Washington, D.C. "to accommodate his preference to hold his promotion ceremony at Fort Rucker" rather than his duty station at Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii. The trip in question included meetings with several Fort Rucker personnel and plans for a speaking engagement at Maxwell Air Force Base on the same day as the promotion ceremony.[12]
Crutchfield contested the findings, retorting that he was "not guilty of wasting government resources" and conducted official and "bona fide" activities on the 7-day trip. The Department of the Army eventually cleared Crutchfield of wrongdoing and allowed him to remain as PACOM deputy commander.[10][13]
Post-retirement
editCrutchfield joined Boeing as their vice president for army systems in July 2017. As VP - Army Systems, he is the company's senior liaison to the United States Army and is in charge of leading the development and execution of a strategic campus plan with United States Military Academy at West Point, including STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and diversity outreach programs.[1][14]
Personal life
editCrutchfield has been married to Kimberly “Kimmy” Crutchfield for 39 years and has 2 children and 3 grandchildren. He lives in New Kent, Virginia[15] with his wife and two dogs.
Crutchfield is an avid Washington Nationals and Washington Capitals fan.
Awards and decorations
edit Army Master Aviator Badge
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 Basic Parachutist Badge
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 Air Assault Badge
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 10th Mountain Division Combat Service Identification Badge
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 229th Aviation Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
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 Defense Distinguished Service Medal[16]
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 Defense Superior Service Medal
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  Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
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 |
 Defense Meritorious Service Medal
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 Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
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 Air Medal
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 Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
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 |
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 Army Superior Unit Award
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.svg){kind=small}  Southwest Asia Service Medal with two service stars
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 Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
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 Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
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 Korea Defense Service Medal
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 Humanitarian Service Medal
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 Army Service Ribbon
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  Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 3
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_ribbon.svg){kind=small} Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
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_ribbon.svg){kind=small} Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
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 United States Pacific Command badge
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References
edit- ^ a b c d "LTG ANTHONY G. CRUTCHFIELD, U.S. ARMY RETIRED". Association of the United States Army. April 19, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- ^ Brainard, Emily (September 16, 2010). "Fort Rucker community gains new 1st lady". U.S. Army. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- ^ a b "Lt. Gen. Anthony G. Crutchfield Retirement Ceremony 7 April, 2017". Flickr. April 7, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Command". pacom.mil. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
- ^ Emily Brainard and Russell Sellers (August 19, 2010). "Crutchfield assumes command of USAACE, Fort Rucker". U.S. Army. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- ^ Jim Hughes (February 10, 2011). "USAACE commanding general receives 2nd star". U.S. Army.
- ^ Pfau, Nathan (August 16, 2012). "Mangum assumes command of USAACE". U.S. Army.
- ^ "Maj. Gen. Anthony G. Crutchfield returns to Marshall University to serve as grand marshal in 2011 homecoming parade". Marshall University. September 21, 2011. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ^ "Former Fort Rucker Commanding General receives third star". Dothan First. Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 25, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
- ^ a b Tan, Michelle (March 25, 2016). "DoD IG: Army general misused government money on Fort Rucker trip". Army Times.
- ^ not including the cost of a rental car or travel expenses for Crutchfield's aides
- ^ "Report of Investigation: Lieutenant General Anthony G. Crutchfield, U.S. Army" (PDF). Department of Defense. Inspector General of the Department of Defense. June 15, 2015.
- ^ "Alabama trip lands Army general in hot water". March 29, 2016.
- ^ "Anthony Crutchfield is Leading by Example". Boeing. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- ^ "7173 CANOPY CR". Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- ^ "170407-A-Cf357-119". April 7, 2017.
External links
edit
Media related to Anthony G. Crutchfield at Wikimedia Commons