John Michael “Mike” Murray is an active United States Army general, the first commanding general of United States Army Futures Command, a new four-star Army Command headquartered in Austin, Texas. Murray was previously the G-8, a deputy chief of staff to the Chief of Staff of the United States Army. As G-8, Murray served as the principal advisor to the Chief of Staff for materiel requirements, as military counterpart to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics, and technology (ASA(ALT)).[3]

John M. Murray
Official portrait, 2018
Birth nameJohn Michael Murray
Nickname(s)Mike
BornMay 14 1959 or 1960 (age 64–65)[1]
Kenton, Ohio, United States
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1982—present
RankGeneral
CommandsUnited States Army Futures Command
3rd Infantry Division[2]
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division
1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment
Battles / warsWar in Syria
Iraq War
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit (3)
Bronze Star Medal (4)

On 16 July 2018, Murray was nominated for a fourth star and appointment as Army Futures Command's first commanding general;[4][5] his appointment was confirmed 20 August 2018.[6] He assumed command four days later.[7] On 1 September 2020 General Murray was appointed to lead an in-depth Army 15-6 investigation of those activities and leadership of Fort Hood which led to the murder of Specialist Vanessa Guillen at that installation.[8]

He stepped down as Army Futures Command commanding general on 3 December 2021.[9][10] His Command Sergeant Major Michael J. Crosby retired on the same day.

Education

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Murray was born in Kenton, Ohio, the son of John and Janet Murray.[11] He received his commission as an infantry officer via the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program upon graduation from the Ohio State University in 1982. Throughout his career, Murray has served in leadership positions and commanded from company through division, with various staff assignments at the highest levels of the army.[2]

Military career

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Murray has held numerous command positions. His command assignments include: Commanding General Joint Task Force-3; Deputy Commanding General – Support for United States Forces Afghanistan; Commander Bagram Airfield; Commanding General 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia; Commander, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, at Fort Hood, Texas while serving on Operation Iraqi Freedom; Commander, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany; Commander, C Company, 1-12th Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Carson, Colorado.

Murray also served as the Director, Force Management, the Pentagon; Assistant Deputy Director for Joint Training, J-7, Joint Staff, Suffolk, Virginia; Director, Joint Center for Operational Analysis, United States Joint Forces Command, Suffolk, Virginia; Deputy Commanding General (Maneuver), 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; Deputy Commanding General (Maneuver), Multi-National Division-Baghdad Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq; G-3 (Operations), III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas; Chief of Staff, III Corps and Fort Hood, Fort Hood, Texas; C-3, Multi-National Corps-Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq; G-3 (Operations), 1st Infantry Division, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany; Chief, Space Control Protection Section, J-33, United States Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado; S-3 (Operations), later Executive Officer, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; Chief, Plans, G-1, III Corps and Fort Hood, Fort Hood, Texas. General Murray hails from Kenton, Ohio.

Personal life

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Murray and his ex-wife, Jane, have 3 daughters [12]\[2]

Awards and decorations

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  Combat Infantryman Badge
  Expert Infantryman Badge
  Basic Parachutist Badge
  Ranger tab
  Air Assault Badge
  Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
  Army Staff Identification Badge
  3rd Infantry Division Combat Service Identification Badge
  18th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
  8 Overseas Service Bars
Army Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
    Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
     Bronze Star Medal with three oak leaf clusters
  Defense Meritorious Service Medal
    Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
  Joint Service Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
  Joint Meritorious Unit Award
  Meritorious Unit Commendation
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
    Southwest Asia Service Medal with two service stars
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with service star
Iraq Campaign Medal with silver service star
  Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  Army Service Ribbon
   Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 5
  NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia

References

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  1. ^ "Mike Cronin (19 July 2019) The General in Austin". Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "John Murray's biography as submitted to Congress" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  3. ^ "General John M. Murray – General Officer Management Office". www.gomo.army.mil. Archived from the original on 8 January 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  4. ^ "PN2622 — Lt. Gen. John M. Murray — Army". U.S. Congress. 16 July 2018. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  5. ^ McBride, Courtney (24 May 2018). "General selected to lead Army Futures Command". Inside Defense. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  6. ^ ABJ staff (22 August 2018). "Austin gets its general; Army Futures Command leader confirmed". www.bizjournals.com. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Lt. Gen. John M. Murray promoted to general and first to lead Army Futures Command". DVIDS. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  8. ^ US Army Public Affairs (1 September 2020) Army announcement on Fort Hood leadership Archived January 20, 2021, at the Wayback Machine "There are currently several investigations underway at Fort Hood which are tasked with reviewing a wide range of topics and concerns. Gen. Murray will roll those efforts into a more complete and comprehensive investigation that will delve into all activities and levels of leadership."
  9. ^ "Webcast: Army Futures Command Leadership Transition". DVIDS. Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  10. ^ Thompson, Maureena (6 December 2024). "Gen. Murray, commanding general of AFC, will be retired after his 40 years of dedicated and impactful leadership". U.S. Army. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  11. ^ Thomas, Alun (29 December 2008). ""First Team's" newest one-star". Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  12. ^ "Lt. Gen. John M. Murray promoted to general and first to lead Army Futures Command". DVIDS. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
Military offices
Preceded by
???
Director of Force Management of the United States Army
2012–2013
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commanding General of the 3rd Infantry Division
2013–2015
Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs of the United States Army
2016–2018
Succeeded by
New office Commanding General of the United States Army Futures Command
2018–2021
Succeeded by