William A. Knowlton

Infobox Military Person
name=William A. Knowlton
lived= June 191920 - August 102008


caption=General William A. Knowlton
nickname=
placeofbirth=
placeofdeath=
branch= United States Army
serviceyears=1943-1980
rank= General
unit=
commands=Superintendent, United States Military Academy Allied Land Forces South East Europe
battles= World War II
awards= Defense Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (3) Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Air Medals (10)
relations=David Petraeus (son-in-law)
laterwork=
General William Allen Knowlton (June 191920 - August 102008) was a United States Army four star general, and a former Superintendent of the United States Military Academy. As a full general, he served as Commander, Allied Land Forces South East Europe, and as the United States Military Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Military career

Knowlton was commissioned in the cavalry in January 1943 after graduating from the United States Military Academy. He reported for duty with the 7th Armored Division, and during World War II led an assault gun platoon in France, and later a reconnaissance troop in Germany, which linked up with the Russians, advancing from the east, northeast of Berlin. For this he was awarded the Silver Star.

Following the war, he held a various staff postings, and graduated from the Command and General Staff College in 1955. Following graduation, he was assigned to his alma mater's Department of Social Sciences, becoming an associate professor. He next took command of a battalion of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, and then attended the U.S. Army War College. Before taking command of a brigade at Fort Knox, he served as military attaché in Tunis.

Returning from Tunis, he was assigned to the Pentagon in the Office of the United States Army Chief of Staff and later the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He deployed to Vietnam for two tours of duty where he oversaw Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support (CORDS) for General William Westmoreland, and served as assistant division commander for the 9th Infantry Division.

After his time in Vietnam, he became Secretary of the Army General Staff, and on March 23, 1970 he became the 49th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, an assignment he held for four years. In 1974, during his tenure, the United States Supreme Court reaffirmed West Point's right to enforce the Honor Code in response to two challenges from cadets.

After his time as Superintendent, he was assigned as Chief of Staff of the United States European Command. Promoted to full General in 1976, he took command of Allied Land Forces South East Europe, and finished his career as the United States Representative on NATO's Military Committee.

Kowlton's awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star with 2 oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star, Air Medal with 9 oak leaf clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. His foreign awards include the French Legion d'Honneur and the Großes Verdienstkreuz mit Stern from Germany.

Post military

Knowlton's daughter married future four star general David Petraeus, who was a West Point cadet while Knowlton was Superintendent. In retirement, Knowlton has served as a Senior Fellow at the National Defense University, lectured at the Armed Forces Staff College, been an advisor for the Defense Nuclear Agency, and was a member of the Defense Intelligence Agency Science and Technology Advisory Board.

Knowlton has also sat on the board of Chubb Corporation, and was the 2004 Distinguished Graduate Award recipient from the Association of Graduates, the United States Military Academy alumni organization.

References

* [http://www.westpointaog.org/netcommunity/2004DGAKnowlton] 2004 DGA Award Recipient, General William A. Knowlton, West Point Association of Graduates Website