David Howell Petraeus
- Born:
- November 7, 1952, Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Retired General, United States Army; Public Official; Academic
Early Life and Education
- Graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1974.
- Received a Bachelor of Science degree from West Point.
- Earned a Ph.D. in International Relations from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. His dissertation was titled "The American Military and the Lessons of Vietnam: A Study of Military Influence and the Use of Force in the Post-Vietnam Era."
- Held the George F. Kennan fellowship at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Career and Major Achievements
- Served multiple tours in Europe, including with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment.
- Commander of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
- Commanded Multi-National Force – Iraq (MNF-I) from 2007 to 2008, overseeing the "surge" strategy.
- Commander, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) from 2008 to 2010.
- Served as Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Commander, U.S. Forces - Afghanistan (USFOR-A) from 2010 to 2011.
- Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 2011 to 2012.
- Resigned from the CIA in November 2012.
Notable Works
- Co-authored "American General: How I Learned to Lead" (2013).
- Numerous articles and publications on military strategy, leadership, and international relations.
Legacy and Impact
David Petraeus is recognized for his leadership during the Iraq War and his implementation of the "surge" strategy. His career has been marked by both significant achievements in military command and subsequent controversies. Analyses of paula broadwell david petraeus biography iraq often include considerations of his strategic approaches and personal conduct.