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Today's Featured Biography
George Higgins
GEORGE A. HIGGINS
Major General, United States Army (Retired)
Retired Soldier
Active Duty Granddad
After graduation from J.E.B. Stuart High School in June 1967, Major General George A. Higgins enlisted in the United States Army and underwent basic combat training at Sand Hill, Fort Benning, Georgia. In August 1967, he was assigned to the United States Military Academy Preparatory School at Fort Belvior, Virginia, where he competed for an appointment to the United States Military Academy. General Higgins entered West Point in July 1968 and graduated in June 1972, commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry.
General Higgins has served in command and staff positions throughout the field Army in the United States and overseas. His command assignments include: Company A, 3rd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment in the 24th Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia (1976-77); 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment at Böblingen, Germany (1990-91); 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment in the Republic of Korea (1991-92); and 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado (1994-95).
Between command assignments, General Higgins has served in several operations, plans, and training staff assignments. These assignments have included: Chief, G3 Plans and Exercises, 5th Infantry Division (1985-87); Executive Officer, 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment (1987-88); and S3 Operations Officer for 2nd Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (1988-89)—all at Fort Polk, Louisiana. In addition, he has twice served as the G3 for Army units stationed overseas: from 1989-90 he served as the G3, 1st Infantry Division (Forward) at Göppingen, Germany; and from 1992-93 as the G3, 2nd Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea. Other staff assignments include: Action Officer on the Joint Staff in Conventional War Plans Division, J7 (1996); and Executive Officer to the Commander in Chief, United States Southern Command at Quarry Heights, Panama (1996-97).
General Higgins’ General Officer assignments include: Executive Officer to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe and Commander in Chief, United States European Command at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium (1997-99); Assistant Division Commander (Support), 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Hood, Texas (1999-2000); and Deputy Commanding General, III Corps and Fort Hood, Fort Hood, Texas (2000-2002). In the Republic of Korea, General Higgins served as the U/C/J3, United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea and Deputy Commanding General (Operations) Eighth Army (2002-2004). After serving as the U/C/J-3, General Higgins served as the Commanding General, 2nd Infantry Division (2004-2006). In May 2006, General Higgins assumed duties as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7 at Headquarters, Department of the Army in the Pentagon. After 36 years and 10 months of service in the Army, General Higgins retired on 1 May 2008.
In addition to a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy, General Higgins holds a Master of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Virginia and a Master of Military Art and Science from the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He is a graduate of the Army War College (1993-94), School of Advanced Military Studies (1985), Command and General Staff College (1984), Infantry Officer Advanced and Basic Courses, and Airborne, Ranger, Jumpmaster and Pathfinder schools. He has also served at West Point as an Assistant Professor of Philosophy and English (1980-83).
Among his military decorations are the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star Medal.
Born in Frankfurt, Germany, General Higgins is married to the former Marilyn Ann Barrs of Branchville, South Carolina. General and Mrs. Higgins have two sons: Jeff, who is a 2002 graduate of West Point and an Infantry Lieutenant Colonel serving as the Commander, 2nd (Stryker) Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Vilsek, Germany; and Steve, who is a 2006 graduate of West Point and a Major in the Judge Advocate General Corps also serving as the Brigade Judge Advocate in the 1st (Stryker) Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, Texas.
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