Birth name	Martin E. Dempsey
Birth date	March 14, 1952
Birth place	Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Army
Serviceyears	1974–present
Rank
Commands	Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffArmy Chief of StaffU.S. Army Training and Doctrine CommandMulti-National Security Transition Command-Iraq3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment1st Armored Division
Battles	Gulf WarIraq War
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Army Distinguished Service Medal (4)Defense Superior Service MedalLegion of Merit (3)Bronze Star (2) with Valor }}

General Martin E. Dempsey, USA (born March 14, 1952) is the 18th and current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He previously served 149 days as the 37th Chief of Staff of the Army from April 11, 2011, to September 7, 2011. Prior to that, he served as Commanding General, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, from December 8, 2008, to April 11, 2011, as Acting Commander, U.S. Central Command, from March 24, 2008, to October 30, 2008, as Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command, from August 2007 to March 23, 2008, and as Commanding General, Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq (MNSTC-I), from August 2005 to August 2007. As Chairman, Dempsey is the highest ranking officer in the United States Armed Forces. He assumed his current assignment on October 1, 2011.

Biography

Dempsey attended John S. Burke Catholic High School in Goshen, New York, and received a commission as an Armor officer upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1974. As a company-grade officer, he served in 1st Squadron, 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment as the S-1 OIC. He went on to be the Executive Officer of the 3rd Brigade 3rd Armored Division during Operation Desert Shield/Storm. He then commanded the 4th Battalion of the 67th Armored Regiment "Bandits" from 1992–1995 in the 1st Armored Division in Friedberg, Hesse, Germany.

In June 2003, then Brigadier General Dempsey assumed command of 1st Armored Division. He succeeded Ricardo S. Sanchez who was promoted to command V Corps. Dempsey's command of the 1st Armored Division lasted until July 2005 and included 13 months in Iraq, from June 2003 to July 2004. While in Iraq, 1st Armored Division, in addition to its own brigades, had operational command over the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment and a brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division; the command, called "Task Force Iron" in recognition of the Division's nickname, "Old Ironsides", was the largest division-level command in the history of the United States Army.

It was during this time that the U.S. intervention in Iraq changed dramatically as Fallujah fell to Sunni extremists and supporters of Muqtada Sadr built their strength and rose up against American forces. Then Major General Dempsey and his command assumed responsibility for the Area of Operations in Baghdad as the insurgency incubated, grew, and exploded. General Dempsey has been described by Thomas Ricks in his book "Fiasco": "In the capital itself, the 1st Armored Division, after Sanchez assumed control of V Corps, was led by Gen. Martin Dempsey, was generally seen as handling a difficult (and inherited) job well, under the global spotlight of Baghdad."

On March 27, 2007, Dempsey was promoted from commander of Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq, to be reappointed as a lieutenant general and assigned as deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

On February 5, 2008, Dempsey was nominated to head the Seventh United States Army/U.S. Army, Europe, and was nominated for promotion to four-star general upon Senate approval.

On March 11, 2008, Dempsey's commander, Admiral William J. Fallon, retired from active service. U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates accepted this as effective on March 31. Dempsey took over command as acting commander CENTCOM.

On March 13, 2008, Dempsey was confirmed by the United States Senate as Commander, Seventh United States Army/U.S. Army, Europe.

On December 8, 2008, Dempsey took command of United States Army Training and Doctrine Command.

On January 6, 2011, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that he would nominate General Dempsey to succeed General George Casey as the Army Chief of Staff.

On February 8, 2011, Gates announced that President Barack Obama nominated Dempsey to be the 37th Chief of Staff of the United States Army.

On March 3, 2011, Dempsey testified before the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services for reappointment to the grade of general and to be the 37th Chief of Staff of the United States Army.

On March 15, 2011, the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services affirmatively reported Dempsey's nomination to serve as the 37th Chief of Staff of the United States Army to the floor of the Senate. On March 16, 2011, the Senate confirmed Dempsey's nomination by unanimous consent.

On April 11, 2011, Dempsey was officially sworn in as 37th Chief of Staff of the United States Army at a ceremony at Fort Myer.

With Admiral Mike Mullen set to retire as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in September 2011, President Obama needed to select his replacement. The Vice-Chairman, Marine General James Cartwright, who was initially believed to be the front runner for the job, had fallen out of favor among senior officials in the Defense Department. Obama administration officials revealed on May 26, 2011, that the President would nominate Dempsey to the post of Chairman. In August 2011 General Dempsey was confirmed by unanimous consent to succeed Admiral Mike Mullen as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

He was officially sworn in as 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on October 1, 2011, succeeding Admiral Michael Mullen.

Education

1974 Bachelor of Science degree, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY

1984 Master of Arts degree in English, Duke University, Durham, NC

1988 Master of Military Art and Science degree, United States Army Command and General Staff College

1995 Master of Science degree in national security and strategic studies, National War College

Dates of rank

50px United States Military Academy Cadet - Class of 1974

+	Rank !! Date
	[[File:US-OF1B.svg	5 Jun 1974
	10px First Lieutenant	5 Jun 1976
	28px Captain	8 Aug 1978
	28px Major	1 Sep 1985
	28px Lieutenant Colonel	1 Apr 1991
	40px Colonel	1 Sep 1995
	28px Brigadier General	1 Aug 2001
	56px Major General	1 Sep 2004
	84px Lieutenant General	8 Sep 2005
	112px General	8 Dec 2008

Awards, decorations, and badges

{| width="100%" |valign="top" |

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster)
	Defense Superior Service Medal
	Legion of Merit (with 2 oak leaf clusters)
	Joint Service Commendation Medal
	Army Commendation Medal
	Army Achievement Medal (with oak leaf cluster)
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with oak leaf cluster)
	Valorous Unit Award (with oak leaf cluster)
	Army Superior Unit Award (with oak leaf cluster)
	National Defense Service Medal (with 2 service stars)
	Southwest Asia Service Medal (with 3 service stars)
	Iraq Campaign Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
	Army Service Ribbon
	NATO Medal for service with ISAF
	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

|valign="top" |

	Combat Action Badge
	Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
	Army Staff Identification Badge
	3d Armored Cavalry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
	7 Overseas Service Bars (reflecting 3½ years of overseas service in combat zones)

|} On December 7, 2011, General Dempsey received the USO's Distinguished Service Award on behalf of all military members.

Publications

# Win, Learn, Focus, Adapt, Win Again – Article series for Army Magazine (AUSA). Oct. 2010 - Feb. 2011

Interviews

# Dempsey Muses on Challenges as New Head of Joint Chiefs – Thom Shanker. New York Times. Oct. 3, 2011. # The New Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on "Getting to the Truth" – Karl Moore. Forbes Magazine. Oct. 20, 2011. # Gen. Martin Dempsey's Interview with Jeremy Paxman – Jeremy Paxman, BBC. Nov. 28, 2011. # Transcript: Gen. Martin Dempsey's Interview with Fareed Zakaria – Fareed Zakaria. CNN. Feb. 19, 2012. # Video: Gen. Martin Dempsey's Interview with Charlie Rose – Charlie Rose. Mar. 16, 2012.

Speeches

# Gen. Dempsey Becomes the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – Sept. 30, 2011 # The Atlantic Council of the United States: Security and Partnership in an Age of Austerity – Dec. 9, 2011. # End of Mission Ceremony in Baghdad, Iraq – Dec. 15, 2011. # Duke University's Ambassador S. Davis Phillips Family International Lecture Series – Jan. 12, 2012. # West Point Class of 2013 500th Night – Jan. 21, 2012. # Harvard University's John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum – Apr. 12, 2012. # The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace – May 1, 2012.

References

External links

Military Biography

Chairman's Corner

|- |- |-

Category:1952 births Category:American military personnel of the Iraq War Category:Duke University alumni Category:Living people Category:Tank personnel Category:Recipients of the Bronze Star Medal Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (United States) Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit Category:United States Army generals Category:United States Military Academy alumni Category:Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Category:Recipients of the Combat Action Badge Category:Recipients of the Army Commendation Medal Category:Recipients of the Joint Service Commendation Medal Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal

de:Martin E. Dempsey fr:Martin Dempsey he:מרטין דמפסי no:Martin Dempsey ro:Martin Dempsey ru:Демпси, Мартин sv:Martin Dempsey

name	General Sarath Fonseka
candidate	President of Sri Lanka
election date	26 January 2010
opponent	Mahinda Rajapaksa (UPFA) and numerous others.
incumbent	Mahinda Rajapaksa
birth date	December 18, 1950
birth place	Ambalangoda, Southern Province, Dominion of Ceylon
nationality	Sri Lankan
alma mater	Madawalalanda Maha Vidyalaya, Ampara Dharmasoka College, AmbalangodaAnanda College, Colombo
party	New Democratic Front
spouse	Anoma Indumathi Munasinghe
children	Aparna and Apsara
occupation	Soldier
religion	Buddhist
rank	General
branch	Sri Lanka Army
serviceyears	1970–2009
commands	Chief of Defence StaffCommander of the Army
battles	Sri Lankan Civil War,Insurrection 1987–89
awards	Rana Wickrama Padakkama,Rana Sura Padakkama,Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya,Uttama Seva Padakkama,Desha Putra Sammanaya(partial list)
footnotes	}}

Gardihewa Sarath Chandralal Fonseka, known as Sarath Fonseka (, , born 18 December 1950) is a former commander and General of the Sri Lanka Army and a former candidate for President of Sri Lanka. As Commander of the Army, he played an instrumental role in ending the 26 year Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009, defeating the terrorist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the process. He later had a public falling out with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and unsuccessfully challenged Rajapaksa in the 2010 presidential election.

Fonseka joined the Sri Lanka Army in 1970 and saw extensive action throughout the 26 year civil war, culminating in a term as Commander of the Army from 6 December 2005 – 15 July 2009. As commander, he oversaw the final phase of the Sri Lankan Civil War, which resulted in the total defeat of the militant Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam organisation. He also survived an assassination attempt when an LTTE suicide bomber attacked his motorcade in April 2006. Following the end of the war Fonseka was promoted to a four star rank in the Sri Lanka Army, becoming the first serving officer to hold a four star rank. He has been described as Sri Lanka's most successful army commander.

A few months after the defeat of the Tamil Tigers, Fonseka was appointed [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Sri Lanka)| Chief of Defence Staff]] by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. While his new post was of a higher rank, Fonseka saw the move as an attempt to sideline him. Amid rumours of his desire to enter politics, he subsequently retired from the post on 16 November 2009. On 29 November 2009, Fonseka formally announced his candidature in the 2010 Sri Lankan Presidential Election. His candidacy was endorsed by the main opposition parties, and Fonseka became the main opposition candidate challenging President Rajapaksa. He campaigned under the sign of a swan, and the slogan ''Vishvasaniya Venasak'' (A Credible Change).

Following his election defeat, Fonseka was arrested on 8 February 2010, and the government announced he will be court-martialed for committing "military offences." He was found guilty of corrupt military supply deals and sentenced to three years in prison.

Early life

Fonseka was born to Peter and Piyawathie Fonseka in Ambalangoda, a coastal town in the south of Sri Lanka. He in initially attended Madawalalanda Maha Vidyalaya (1955–1957) in Ampara, later receiving his secondary education from Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda (1958–1965) and Ananda College, Colombo (1966–1969). In school, Fonseka participated in swimming and water polo events, later representing defence services in these sports.

Military career in the Sri Lankan Army

Fonseka joined the Army during peacetime, in 1970, and held a large number of staff appointments. He rose to the rank of Chief of Staff of the Sri Lankan army, a post he relinquished to take reins as Commander of the Army in 2005.

During his career, Fonseka, was involved in the operations Balawegaya and Jayasikuru, which led to the capture of the Elephant Pass and Mankulam. The 6th Battalion of his Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, which was under siege at Elephant Pass in 1991, repulsed the LTTE attack with reinforcements. He served as Deputy General Officer Commanding during Riviresa, the capture of Jaffna from the Tamil Tigers in December 1995. Later, troops commanded by Fonseka offered stiff resistance to Tamil Tigers in 2000 following the Fall of Elephant Pass, ultimately having to flee since they were unable to withstand the attack. Fonseka was wounded in 1993 in the Yaldevi operation.

Among other appointments, he commanded the 23 Brigade of the Sri Lankan Army at Polonnaruwa in 1993, he served in the General Staff at Army Headquarters, he was a Centre Commandant of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, Brigade Commander in Operation Balawegay, Deputy Commandant of the 5 Brigade Group, Mannar and Coordinating Officer for Gampaha.

"Midnight Express"

In 1993, the Jaffna Fort was under siege by Tamil Tiger rebels. Then Colonel Fonseka led troops in the [[Midnight Express (military operation)| Midnight Express]] operation to relieve the besieged position. Several hundred soldiers were saved due to the operation.

Suicide bomb attack

On 25 April 2006, Lt. General Fonseka survived an LTTE suicide bomb attack by a pregnant LTTE operative named Anoja Kugenthirarasah who infiltrated Army Headquarters by attending the regular maternity clinic provided for civilians at the military hospital. Fonseka was seriously injured in the attack, and nine others were killed. The General was rushed first to the military hospital at Army Headquarters, transferred to the Colombo General Hospital and later flown to Singapore for medical treatment. After recovering from his injuries, he resumed his duties in July 2006.

Defeat of the LTTE

On 18 May 2009, the Sri Lankan military completely defeated the LTTE after 26 years of civil war. Foneseka played a key role in the final stages of the conflict as Commander of the Army, and is considered as a national hero by the majority of Sri Lankans due to this achievement.

Chief of Defence staff

Fonseka was appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) by President Rajapaksa effective 15 July 2009. He was the first person appointed CDS under the newly approved Chief of Defence Staff Act, which was supposed to give the CDS more responsibilities in coordinating the armed forces.

Retirement

Fonseka officially handed over his letter of resignation to the President through the Defence secretary on 12 November 2009. He requested to serve as CDS until the end of the month, He resigned from that post to compete as a candidate for the presidential election which was held in January 2010. He left office on 16 November 2009, President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed Air Force Chief Roshan Goonatilake to succeed Fonseka on 16 November 2009.

Politics

Post War Politics

There were newspaper reports published about General Fonseka entering politics after the war victory, beginning in August 2009. One of the articles explains it as follows, "General Fonseka launches political campaign – I will make a supreme sacrifice to defend my land against the politicos who ever they may be joining hands with India. Now we have a daunting task to protect our motherland from India". Gen. Fonseka entering politics was a debate even during the war against LTTE.

Gen. Fonseka was installed as the common candidate by a coalition of political parties mainly United National Party (UNP) and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). Gen. Fonseka however declared himself as a non party candidate.

With support of UNP and JVP Fonseka claimed that he himself defeated the LTTE. Immediately after declaration that Fonseka was ready for candidacy, President Rajapakse called for new presidential election two years before expiration of his term.

Gen. Fonseka, UNP and JVP led a fierce battle against President Rajapakse. They claimed that Gen Fonseka was the real hero who won the war against LTTE and Fonseka government was ready for good governance along with the support of all the minorities , eliminate prevailing corruption under Mahinda Rajapaka government and also promised a massive salary increase for public servants which had been denied thus far. They also promised to change the constitution to remove executive powers from the presidency and transfer such powers to the parliament. Further they promised to establish the 17 amendment to authorise independent commissions as a measure to counter the ongoing mishandling of public money.

Fonseka suffered a number of setbacks in his election campaign. In December 2009, A news item was published in local newspaper "Sunday Leader" quoting Sarath Fonseka saying that during the final few days of the war against LTTE, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse (who is a brother of the President) gave orders to the army senior officers to execute LTTE cadres who surrendered to the Army. Due to the massive publicity given in the state media, this statement was taken by the whole country as betrayal of army officers by the retired army commander himself. Although Gen. Fonseka later issued a statement saying that his original statement has been published by the Sunday Leader out of context, many analysts say that Fonseka lost the election from that moment.

Meanwhile, in the next attempt government put some evidence before public that Gen Fonseka was corrupt while he was the commander of the Sri Lanka Army. There was evidence that he removed the tender board chairman from the office and he himself became the chairman only to offer all the tenders to a company owned by his son-in-law. Adding fuel to the fire, one of his close friends living in Oklahoma USA "Upul Illangamge" spilled the beans by disclosing to the media in a press conference how the company was formed, registered in USA and Fonseka's son-in-law sold 3 million rupees worth equipment necessary for the war during the final three years of the war. Fonska claimed that the company referred in the accusation has no connection to his son-in-laws company although both companies share one name: Hicorp. But this allegation was on all public & state media supporting the government day and night and it had been used as a mean of discredit his reputation and attempts were also made to label him as a traitor by key spokespeople in the government.

Then Sri Lanka's Tamil political party faithful to LTTE- Tamil National Alliance (TNA) agreed to support Sarath Fonseka in the Presidential Election after having several discussions with both Mahinda Rajapakse and Gen. Sarath Fonseka. Then government disclosed a secret agreement between TNA and Gen Fonseka in which Fonseka had promised merger of North and East provinces and an autonomous status for Tamils in return for the support of the north and east Tamil population in the Presidential election.But opposition leaders prove that agreement was a fake one with fake signatures adapted by another resources.But some Sinhalese reacted with anger to this agreement since the army fought 30 year old bloody war against LTTE only to reject similar autonomous state "Ealam" claimed by the LTTE.Also opposition revealed a secret written agreement between Mahinda Rajapaksa and EPDP Leader Douglas Devananda who was a tamil politician faithful to Rajapakse.

Sarath Fonseka however sincerely expected that he was set for a massive win on 26 Jan 2010. There were reports that say that he intended to arrest President Mahinda Rajapakse and immediately execute Gotabaya Rajapakse and Basil Rajapakse(two brothers of the president). He booked 70 rooms of a five star hotel some hundred metres away from the President's House for the night of 26 Jan 2010. State Media reports say that a large number (some 400) of deserted army soldiers spent the night with Gen Fonseka at the hotel to enjoy the election results. It was then learned that the whole allegation was false! because the government arrested 9 persons that official body guards of Gen.Sarath Fonseka that provided for his personal security by Army.

Election results were released by the election commissioner electorate by electorate in the morning of 27 Jan 2010.

After Presidential Election 2010

Sarath Fonseka refused to accept the election results published by the Election Commissioner. He also said he would consider legal action but did not indicate against whom. There are reports that say Sarath Fonseka is making every possible attempt to leave the country as early as possible quoting him saying "I cannot even leave the country, Rajapakse has blacklisted my passport along with my family, including my daughters' who are still studying in USA". Some newspapers reported that he is seeking asylum in Australia, UK or India. Meanwhile BBC announced that Gotabaya Rajapakse is intending to take legal action against Sarath Fonseka for leaking top secret government information. Later he stated in a press conference that he does not intend to leave the country, rather would stay with the people who voted him to see the justice is established.

On 28 Jan 2010 CID began its new investigations on claims made by several ministers of Rajapakse government that Fonseka was planning a coup to remove Rajapakse in case of close election results on 26 Jan. In connection with this investigation, a media institution "Lanka" run by JVP who helped Fonseka during presidential election was sealed on 30 Jan 2010 by the CID with a court order. Within few days the court accepted the appeal and ordered CID to re-open the office. Sri Lanka Army has arrested Sarath Fonseka for committing military offences on 8 February 2010.

Arrest

Fonseka became a political prisoner after running for presidential election against the current president Mahinda Rajapaksha. He was arrested at his office in Colombo on 8 February 2010 by Military Police, and taken into military custody. The military announced he will be court-martialed for "committing military offences" during his time as Chief of Defense Staff. Military says he will be charged according the SL ARMY ACT, Section 57(1). The military tribunal in which the case was heard has been challenged of multiple issues including the suitability and qualifications of the judges and the hearing of the case in official holiday period of lawyers (9 August to 13th, 2010), where his lawyers were not present. Further, the witnessed were summoned during that period, thus lawyers of the accused never had a chance to interrogate witness. Amidst all these conditions, the panel of judges found General guilty of the charges, in one of the most unacceptable hearing in Sri Lanka. Later,on 14 August 2010,President authorised verdict of 1st court martial to strip Sarath Fonseka of all Military ranks. It is reported that an appeal is to be made to the high court soon. but head of courts is the President of Sri Lanka. sarath.jpg

General Election 2010

Sarath Fonseka, Leader of Democratic National Alliance, obtained over 98,000 votes only in Colombo District. It is the 2nd highest individual vote obtaining percentage ever in the Election, 89.0%. General Sarath Fonseka was a Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament, until he was sentenced to serve a two and half year prison sentence which made him unable to continue his membership in the chamber according to the Sri Lankan Constitution. However he requested the Court of Appeal to issue writs against the cashiering, prison sentence and removal from parliament. The petition on the prison sentence was rejected in December 2011 and he appealed to the Supreme Court in January 2012. Other two petitions are still being hearing in the Court of Appeal.

After the Arrest

Awards

His awards and decorations include the Gallantry Medals; Rana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP), Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP), distinguished service medals; Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya (VSV), Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP) and other notable medal campaign medals; Riviresa Campaign Services Medal, Purna Bhumi Padakkama, North and East Operations Medal, Desha Putra Sammanaya and several others.

Sri Lankan awards

In Order of Precedence

Personal life

Sarath Fonseka is married to Anoma Indumathi Munasinghe, daughter of D.J.and Eugine Munasinghe of Dematagoda, and has two children Aparna & Apsara.

Hi-Corp Case

High Court judge Sunil Rajapaksa on 15th March 2012 acquitted Sarath Fonseka from the Hi-Corp case, dismissing it by saying that he cannot be sentenced twice on the same offence.

See also

Eelam War IV

Sri Lankan civil war

Commander of the Army (Sri Lanka)

Chief of Defence Staff

References

External links

Official sites

General Fonseka's Official Website

New Democratic Front Official Website

News media

All for the love of a soldier

Picture Gallery

Fonseka appointed new Chief of Defence Staff

Audio

General Fonseka spells out his political ambitions

General Fonseka speaks about the “corrupt people

Category:1950 births Category:Sri Lankan generals Category:Living people Category:Sinhalese people Category:Sri Lankan Buddhists Category:Sri Lankan politicians Category:Sri Lankan 2010 presidential candidates Category:Alumni of Ananda College Category:Members of the 14th Parliament of Sri Lanka Category:Prisoners and detainees of Sri Lanka Category:People from Southern Province, Sri Lanka Category:Alumni of the Royal College of Defence Studies Category:Commanders of the Sri Lanka Army Category:Sri Lanka Military Academy graduates

de:Sarath Fonseka no:Sarath Fonseka pl:Sarath Fonseka pt:Sarath Fonseka ru:Фонсека, Саратх si:සරත් ෆොන්සේකා ta:சரத் பொன்சேகா

Name	Rick J. Hillier
Rank	General
Branch
Commands	SFOR Multinational Division (Southwest),ISAF,Chief of the Land Staff, Chief of the Defence Staff
Battles	War in Afghanistan
Allegiance	Canada
Birth place	Campbellton, Newfoundland
Serviceyears	1973-2008
Awards	Commander of the Order of Military MeritMeritorious Service CrossCanadian Forces Decoration }}

General(Ret.) Rick Hillier, OC, CMM, MSC, CD (born 1955), is the former Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces. He held this appointment from February 4, 2005 to July 1, 2008. He retired on July 1, 2008, and was replaced by former Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS) Walter Natynczyk. He is also the highest ranking Newfoundland and Labrador officer in history.

Early years

Born in 1955 and raised in Campbellton, Notre Dame Bay, Newfoundland, he graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Early military career

He was posted to his first regiment, the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's) in Petawawa, Ontario, and subsequently to the Royal Canadian Dragoons in Lahr, Germany. He has also served as a staff officer at Force Mobile Command Headquarters at CFB St. Hubert in Montreal, and at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. He commanded 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (2 CMBG) from 1997 as Deputy Commanding General of III Armoured Corps of the United States Army, at Fort Hood, Texas. In January 1998, as Commander 2 CMBG, he led Operation Recuperation, the Canadian Forces' intervention in the paralysing ice storm in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. He went on to command the Multinational Division (Southwest) in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

He was named Chief of the Land Staff, commanding the Canadian Army, on May 30, 2003. He is noted for his public calls for increased resources for the Canadian Forces. In 2003, when he was appointed Chief of the Land Staff, he said, "Any commander who would stand up here and say that we didn't need more soldiers should be tarred and feathered and rode out of town on a rail." After serving as Chief of the Land Staff and before being appointed Chief of the Defence Staff, he commanded the NATO ISAF in Afghanistan from February 9 to August 12, 2004.

Chief of the Defence Staff

On February 4, 2005, Hillier became Chief of the Defence Staff. At the change-of-command ceremony he repeated his call, more broadly, for increased military funding. "In this country, we could probably not give enough resources to the men and women to do all the things that we ask them to do," he said, with Prime Minister Paul Martin and Defence Minister Bill Graham looking on. "But we can give them too little, and that is what we are now doing. Remember them in your budgets."

Resignation

On April 15, 2008, Hillier announced he would step down as CDS on July 1, 2008.

Hillier was subsequently appointed as chancellor of Memorial University of Newfoundland, effective July 3, 2008.

Post-military career and community involvement

Books

Released in October 2009, Hillier's first book quickly became a Canadian bestseller, "A Soldier First: Bullets, Bureaucrats and the Politics of War"; hardcover, 552 pages; published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd; ISBN-10: 1554684919; ISBN-13: 978-1554684915.

In October 2010, Hillier released, "Leadership: 50 Points of Wisdom for Today's Leaders"; hardcover, 272 pages; published by Harper Collins Publishers Ltd; ISBN-10: 1554684935; ISBN-13: 978-1554684939.

Project Hero

In 2009, Hillier co-founded Project Hero, a scholarship program for the children of Canadian Forces personnel killed while on active military duty. The Children of Deceased Veterans - Education Assistance Act verification is used to verify Project Hero eligibility. The process is administered by the Veterans Affairs Canada. There is controversy about the nature of the Project Hero Scholarship and its benefits.

Memorial University

On July 3, 2008, Hillier began a term as Chancellor of Memorial University of Newfoundland, his alma mater.

On August 14, 2008, TELUS announced that Hillier was appointed as Chair of TELUS Atlantic Canada Community Board. Hillier said, “TELUS is a company that gets stuff done both in business and in the community – I like that. They are entrusting their philanthropic efforts in Atlantic Canada to people who live and work here. I'm excited about the opportunity to help TELUS engage with the Atlantic Canada communities that are so very important to me.”

TD Bank

Hillier announced on September 3, 2008, he will be working at an Ottawa office for the TD Bank to support initiatives that enhance the client and customer experience and to assist the bank's ongoing leadership development and training activities.

Peacekeeping Envoy

Hillier is currently working with the United Nations as PeaceKeeping Envoy to Afghanistan.

Provincial Aerospace

On June 16, 2009, while attending the 48th International Paris Air Show, Provincial Aerospace announced that Hillier will join the company’s Advisory Board.

Politics

Since his retirement from the military Hillier's name has been mentioned as a leadership candidate for several political parties. Hillier's name was mentioned by political pundits as a possible successor to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, during Harper's minority Conservative government. When Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams retired from politics in 2010, Hillier's name was brought up as a possible successor to the Progressive Conservative premier. In August 2011, his name was brought up once again as a potential Liberal leader in his home province, when leader Yvonne Jones resigned. Hillier has stated on several occasions however that he has no interest in politics.

Honours

In 2011, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada "for his service to our nation, which has inspired pride in our Canadian Forces".

Family

Hillier and his wife Joyce have two sons, Chris and Steven; and two daughters-in-law, Chris's wife, Caroline, and Steven's wife, Amanda; and two grandsons, Jack and Matthew.

He has five sisters (Shirley, Donna, Beverly, Heather and Maxine).

References

External links

GeneralHillier.com, his personal website.

Interview with Rick Hillier on The Hour.

CBC News Indepth background Career timeline (CBC)

"Hillier gets combat-ready for business world", Globe & Mail, July 6, 2008

Gowlings press release, July 7, 2008

"Why we loved him so" Ottawa Citizen (Canwest News Service)July 2, 2008

|- |- |- {{s-ttl|title=Chancellor of Memorial University of Newfoundland |years=2008-}}

Category:1955 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian generals Category:Canadian university and college chancellors Category:Officers of the Order of Canada Category:People from Newfoundland (island) Category:Memorial University of Newfoundland alumni Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Decoration Category:Recipients of the Canadian Forces Decoration Category:Royal Military College of Canada people Category:Canadian Army officers

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Name	Gotabaya Rajapaksaගෝඨාභය රාජපක්ෂ
Birth place	Matara, Sri Lanka
Birth date	June 20, 1949
alma mater	Ananda College
Allegiance	Sri Lanka
Branch	Sri Lankan Army
Serviceyears	1971–1992
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Commands	1st Gajaba RegimentGeneral Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
Unit	Gajaba Regiment
Battles	Eelam War IEelam War IIEelam War IV
Awards	Rana Wickrama PadakkamaRana Sura PadakkamaDoctor of Letters (Honoris Causa), UoC
Relations	Mahinda Rajapaksa (brother)Basil Rajapaksa (brother)Chamal Rajapaksa (brother)
Laterwork	Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka }}

Lieutenant Colonel Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa, RWP, RSP, psc, GR () (born 20 June 1949) is a retired officer of the Sri Lanka Army and the current Defence Secretary of Sri Lanka. After serving through the early parts of the country's civil war with Tamil Tiger rebels, he retired from the Army in 1992. With the election of his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa as President of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa was appointed Defence Secretary in November 2005.

As Defence Secretary, Rajapaksa is largely credited with masterminding the successes achieved by the Sri Lankan Military in defeating the Tamil Tigers and ending Sri Lanka's 26 year long civil war in May 2009. He was also one of the top targets of the Tamil Tigers, and survived an assassination attempt in December 2006 by a Tamil Tiger suicide bomber.

Early life

Gotabaya Rajapaksa was born in Palatuwa in the Matara District, as the 5th of nine siblings and brought up in Weerakatiya in the southern rural district of Hambantota. According to a writer called Narada Karunthilaka, the name Gotabaya means "Abhaya, the Giant" or "Chinna Kotta" in the Jat language. He hails from a well-known political family in Sri Lanka. His father, D. A. Rajapaksa, was a prominent politician, independence agitator, Member of Parliament,Deputy Speaker and Cabinet Minister of Agriculture and Land in Wijeyananda Dahanayake's government. His elder brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa was first elected to parliament as a member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party at the age of 24 in 1970, who gradually rose through the party ranks becoming the Leader of the Opposition in 2001, Prime Minister in 2004 and the President of Sri Lanka in 2005. Two of his other elder brothers, Chamal Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa, are also in the politics being current Members of Parliament.

He obtained his primary and secondary education at Ananda College, Colombo.

Military career

Rajapaksa joined the Sri Lanka Army as a Cadet Officer on April 26, 1971, when Sri Lanka was still a dominion of the British Commonwealth. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on May 25, 1972 and given his first command as an officer in the Ceylon Signals Corps after his basic training at the Army Training Centre, Diyatalawa. Thereafter he served with the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment and the Rajarata Rifles before being transferred to the Gajaba Regiment upon its formation in 1983 with the amalgamation of the Rajarata Rifles and Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment.

During his 20 years of military service, Rajapaksa has received awards for gallantry from three Presidents of Sri Lanka, J.R. Jayewardene, Ranasinghe Premadasa and D.B. Wijetunga. He had followed signal young officers course in school of signals at Rawalpindi; Infantry company commanders course in Queta; Jungle warfare and counter insurgency course in Assam; Command and Staff course at Defence Services Staff College in Welington; and Advanced Infantry Officers course at Fort Benning.

He rose up the ranks in the military, serving as the second in command of the 1st Gajaba Regiment and latter commanding the 1GR from 1983 - 1990. He served in the battlefronts of Jaffna, participating in Operation Liberation, the offensive mounted to liberate Vadamarachi from LTTE in 1987. He also commanded the same battalion in Operation "Strike Hard" and Operation "Thrivida Balaya" in 1990. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and served as the Commandant of the Kotelawala Defence Academy at the time of his retirement in 1992. He subsequently migrated to the United States.

Secretary to the Ministry of Defence

In order to assist his brother's Presidential election campaign, Rajapaksa returned to Sri Lanka in 2005 from the United States.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa was appointed to the post of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence in November 2005 by newly elected President Mahinda Rajapaksa. In this capacity he oversaw the military operation which eventually defeated the LTTE in May, 2009 after 25 years of fighting.

At the public acclaim as a "war hero," he was conferred Doctor of Letters by the University of Colombo on September 6, 2009.

Attempted assassination

On December 1, 2006, at approximately 10:35 an assassin attempted to drive an explosive laden auto-rikshaw into Rajapaksa's motorcade as it traveled through Kollupitiya, Colombo. The Sri Lanka Army Commandos guarding him obstructed the vehicle carrying the explosives before it reached Rajapakse's vehicle and two commandos were instantly killed. Rajapaksa escaped unhurt. The LTTE were blamed for the attack.

Criticism of UN and western countries

In June 2007, Rajapaksa was severely critical of the UN in Sri Lanka and of western governments. He accused the UN in Sri Lanka of having been infiltrated by terrorists "for 30 years or so", and as a result the UN was fed incorrect information. He also alleged that Britain and the EU were bullying Sri Lanka, and concluded that Sri Lanka "does not need them", and that they don't provide any significant amount of aid to the country. Rajapaksa has also been accused to have connections to Lasantha Wickrematunge assassination with who he was locked in a legal battle where he was suing Wickrematunge's business for 2 billion Rs

Controversies

Karuna link

The former LTTE commander Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan, better known as Colonel Karuna, told British authorities that Rajapaksa was instrumental in arranging for him to be issued with a false diplomatic passport so that he could flee to Britain in September 2007. These allegations were denied by the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohita Bogollogama at the time, and later by Rajapaksa.

Relationship with the media

Rajapaksa has been accused of threatening journalists on several occasions, including telling two journalists attached to the state-owned Lake House Publications that unless they stop criticising the armed forces "what will happen to you is beyond my control". When asked by the two journalists if he was threatening them, he replied "I am definitely not threatening your lives. Our services are appreciated by 99 per cent of the people. They love the Army Commander (General Sarath Fonseka) and the Army. There are Sri Lankan patriots who love us do and will do what is required if necessary." In April 2007 he was accused of allegedly calling the Editor of the ''Daily Mirror'' Champika Liyanaarachchi and threatening her, saying that she would escape reprisals only if she resigned. He was also accused for threatening to "exterminate" the ''Daily Mirror'' journalist Uditha Jayasinghe for writing articles about the plight of civilian war casualties. Rajapaksa denied these claims.

A December 5, 2008 story from ''The New York Times'' quoted his news reporting position as "he insists that journalists should not be allowed to report anything that demoralizes the war effort.".

In the editorial titled ''A brother out of control'' (August 16, 2011), The Hindu raised the observation, "President Rajapaksa would be well advised to distance himself swiftly from his brother's stream-of-consciousness on sensitive issues that are not his business. This includes an outrageous comment that because a Tamil woman, an “LTTE cadre” who was a British national, interviewed in the Channel 4 documentary was “so attractive” but had been neither raped nor killed by Sri Lankan soldiers, the allegation of sexual assault by soldiers could not be true. For this statement alone, Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa must be taken to task."

See also

Eelam War IV

List of attacks attributed to the LTTE

List of Sri Lankan non-career Permanent Secretaries

Reading

Army, Sri Lanka. (1st Edition - October 1999). ''"50 YEARS ON" - 1949-1999'', Sri Lanka Army. ISBN 995-8089-02-8

''The Broken Palmyra - The Tamil Crisis in Sri Lanka: An Inside Account''. The Sri Lanka Studies Institute, Claremont 1990. By Hoole, R., Somasundaram, D., Sritharan K., and Rajini Thiranagama. (Also available online.)

''War and Peace in Sri Lanka: With a Post-Accord Report From Jaffna''. ISBN 955-26-0001-4/ISBN 978-955-26-0001-2, Institute of Fundamental Studies, Sri Lanka; 1 edition (October 1, 1987), By Rohan Gunaratna.

References

External links

Official Website - Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka

Media Centre for National Security, Sri Lanka - Brainchild of Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Defence Secretary’s interview with Business Today

The predicament of a Defence Secretary ,"srilankaguardian.org"

TV Interview with Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Video:

ITN Interview with Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapska. Video:

Category:Sinhalese people Category:Sri Lankan Buddhists Category:Sri Lankan Army officers Category:Attempted assassination survivors Category:Living people Category:Alumni of Ananda College Category:1949 births Category:Commandants of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Category:Sri Lanka Military Academy graduates

de:Gotabhaya Rajapakse ta:கோதாபய ராஜபக்ச

Name	Muhammad Masood Aslam
Birth date	September 01, 1952
Birth place	Mujahidabad, Jhelum District, Pakistan
Allegiance
Branch
Serviceyears	1971 – 2010
Rank
Commands	XI Corps, PeshawarIG Training and Evaluation (IGT&E)DG National Accountability Bureau (Punjab)23rd Infantry Division, Jhelum
Unit	17th Punjab Regiment
Battles	Indo-Pakistan War of 1971Siachen conflictIndo-Pakistani War of 1999War in North-West Pakistan
Awards	Hilal-e-ImtiazHilal-i-Imtiaz (Military)Sitara-e-Jurat
Laterwork	}}

Lieutenant General Muhammad Masood Aslam, HI, HI(M), SJ, afwc, psc, (born September 1, 1952 at Jhelum) is a retired three-star general who served as the principal commander of Pakistan Army fighting the pro-Taliban forces in the North-West Pakistan from 2007 to 2010. During his tenure all the major battles were fought against the militants, which included First Battle of Swat, First Battle of Waziristan, Battle of Bajaur, Second Battle of Swat, Second Battle of Waziristan. He lost his only son, Hashim Masood, in the terrorist attack on Parade Lane Mosque in Rawalpindi in December 2009.

Masood Aslam was awarded the civilian medal of Hilal-i-Imtiaz after retirement for his achievements in bringing peace to the northwestern Pakistan. He also functioned as the Colonel Commandant of Punjab Regiment from 2008 to 2010. He is currently serving as Pakistan Ambassador to Mexico since June 2011.

Initial education

Lt Gen Masood Aslam was born in Mujahidabad, Jhelum in the northern Punjab. He got his primary education from Presentation Convent High School, Jhelum and Government High School, Jhelum. By the year 1965, he joined Cadet College Hasan Abdal and did his intermediate in pre engineering in 1970 with honours from the same college. However, instead of pursuing career in electrical engineering, he decided to serve as an Army officer and joined the Pakistan Military Academy in 1970.

Army career

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

He was commissioned in the 17th Battalion of the Punjab Regiment on 14 November 1971 in the 47th PMA Long Course as his course was shortened due to Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Within a few weeks of commissioning, he was seriously wounded fighting in the front lines at Chumb-Jaurian sector. He was awarded Imtiazi Sanad (mentioned in despatches) for his efforts and gallantry.

Military training

He was among the pioneer officers who established the computer branch at the GHQ in mid 1970s. He is a graduate of Command and Staff College, Quetta and holds a Masters Degree in Military Warfare from the National Defence College, Islamabad. He has also attended overseas courses including United Nations peacekeeping course from Sweden and executive course from Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Honolulu, Hawaii.

1987 Siachen Conflict and 1999 Kargil War

He served at Siachen for more than a year in the early days of Siachen conflict with India. He established military posts at Siachen and served at glaciated heights of around 20,000 feet. As a Lt. Col, he commanded an Infantry battalion at Okara and then as a Brigadier-General, commanded two infantry brigades, one of which was at Kargil. He was awarded Sitara-i-Jurat for his extraordinary service and bravery by the then President Rafiq Tarar, after the Kargil encounter.

2001-02 military standoff and staff assignments

He commanded 23rd Infantry Division Jhelum on the LoC during the period of escalation, when Indian and Pakistani troops were tied up face to face in a very tense warlike state for two full years in 2001-03. He then served as the Director General NAB (Punjab), and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in 2005 and posted as Inspector General Training and Evaluation (IGT&E).

Commander Peshawar Corps

In July 2007, Lt Gen Masood Aslam took charge of the sensitive post of Corps Commander Peshawar, replacing Lt Gen Muhammad Hamid Khan. This was period when Pakistan Army launched military operation against the vigilantes of Lal Masjid in Islamabad that followed with a rising trend of terrorist attacks throughout Pakistan, mostly emanating from the rugged lands of Waziristan and the surrounding tribal regions. A counter-terrorist operation was then launched under the general which included 2007 Taliban Waziristan offensive, Battle of Mir Ali, and Battle of Swat.

He has to his credit pushing out and defeating the militants in Swat, Buner, Dir Lower and other districts of Malakand Division and inflicting heavy blows against the TTP cadres in Bajaur, Mohmand and Khyber tribal agencies and Frontier Region (FR) Bannu. Lt General Masood Aslam was given an extension in his tenure as he was supposed to retire in October 2009.

Affectee of Rawalpindi Parade Lane mosque attack

On 4 December 2009, Hashim Masood Aslam, the student of EME College Rawalpindi and the only son of Lt Gen Masood Aslam was killed during the December 2009 Rawalpindi attack in Parade Lane Mosque during Friday prayers.

Post-retirement

Lieutenant General Muhammad Masood Aslam was awarded Hilal-i-Imtiaz in 2010. He was later posted as Pakistan Ambassador to Mexico in June 2011 for a three-year tenure.

References

Category:1952 births Category:Cadet College Hasan Abdal alumni Category:Living people Category:Pakistani generals Category:Hilal-i-Imtiaz Category:People from Jhelum Category:University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore alumni