Carl E. Vuono
Encyclopedia
Carl Edward Vuono is a retired United States Army
General
who served as the Chief of Staff of the United States Army
from 1987 to 1991.
. He is of Italian
and Finnish
ancestry. He began his career as a field artillery
officer after graduating from the United States Military Academy
, in West Point, New York
. After graduating with the class of 1957, he served three tours in Vietnam
as an artillery battalion executive officer with the 1st Infantry Division in 1966-67; executive officer of Division Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in 1970; and as commander, 1st Battalion, 77th Artillery in 1970-1971. Vuono rose through the ranks quickly, serving several times in the Army's Training and Doctrine Command, in which he eventually became its commander in 1986.
During his military career, he received many military awards and honors including the Army Distinguished Service Medal (with two oak leaf clusters), the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
, the Legion of Merit
, and the Bronze Star
(with Valor device
and six oak leaf clusters). He retired from active service in 1991.
(MPRI), a private military company
, in 1993. http://www.mpri.com/main/vuono.html. Since 1999 he has served as the CEO of MPRI. L-3 Communications
acquired MPRI in June 2000 at which point Vuono was offered a senior management position at L-3 Communications. http://www.l-3com.com/about_l3/biographies/index.asp?id=167&relation=grandchild
In 2003, he was awarded the Distinguished Graduate Award by the West Point Association of Graduates.
He holds an Honorary Doctorate in Public Administration from Shippensburg University.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
General
General (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
who served as the Chief of Staff of the United States Army
Chief of Staff of the United States Army
The Chief of Staff of the Army is a statutory office held by a four-star general in the United States Army, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Army, and as such is the principal military advisor and a deputy to the Secretary of the Army; and is in...
from 1987 to 1991.
Early life and career
He was born on 18 October 1934 in Monongahela, PennsylvaniaMonongahela, Pennsylvania
Monongahela, colloquially called "Mon City," is a Third Class City in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area, located approximately south of the city proper. The population was 4,761 at the 2000 census...
. He is of Italian
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
and Finnish
Finnish American
Finnish Americans are Americans of Finnish descent, who currently number about 700,000.-History:Some Finns, like the ancestors of John Morton, came to the Swedish colony of New Sweden, that existed in mid-17th century....
ancestry. He began his career as a field artillery
Field artillery
Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, long range, short range and extremely long range target engagement....
officer after graduating from the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
, in West Point, New York
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
. After graduating with the class of 1957, he served three tours in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
as an artillery battalion executive officer with the 1st Infantry Division in 1966-67; executive officer of Division Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in 1970; and as commander, 1st Battalion, 77th Artillery in 1970-1971. Vuono rose through the ranks quickly, serving several times in the Army's Training and Doctrine Command, in which he eventually became its commander in 1986.
During his military career, he received many military awards and honors including the Army Distinguished Service Medal (with two oak leaf clusters), the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a United States military award which is presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security or defense of the United States...
, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. The decoration is the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast...
, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel.The Air Force...
, the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, and the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
(with Valor device
Valor device
The Valor device is an award of the United States military which is a bronze attachment to certain medals to indicate that it was received for valor...
and six oak leaf clusters). He retired from active service in 1991.
Post retirement
After his retirement from the Army, Vuono joined Military Professional Resources Inc.Military Professional Resources Inc.
L-3 MPRI, is a global provider of integrated training solutions offering a wide range of professional services to both public and private customers, most notably the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S...
(MPRI), a private military company
Private military company
A private military company or provides military and security services. These combatants are commonly known as mercenaries, though modern-day PMCs refer to their staff as security contractors, private military contractors or private security contractors, and refer to themselves as private military...
, in 1993. http://www.mpri.com/main/vuono.html. Since 1999 he has served as the CEO of MPRI. L-3 Communications
L-3 Communications
L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. is a company that supplies command and control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems and products, avionics, ocean products, training devices and services, instrumentation, space, and navigation products. Its customers include...
acquired MPRI in June 2000 at which point Vuono was offered a senior management position at L-3 Communications. http://www.l-3com.com/about_l3/biographies/index.asp?id=167&relation=grandchild
In 2003, he was awarded the Distinguished Graduate Award by the West Point Association of Graduates.
He holds an Honorary Doctorate in Public Administration from Shippensburg University.