(Source: 3rd Infantry Division"

MAJOR GENERAL RICK LYNCH

COMMANDING GENERAL

3rd INFANTRY DIVISION AND FORT STEWART

Major General Lynch currently serves as the Commanding General, 3rd Infantry Division, which has units stationed at Fort Stewart, Hunter Army Airfield, and Fort Benning, Georgia.

A graduate of the United States Military Academy, Major General Lynch was commissioned as a Regular Army Engineer Officer. As an engineer he commanded both a combat engineer company and a mobile assault bridge company. Major General Lynch later branch transferred to Armor. As an armor field grade officer, Major General Lynch was assigned to 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment where he served as S3 (Operations) for the 1st Squadron and later as the Regimental Executive Officer.

Major General Lynch commanded 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment (Mustangs), 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. Upon graduation from the United States Army War College, he commanded the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized). After brigade command he was assigned to the Joint Advanced Warfighting Program (Joint Staff) where he worked joint concept development and joint experimentation.

Major General Lynch attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he obtained a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering focusing on Robotics. He used that education as the Robotics Project Officer in the Directorate of Combat Development at the Armor Center and later as the Armor Center’s Chief of Force Development.

Major General Lynch’s flag assignments include Assistant Division Commander (Support), 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Hood, Texas and Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, later Chief of Staff, Kosovo Force (KFOR). He also served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at Allied Joint Force Command-Naples. While in this NATO command, MG Lynch commanded the Deployable Joint Task Force (DJTF) of the NATO Response Force. Prior to assuming command of the 3rd Infantry Division, Major General Lynch was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Effects for the Multinational Force Iraq (MNF-I) and the MNF-I spokesman.

Major General Lynch assumed command of the Marne Division and Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield on June 13, 2006.

Major General Lynch’s awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Soldier’s Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), and Army Achievement Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster). He has also been awarded the Parachutist’s Badge and the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge.