Francis M. Beaudette Explained

Francis M. Beaudette
Allegiance:United States
Branch:United States Army
Serviceyears:1989–2021
Rank:Lieutenant General
Commands:United States Army Special Operations Command
1st Special Forces Command (Airborne)
1st Special Forces Group
1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group
Special Operations Task Force 10
Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines
Battles:Gulf War
Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
Awards:Army Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal (3)
Legion of Merit (4)
Bronze Star Medal (4)

Lieutenant General Francis Michel Beaudette[1] is a retired United States Army officer who served as the commanding general of the United States Army Special Operations Command from 2018 to 2021.

Military career

Francis M. Beaudette was commissioned in 1989 as an Intelligence Officer through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina.[2] [3] [4] He initially served as a Military Intelligence Officer, in his first assignment he served as a Battalion Assistant S-2, M1A1 crewmember, and armor platoon leader in Germany, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. He went on to complete Special Forces training in 1995. His first assignment was to the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), where he commanded two Special Forces Detachments, commanded the Group Headquarters Company, and served as the Group assistant S-3. He then served as the Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, and went on to serve as Aide-de-Camp to the Deputy Commanding General of Kosovo Forces.

Beaudette commanded a Special Forces company at Fort Carson, Colorado, and in Kosovo, as well as served as a Battalion Executive Officer and Group Operations Officer for the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), both at Fort Carson and in Iraq.Following a tour on the Joint Staff in the J3 Deputy Directorate for Special Operations, Beaudette commanded 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Germany and Special Operations Task Force 10 in Afghanistan. He then served as the G3 and Chief of Staff for the United States Army Special Forces Command (Airborne), prior to commanding the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) and the Joint Special Operations Task Force – Philippines. Beaudette then served as the Executive Officer to the commander, United States Special Operations Command. Beaudette served as the Deputy Commanding General, 1st Armored Division and Director of United States Central Command Forward (Jordan). He then served with Joint Special Operations Command as the Assistant Commanding General.Beaudette assumed command United States Army Special Operations Command on June 8, 2018. He relinquished command of USASOC to Jonathan P. Braga on August 13, 2021 and retired the same day.[5]

Beaudette is a graduate of The Citadel, the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the United States Army War College.

Awards and decorations

Army Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Valorous Unit Award
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Southwest Asia Service Medal with three campaign stars
Kosovo Campaign Medal with campaign star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star
Iraq Campaign Medal with Arrowhead device
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 3
NATO Medal for ISAF with service star
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

References

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: General and Flag Officers – The Citadel Alumni Association.
  2. Web site: USASOC farewells Lt. Gen. Tovo, welcomes Lt. Gen. Beaudette.
  3. Web site: The Citadel Alumni Association. secure.citadelalumni.org.
  4. Web site: USASOC Headquarters Page. www.soc.mil. 2018-06-19. 2018-06-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20180618171537/http://www.soc.mil/usasochq/usasochq.html. dead.
  5. Web site: USASOC welcomes its newest command team. Staff Sgt. Brandon Allums. United States Army Special Operations Command. 2021-08-13. DVIDS.