# Richard E. Angle

Richard E. Angle is a United States Army lieutenant general who has served as the commander of Allied Special Operations Forces Command and Special Operations Command Europe since 4 October 2024. He served as the commanding general of the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) from 2021 to 2023.

## Military career and education

Angle was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1991 following graduation from United States Military Academy at West Point. His first assignment was with the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment in Germany as an infantry officer. Angle volunteered for Army Special Forces and subsequently graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Angle commanded a Special Forces Operational Detachment of the 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, with which he deployed to Bosnia and Kosovo.
Following graduation from the Army Command and General Staff College, Angle was selected for the Intelligence Support Activity in 2000, a secret unit conducting signal and human intelligence gathering for the Joint Special Operations Command. He served as troop commander, squadron operations officer, unit operations officer, and later squadron commander. Angle took command of the 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group in Okinawa, Japan from 2008 to 2010. He later returned to ISA as unit commander from 2012 to 2014. Angle completed numerous deployments to Afghanistan, Africa, Pakistan, and Iraq. Angle then received assignment as Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Special Operations Command in 2017.
As a general officer, Angle served as Deputy Commanding General, 1st Special Forces Command; Deputy Commanding General (Operations), United States Army Cyber Command; and then as Deputy Commander, Joint Special Operations Command. In March 2021, he was assigned to succeed John W. Brennan Jr. as Commanding General, 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne).
In September 2024, Angle was nominated for promotion to lieutenant general, with assignment as commander, Allied Special Operations Forces Command; and commander, Special Operations Command Europe, U.S. Special Operations Command, Belgium.

## Awards and decorations

U.S. military decorations :
* Defense Superior Service Medal
* Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters
* Bronze Star Medal
* Defense Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
* Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
* Army Commendation Medal
* Army Achievement Medal
* U.S. Unit Awards |
* Joint Meritorious Unit Award
* Valorous Unit Award
* Meritorious Unit Commendation
* Superior Unit Award
* U.S. Service (Campaign) Medals and Service and Training Ribbons |
* National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
* Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
* Kosovo Campaign Medal with two service stars
* Iraq Campaign Medal with two service stars
* Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars
* Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with service star
* Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
* Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
* Armed Forces Service Medal
* Army Service Ribbon
* NATO Medal
* Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 3
Badges :
* Combat Infantryman Badge
* Special Forces Tab
* Ranger tab
* Master Parachutist Badge
* Pathfinder Badge
* Military Freefall Badge
* Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
* Army Staff Identification Badge
* United States Special Operations Command Combat Service Identification Badge
* 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) Distinctive Unit Insignia
* 8 Overseas Service Bars