# Jeffrey S. Buchanan

Jeffrey S. Buchanan is a retired lieutenant general of the United States Army. He was the commander of the United States Army North (Fifth Army). He also served as the senior commander of Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis.

## Education

He has a Bachelor of Science in wildlife ecology from the University of Arizona and a Master of Arts in leadership development from the United States Military Academy.

## Military career

He was commissioned a lieutenant in the infantry in May 1982 after graduating from the University of Arizona. He has served four tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He has held command or staff positions in the 82nd Airborne Division, 25th Infantry Division, 101st Airborne Division, and 10th Mountain Division, as well as the U.S. Military Academy and the National Training Center. Recent assignments have included serving as the Deputy Commanding General of I Corps (2012–2013), commander of the US Army Military District of Washington/Joint Force Headquarters-National Capitol Region (2013–2015), and Resolute Support DCOS-Operations/Deputy Commander (Operations) for US Forces-Afghanistan (2015–2016). He was commander of United States Army North from August 26, 2016. until his retirement on July 9, 2019, when he handed command over to Lieutenant General Laura J. Richardson in a change of command ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.
He also led Operation Khanjar ("strike of the sword").
In September 2017 he was dispatched to Puerto Rico, a week after the island was devastated by Hurricane Maria. His assignment was to lead all military hurricane relief efforts there and to see how the military can be more effective in the recovery effort, particularly in dealing with the thousands of containers of supplies that are stuck in port because of "red tape, lack of drivers, and a crippling power outage".

## Personal life

Buchanan and his wife, Laura have three children and 3 grandchildren

## Dates of rank

| Rank | Date |
| Second lieutenant | May 17, 1982 |
| First lieutenant | November 26, 1983 |
| Captain | February 1, 1986 |
| Major | September 2, 1993 |
| Lieutenant colonel | May 1, 1998 |
| Colonel | March 1, 2004 |
| Brigadier general | October 2, 2008 |
| Major general | August 3, 2011 |
| Lieutenant general | August 18, 2016 |

## Awards and decorations

Over the course of his military career, LTG Buchanan has been awarded the following:
Medals and badges :
| Badge | Combat Infantryman Badge | Combat Infantryman Badge | Combat Infantryman Badge | Combat Infantryman Badge | Combat Infantryman Badge | Combat Infantryman Badge | Combat Infantryman Badge | Combat Infantryman Badge | Combat Infantryman Badge | Combat Infantryman Badge | Combat Infantryman Badge |
| 1st row | Distinguished Service Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster (2 awards) | Distinguished Service Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster (2 awards) | Distinguished Service Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster (2 awards) | Distinguished Service Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster (2 awards) | Distinguished Service Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster (2 awards) | Distinguished Service Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster (2 awards) | Defense Superior Service Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster (2 awards) | Defense Superior Service Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster (2 awards) | Defense Superior Service Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster (2 awards) | Defense Superior Service Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster (2 awards) | Defense Superior Service Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster (2 awards) | Defense Superior Service Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster (2 awards) |
| 2nd row | Legion of Merit with 3 Oak leaf clusters (4 awards) | Legion of Merit with 3 Oak leaf clusters (4 awards) | Legion of Merit with 3 Oak leaf clusters (4 awards) | Legion of Merit with 3 Oak leaf clusters (4 awards) | Bronze Star with 2 Oak leaf clusters (3 awards) | Bronze Star with 2 Oak leaf clusters (3 awards) | Bronze Star with 2 Oak leaf clusters (3 awards) | Bronze Star with 2 Oak leaf clusters (3 awards) | Defense Meritorious Service Medal | Defense Meritorious Service Medal | Defense Meritorious Service Medal | Defense Meritorious Service Medal |
| 3rd row | Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Oak leaf clusters (5 awards) | Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Oak leaf clusters (5 awards) | Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Oak leaf clusters (5 awards) | Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Oak leaf clusters (5 awards) | Army Commendation Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster (2 awards) | Army Commendation Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster (2 awards) | Army Commendation Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster (2 awards) | Army Commendation Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster (2 awards) | Joint Service Achievement Medal | Joint Service Achievement Medal | Joint Service Achievement Medal | Joint Service Achievement Medal |
| 4th row | Army Achievement Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster (2 awards) | Army Achievement Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster (2 awards) | Army Achievement Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster (2 awards) | Army Achievement Medal with 1 Oak leaf cluster (2 awards) | National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service star | National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service star | National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service star | National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service star | Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 Campaign star | Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 Campaign star | Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 Campaign star | Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 Campaign star |
| 5th row | Iraq Campaign Medal with 1 Campaign star | Iraq Campaign Medal with 1 Campaign star | Iraq Campaign Medal with 1 Campaign star | Iraq Campaign Medal with 1 Campaign star | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |
| 6th row | Army Service Ribbon | Army Service Ribbon | Army Service Ribbon | Army Service Ribbon | Army Overseas Service Ribbon with Award numeral 6 | Army Overseas Service Ribbon with Award numeral 6 | Army Overseas Service Ribbon with Award numeral 6 | Army Overseas Service Ribbon with Award numeral 6 | NATO Medal for service with ISAF | NATO Medal for service with ISAF | NATO Medal for service with ISAF | NATO Medal for service with ISAF |
| Badges | Master Parachutist Badge | Master Parachutist Badge | Master Parachutist Badge | Master Parachutist Badge | Ranger Tab | Ranger Tab | Ranger Tab | Ranger Tab | Air Assault Badge | Air Assault Badge | Air Assault Badge | Air Assault Badge |
Other accoutrements :
* Expert Infantryman Badge
* Spanish Parachutist Badge
* 187th Infantry Regiment Distinctive unit insignia
* 10th Mountain Division Combat service identification badge