# Robert B. Abrams

Robert Bruce Abrams (born 18 November 1960) is a retired four-star general in the United States Army who last served as the commander of United States Forces Korea. He concurrently served as the commander of United Nations Command and commander of R.O.K.-U.S. Combined Forces Command. He previously served as the 22nd commanding general of United States Army Forces Command from 10 August 2015 to 17 October 2018. He was a 1982 graduate of the United States Military Academy where he was commissioned as an armor officer. During his years of active service, he has held command and staff positions across the Army and joint community in Germany, the United States, Southwest Asia and South Korea. Abrams comes from a family of career military officers. His father was former Army Chief of Staff General Creighton W. Abrams Jr., and both of his elder brothers, Creighton and John, were Army general officers.
He relinquished command of United States Command, Combined Forces Command and United States Forces Korea to General Paul LaCamera on 2 July 2021 and retired soon after.

## Assignments

Abrams' tours of duty with war-fighting units include the 3rd Armored Division as a lieutenant; the 1st Cavalry Division as a captain, and as a major in the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, as a lieutenant colonel (including battalion command and as the Division G3) and colonel (including command of a brigade combat team and as the division chief of staff). His joint experience includes serving as a Strategic War Planner for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with responsibility for the United States Central Command's Area of Operations; and as the Director of the Joint Center of Excellence for IED Defeat, a subordinate of the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Agency (JIDA).

## Commands

Abrams has commanded at every level from company through divisional command. His first command was of D Company and Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment. He deployed the company in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Abrams's next command assignment was at battalion level, with 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.
Later, Abrams served as the commander of the 1st Brigade Combat Team (Iron Horse), 1st Cavalry Division, where he deployed to East Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II, as commanding general of Fort Irwin & the National Training Center, and most recently as commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia from 2011 to 2013, during which he served as commander of Regional Command South in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Abrams has extensive operational experience, having served as an operations officer at squadron, regimental and divisional level. Abrams has also served as an instructor, written doctrine and developed training at the United States Army Armor School, and as executive officer to the Commanding General United States Army Europe and Seventh Army.
Abrams's general officer assignments also include service as the Deputy Commanding General, Combined Arms Center-Training, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and the commander of the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California.
In 2015, Abrams was assigned as Commanding General, United States Army Forces Command, which oversees all United States Army combat units in the continental United States.
On 11 October 2018, the Senate confirmed his nomination to command United States Forces Korea. Abrams relinquished command of Army Forces Command to his deputy commander, Lieutenant General Laura Richardson, on 16 October, and assumed command of United States Forces Korea from General Vincent K. Brooks on 7 November.
In 2020, Abrams was among the candidates shortlisted to replace Admiral Philip S. Davidson as the commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command, but Admiral John C. Aquilino was nominated instead.
In May 2021, Abrams was bestowed the Korean name Woo Byung-soo (Korean: 우병수) by the ROK-US Alliance Friendship Association in honor of "his contributions to the alliance and defense of South Korea".
His retirement ceremony was held on 31 August 2021.

## Education

Abrams holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy, a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a master's degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.
His military schooling includes the Armor Basic [Cavalry] and Advanced Courses, Basic Airborne Course, Ranger School [Class 5–83], the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.

## Awards and decorations

Medals and awards earned by Abrams include:
| Defense Distinguished Service Medal w/ bronze oak leaf cluster | Defense Distinguished Service Medal w/ bronze oak leaf cluster | Defense Distinguished Service Medal w/ bronze oak leaf cluster | Army Distinguished Service Medal w/ bronze oak leaf cluster | Army Distinguished Service Medal w/ bronze oak leaf cluster | Army Distinguished Service Medal w/ bronze oak leaf cluster |
| Legion of Merit w/ one silver oak leaf cluster | Bronze Star Medal w/ three bronze oak leaf clusters | Defense Meritorious Service Medal |
| Meritorious Service Medal w/ two oak leaf clusters | Joint Service Commendation Medal | Army Commendation Medal w/ three oak leaf clusters |
| Army Achievement Medal w/ two oak leaf clusters | National Defense Service Medal w/ one bronze service star | Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ three bronze campaign stars |
| Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ one campaign star | Iraq Campaign Medal w/ two campaign stars | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |
| Army Service Ribbon | Army Overseas Service Ribbon w/ bronze award numeral 4 | NATO Medal for Service with ISAF |
| Order of National Security Merit (1st Grade) | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) | Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) |
| Joint Meritorious Unit Award w/ 4 oak leaf clusters | Valorous Unit Award | Meritorious Unit Commendation |
Identification and service badges :
| 8th Cavalry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia | Basic Parachutist Badge | Ranger tab |
| 1st Cavalry Division Combat Service Identification Badge | Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge | Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge |
| United Nations Command Badge | 4 Overseas Service Bars | 4 Overseas Service Bars |