David A . Bramlett David Anthony Bramlett ( born June 29 , 1941 ) is a retired United States Army four - star general who commanded United States Army Forces Command from July 1 , 1996 to August 31 , 1998 , after serving as Deputy Commander in Chief and Chief of Staff , United States Pacific Command at Camp H . M . Smith , Hawaii . During his tenure as Deputy Commander , he was the interim commander of Pacific Command after the commander , Admiral Richard C . Macke , came under fire for comments he had made in regard to the 1995 rape scandal in Okinawa that involved several U . S . servicemen . Military career . Entering the Army from Imperial Beach , California , Bramlett graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1964 and was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry . His first assignment was as a platoon leader in Company B , 1st Battalion , 14th Infantry Regiment , 25th Infantry Division , Hawaii . He served in Vietnam from December 1965 to November 1966 , as aide - de - camp for the Assistant Division Commander , 25th Infantry Division , and later company executive officer , C / 1 - 14 Infantry . His second tour , from September 1968 to August 1969 , included rifle company command of C / 2 - 327th Infantry , 101st Airborne Division and assistant brigade S - 3 , 1st Brigade . Bramlett ' s numerous command and staff positions include Commander , 1 - 503rd Infantry , 3rd Brigade , 101st Airborne Division ( Air Assault ) , Fort Campbell , Kentucky ; Commander , 1st Brigade , 82nd Airborne Division , Fort Bragg , North Carolina ; Commander , 3rd Brigade , 101st Airborne Division ( Air Assault ) ; and as Commanding General , 6th Infantry Division ( Light ) , Fort Wainwright , Alaska . He also served as Assistant Chief of Staff , G - 1 , 101st Airborne Division ; and as Assistant Chief of Staff , G - 3 / Director Plans and Training , XVIII Airborne Corps , Fort Bragg . His career also includes tours of duty as Deputy Director , Plans , Policy and Programs Directorate , United States Central Command , MacDill Air Force Base , Florida and Assistant Division Commander , 25th Infantry Division , Hawaii . Prior to assuming command of the 6th Infantry Division ( Light ) , he was Commandant of Cadets , United States Military Academy , West Point , New York , from 1989 to 1992 . His instructor tours include the Florida Ranger Camp , 1967 – 68 , and the Department of English at West Point for three years after earning a master ' s degree from Duke University in 1972 . He attended the Advanced Course at the United States Army Armor School , the Command and General Staff College , and the Army War College . Awards and decorations . Bramlett ' s military awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal , the Army Distinguished Service Medal , Silver Star , Legion of Merit , Bronze Star with " V " device with five Oak Leaf Cluster s , and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal . He also wears the Combat Infantryman Badge , Senior Parachutist Badge , Air Assault Badge , and Ranger Tab . Relations . Bramlett is the son of Mrs . Jayne E . Bramlett and the late Mr . Robert H . Bramlett , USN ( retired ) , of National City , California . He is married to the former Judith Ann Cassidy . They have one son , Robert . Post military career . After retiring from the military , Bramlett became the vice president of the Hawaii Army Museum Society . He also currently serves as an adjunct professor at Hawaii Pacific University , teaching graduate seminars in U . S . Military History , the American Way of War and War Literature .