Maj. Gen. John M. Murray will take command of the 3rd Infantry Division later this summer, according to a Monday release by the chief of staff of the Army.
When current 3rd Infantry Division commander, Maj. Gen. Robert “Abe” Abrams, returns in early August from a 12-month deployment as commander of Regional Command-South in Afghanistan, he will turn over the reins of the Marne Division to Murray.
According to biographical data provided by the U.S. Army Public Affairs Office, since May 2012 Murray has served as the director of Force Management, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7 in Washington, D.C. Prior to his promotion to major general earlier that year, he was assigned as director of the Joint Center for Operational Analysis-Lessons Learned, J-7, in Iraq.
Originally an infantry officer, Murray has served as deputy commanding general (maneuver) of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, and as the First Team’s 3rd Brigade commander. He also has served in command and support assignments with the 1st Infantry Division in Germany and Iraq, as well as leadership assignments at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., Fort Carson, Colo., Fort Benning, Fort Irwin, Calif. and Fort Clayton, Panama. He served three combat tours in Iraq.
A graduate of Ohio State University, Murray started his military career in 1982. Following completion of the infantry officer basic course, his first assignments were as a rifle platoon leader then as a scout platoon leader. He has since completed the infantry officer advance course, U.S. Army Command and Staff College and U.S. Army War College.
Murray earned a master’s degree while at the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
In addition to a Ranger Tab, Murray’s awards and badges include the parachutist badge, air assault badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star (with two oak leaf clusters), Legion of Merit (with two oak leaf clusters) and a Defense Superior Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster).
Abrams, who began his career as a cavalry officer in 1982. Abrams’ took command of the 3rd ID in April 2011. His follow-up assignment is not known at this time, according to the Fort Stewart public affairs office.