Jeffery Hammond

Major General Jeffery W. Hammond (born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi) is a retired United States Army officer. He is currently the Athletic Director at the University of Southern Mississippi. He had previously served as the commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division and of the Multi-National Division in Assistance war Kabul, Afghanistan.

Early life
Hammond attended the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, receiving Bachelor's and Master's degrees in special education. He was a quarterback for the USM football team. Brett Favre later went on to break every passing record set by MG Hammond.

Military career
Hammond was commissioned as a second lieutenant of field artillery in 1978. He was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division in Germany, where he advanced to command of a battery. He returned to the U.S. to take the Infantry Officer Advanced Course at Fort Benning, Georgia.

From 1984-87 he returned to the University of Southern Mississippi, where he served as Assistant Professor of Military Science. After that, he spent a year in South Korea in a personnel post.

In 1988 he was assigned to the 24th Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia. With the 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery of that division, Hammond was deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Shield in 1990 and participated in Operation Desert Storm, the recapture of Kuwait from Iraq in 1991.

In the mid-1990s Hammond took command of the 4th Battalion, 29th Field Artillery, part of the 1st Armored Division in Germany, leading them during Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Staff service in Washington, D.C. and a tour as division artillery commander of the 1st Cavalry Division followed.

Hammond was Assistant Division Commander (Support) of the 1st Cavalry Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 in Iraq. He then served as the Army's Director of Operations, Readiness and Mobilization before taking command of the 4th Infantry Division on 19 January 2007. An extremely demanding commander, MG Hammond was nicknamed "Squad Leader 6" by Soldiers within the Division, a reference to his strong command presence and his ability to manage at the micro level. He implemented a number of changes brought on by the shortcomings he saw in the Army, including mandatory group running during PT and strong leader standards.

Return to Southern Miss
Hammond currently serves as the interim athletic director at The University of Southern Mississippi. General Hammond is also a member and the Faculty Advisor for Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity at The University of Southern Mississippi (2011)

Decorations

 * Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Legion of Merit
 * Bronze Star ribbon.svg Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster
 * Defense Meritorious Service ribbon.svg Defense Meritorious Service Medal
 * Meritorious Service ribbon.svg Meritorious Service Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster
 * Joint Service Commendation ribbon.svg Joint Service Commendation Medal
 * Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster