Douglas Lute

Douglas Edward Lute, born November 3, 1952, is a retired United States Army lieutenant general. On May 23, 2013, President Obama nominated him to be United States Permanent Representative on the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

On 15 May 2007, Lute was appointed by George W. Bush to serve as Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan. The New York Times referred to him as the "War Czar", since he occupied a senior advisory position responsible for overseeing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was asked to stay on by new President Barack Obama as Obama's Special Assistant and Senior Coordinator for Afghanistan and Pakistan. After leaving active duty in 2010, Lute remained in his position at the National Security Staff. He is married to Jane Holl Lute, who served as the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security from 2009 through 2013.

Education
Born in Michigan City, Indiana on November 3, 1952, Lute graduated from the United States Military Academy (also known as West Point) in 1975. His first assignment was to the Second Armored Cavalry Regiment in Bindlach, Germany, where he commanded C Troop. He received an MPA degree from the Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University in 1983 and taught in the Social Sciences department at West Point.

Second Cavalry
Following attendance at the British Army Staff College, he returned to the Second Cavalry as operations officer, serving both at the squadron and regimental levels. In 1990–91 he deployed and fought with the regiment in Operation Desert Storm, and later served on the staff of the Chief of Staff of the United States Army.

Advancement
Lute commanded 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry at Fort Hood, Texas in 1992–94. He then served on the Joint Staff in the J-5 Directorate for Strategic Plans and Policy, and held a War College Fellowship at the Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C.



From 1998 to 2000 he commanded the Second Cavalry Regiment, part of XVIII Airborne Corps, at Fort Polk, Louisiana. In 2001, he was appointed Brigadier General. He served next as the executive assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for 14 months before joining the 1st Infantry Division in Schweinfurt, Germany, as the Assistant Division Commander (Support). He commanded Multinational Brigade East in Kosovo for 6 months in 2002 before being assigned to United States European Command in January 2003 as the Deputy Director of Operations.

In June 2004, Lute began more than two years as Director of Operations (J-3) at United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), during which he oversaw combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as other operations in the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Horn of Africa. He was appointed to the rank of Major General in 2004, and to the rank of Lieutenant General in 2006. He assumed duties as Director of Operations, the Joint Staff, in September 2006.

National security
On 28 June 2007, the Senate confirmed Lute to serve as the Deputy National Security Advisor. He remained in the position after his retirement from active duty in 2010.

On 10 August 2007, Lute stated that the United States should "consider" reinstating the military draft to relieve the "stressed" volunteer service from multiple tours of duty. This was immediately followed by a comment that it would be a major policy shift and that he did not see a current need for a draft.

Awards and decorations
During his military career he received:
 * Defense Superior Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
 * Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
 * Bronze Star Medal
 * Defense Meritorious Service Medal
 * Meritorious Service Medal (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters)
 * Joint Service Commendation Medal
 * Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
 * Army Achievement Medal
 * Parachutist Badge
 * Ranger Tab
 * Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
 * Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
 * Army Staff Identification Badge