WASHINGTON — Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, who most recently commanded the military campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, is expected to be the next U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command commander, according information provided to Defense News by a Defense Department official.
The Congressional Record published Dec. 14 shows Townsend’s fourth-star promotion was voted out of committee.
The TRADOC commander Gen. David Perkins, who has served in the position since 2014, is expected to retire. When a change of command might happen could not be confirmed by press time.
[TRADOC chief: Army needs to break free from ‘tyranny of training’]
Before serving as the commander of Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve, Townsend served as the commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
[XVIII ABN Corps commander to take over the U.S. fight against ISIS]
Townsend, who took command of the XVIII Airborne Corps in May 2015, has served with the 82nd Airborne Division, the 7th Infantry Division, the 75th Ranger Regiment and the 101st Airborne Division.
He commanded the 10th Mountain Division and has served many times in Afghanistan, including during Operation Anaconda.
The veteran of Operations Urgent Fury in Grenada and Just Cause in Panama also commanded a Stryker brigade in combat in Iraq.
Jen Judson is an award-winning journalist covering land warfare for Defense News. She has also worked for Politico and Inside Defense. She holds a Master of Science degree in journalism from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kenyon College.
