Background
Merritt, Jack Neil was born on October 23, 1930 in Lawton, Oklahoma, United States. Son of Theodore and Lovell Wood.
Merritt, Jack Neil was born on October 23, 1930 in Lawton, Oklahoma, United States. Son of Theodore and Lovell Wood.
Bachelor of Science, University Nebraska, Omaha, 1959. Master of Business Administration, George Washington University, 1965. Graduate, Field Artillery Officer Advance Course, 1961.
Graduate, Air Command and Staff College, 1965. Graduate, Industrial College Armed Forces, 1970. Doctor of Philosophy (honorary), The Citadel.
Commissioned Second lieutenant, United States Army, 1953;
advanced through grades to general, United States Army, 1985;
served in various command and staff assignments, United States, Korea, Germany, 1953-1965;
served with, (Army General Staff, Pentagon), 1965-1966;
member of staff, (Assistant Secretary Defense for Systems Analysis), Washington, 1966-1968;
battalion commander, (Riverine Artillery), Vietnam, 1968-1969;
staff, (Assistant to President for National Security Affairs, White House), 1970-1973;
division artillery commander, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, 1973-1974;
chief of staff, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, 1974-1975;
assistant division commander, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, 1975-1977;
commanding general United States Army Field Artillery Center and commandant, United States Army Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, 1977-1980;
commandant, United States Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 1980-1982;
commanding general, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, 1982-1983;
director joint staff, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1983-1985;
United States Republican, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Military Committee, 1985-1987;
retired, 1987;
president, Association United States Army, Arlington, Virginia, since 1988. Chairman military professional development committee West Point Study, 1977. Adjunct fellow Center Strategic and International Studies.
Member Commision on West Point Honor Code, 1988-1989. Visiting fellow Hoover Institute, Stanford University.
Board directors Atlantic Council Marshall Foundation. Chairman advisory committee The Citadel. Chairman Marshull Legacy Institute.
Board directors Army-Air Force Mutual Aid. Member International Institute Strategic Studies, Association United States Army (president emeritus), Field Artillery Association, 1st Cavalry Division Association, 9th Infantry Division Association, Kappa Alpha.
Married Rosemary Ralston, October 31, 1953. Children— Stephen Cahill, Grover Wood, Roger William.