Education
Naval War College.
Naval War College.
Vines previously commanded the 82nd Airborne Division during the United States. deployment to Afghanistan. He was responsible for tactical combat missions. Subsequently, Vines replaced Lieutenant
General
Dan K. McNeill as the commanding general of United States. and coalition forces in Afghanistan. Vines received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from the University of Alabama and his Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategy from the Naval War College. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in 1971 through the Reserve Officers Training Corps program at the University of Alabama.
His previous assignments include the 3rd Infantry Division.
United States. Army Europe and Seventh United States. Army. Ranger Department, United States Army Infantry Center.
Company Commander and S3 in the 1st Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. And the original Executive Officer of the 3rd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at its activation from 1984 until 1987.
As Lieutenant General, Vines has served in several command and staff assignments within the XVIII Airborne Corps to include joint duty with the Joint Special Operations Command.
He served as Commander, 4th Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, during its combat parachute assault in Operation Just Cause and later when the unit was deployed as the first ground combat unit in Operation Desert Shield. After retirement, Vines spent a few months on the board of USFalcon, an information technology and systems engineering firm specializing in defense. He had consulted for the Department of Defense, but does not now have any industry ties.
"One of the reasons I chose not to do that is that I felt like I would be taking advantage of a revolving door," he said.
"There is a lot of hypocrisy there."
Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Bronze Star (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
Expert Infantryman Badge
Master Parachutist Badge (with Combat Star)
Pathfinder Badge
Air Assault Badge
Ranger Tab.
Quotations: "One of the reasons I chose not to do that is that I felt like I would be taking advantage of a revolving door,".