On Friday, October 29, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army General Peter W. Chiarelli spoke to a capacity crowd of students, alumni, friends, and supporters at The Institute of World Politics. General Chiarelli’s address concentrated on challenges facing the U.S. Army, particularly the future structure of the Army’s forces.
General Chiarelli noted that, in today’s current environment, soldiers are engaged simultaneously in offense, defense, and stability operations. He noted that, in his opinion, the simultaneity of these three activities represents a fundamental change in warfare.
He also observed that, “I’m proud to be at an institution such as this that encourages the interagency conversation.”
General Chiarelli addressed a large number of questions from the audience, ranging from the interagency process to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
General Peter W. Chiarelli became the 32nd Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army on August 4th, 2008. In his previous assignment, he was the Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense. He hails from Seattle, Washington and is a Distinguished Military Graduate of Seattle University. General Chiarelli was commissioned a second lieutenant of Armor in September 1972. Throughout his career he has served in Army units in the United States, Germany, and Belgium. He has commanded at every level from platoon to corps.
His principal staff assignments have been as the Operations Officer, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas; Executive Assistant and later Executive Officer to the Supreme Allied Commander, Commander United States European Command at SHAPE Headquarters, Mons, Belgium; as the Director of Operations, Readiness and Mobilization, at Headquarters, Department of the Army.
He commanded a motorized infantry battalion at Fort Lewis, Washington; an armor brigade at Fort Lewis, Washington; served as the Assistant Division Commander for Support in the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas; commanded the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas and in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom II; and commanded Multi-National Corps-Iraq.
General Chiarelli holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from Seattle University, a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Washington, and a Masters of Arts in National Security and Strategy from Salve Regina University.