Charles Hemming Jacoby Jr.[2] (June 19, 1954 – April 1, 2025) was a top military leader, author, and strategist who served as the fifth Commander of United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and the 22nd Commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). General Jacoby served as Vice Chairman and Board Member of Agilion Systems, an advanced technology and strategic advisory firm. Previously he was Vice Chairman and Board Member at Tilman & Company, a predecessor to Agilion[3][4]
Charles H. Jacoby Jr. | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait of GEN Jacoby, 2013 | |
| Birth name | Charles Hemming Jacoby Jr. |
| Born | June 19, 1954[1] Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | April 1, 2025 (aged 70) Waxhaw, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1978–2014 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | United States Northern Command North American Aerospace Defense Command United States Army Alaska I Corps Multi-National Corps – Iraq |
| Battles / wars | Operation Urgent Fury War in Afghanistan Iraq War |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal (3) Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal (3) Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal (2) |
| Alma mater | United States Military Academy University of Michigan |
General Jacoby was a leading expert on modern warfare, strategic planning, and international security, as well as an accomplished writer and historian. He is a co-author of Agility: How to Navigate the Unknown and Seize Opportunity in a World of Disruption (Missionday, 2019),[5] having also published studies on air campaigns, brigade combat teams, ballistic missile defense, and strategic deterrence. He is past Distinguished Chair of the Modern War Institute at the United States Military Academy at West Point and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He has served on the boards of the El Pomar Foundation, the Institute for Defense Analysis, Cornerstone Defense, and the US Army Infantry Museum.
Jacoby’s 37 years of service include commanding at every level in Joint and Army assignments, from Company to Geographic Combatant Command. He has led in combat operations in Grenada with the 82nd Airborne Division, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and Multinational CORP Iraq during the Operation Iraqi Freedom (2009-2011). Previously, he served as Director of Strategy, Plans, and Policy for the Joint Staff, contributed to the Middle East peace process, and represented the U.S. military at the United Nations. As a U.S. Northern Command Commander, he led the military response to Hurricane Sandy. As the first Army officer to lead NORAD, he reorganized its 1,800-person bi-national and joint headquarters and integrated 35 federal, state, and non-governmental organizations for the defense and security of North America. He assumed command of USNORTHCOM and NORAD on 3 August 2011. Jacoby is notable as the first non-command pilot to serve as commander of either NORAD/USNORTHCOM, as both commands have traditionally been dominated by Air Force officers and NORAD carries a heavy air interdiction mission.[6][7]
Education
editA 1978 graduate of the United States Military Academy, Jacoby attended the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced courses, the Army Command and General Staff College, the School of Advanced Military Studies, and the National War College.
Jacoby earned a master's degree in history from the University of Michigan.[8]
Awards and decorations
editGeneral Jacoby’s contributions have been recognized with military decorations from the governments of Canada, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and Colombia.
- Individual awards
  |
Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with two bronze oak leaf clusters) |
 |
Distinguished Service Medal (with one bronze oak leaf cluster) |
 |
Defense Superior Service Medal (with two bronze oak leaf clusters) |
|
Legion of Merit |
 |
Bronze Star Medal (with one bronze oak leaf cluster) |
|
Defense Meritorious Service Medal |
  |
Meritorious Service Medal (with one silver oak leaf cluster) |
|
Joint Service Commendation Medal |
 |
Army Commendation Medal (with four bronze oak leaf clusters) |
 |
Army Achievement Medal (with one bronze oak leaf cluster) |
  |
National Defense Service Medal (with one bronze service star) |
|
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
 |
Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with one bronze service star) |
 |
Iraq Campaign Medal (with one bronze service star) |
|
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |
 |
Humanitarian Service Medal (with one bronze service star) |
|
Army Service Ribbon |
 
|
Overseas Service Ribbon (with award numeral 6) |
- Unit awards
 |
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with two bronze oak leaf clusters) |
|
Meritorious Unit Commendation |
|
Superior Unit Award |
- International military award
|
Inter-American Defense Board Medal |
- Foreign awards
_-_ribbon_bar.gif){kind=small}
|
Unidentified Medal |
|
Medal "Monja Blanca", 2nd class (Guatemala) |
|
Commander of The Order of Military Merit José María Córdova (Colombia) |
|
Condecoración al Mérito Militar, Primera Clase (Mexico)[9] |
|
Condecoración al Mérito Naval, Segunda Clase (Mexico)[9] |
_ribbon.svg){kind=small}
|
Canada Meritorious Service Cross (Military Division) |
- Badges
.svg){kind=icon}
- Other accoutrements
|
82nd Airborne Division Combat Service Identification Badge |
|
504th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia |
|
5 Overseas Service Bars |
Personal
editGeneral Jacoby is married to Grace A. Dorta, retired Army Lt Col, and has three sons who all serve in the realm of U.S. national security.
Gallery
edit
References
edit- ^ "NOMINATIONS BEFORE THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, FIRST SESSION, 112TH CONGRESS" (PDF). Fas.gov. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ "Charles Hemming Jacoby Jr". Westpointaog.org. West Point Association of Graduates. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
- ^ General Chuck Jacoby (Ret.) on LinkedIn
- ^ "Agilion".
- ^ Agility: How to Navigate the Unknown and Seize Opportunity in a World of Disruption - Leo M. Tilman, Charles H. Jacoby Jr. Missionday. 15 October 2019. ISBN 978-1939714152.
- ^ Statement of General Charles H. Jacoby, Jr., United States Army Commander United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command before the House Armed Services Committee, 6 March 2012 p. 3. Au.af.mil
- ^ Roeder, Tom (5 December 2014). "New Northern Command Boss: "We will succeed"". The Gazette. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
- ^ [1] [permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "Mexican armed forces honors Gen. Jacoby". U.S. Northern Command. US Northern Command. August 20, 2014. Archived from the original on October 31, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
External links
edit- Tilman, Leo M. and General Charles Jacoby (24 February 2020). "The most agile day". Strategy-business.com. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
- Defense News Interview with General Charles Jacoby
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Deep State Radio Network, 2/2019, ARE WE READY FOR THE FUTURE OF WAR?: A CONVERSATION WITH GENERAL (RET.) CHARLES JACOBY