Frederick J. Kroesen
General and Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Army (retired)
Four-star general Frederick Kroesen’s 40-year military career set a standard for courage, leadership, and service across the globe
Retired four-star general Frederick J. Kroesen was born in Phillipsburg and raised in Lawrenceville. At Rutgers, he rowed on the varsity crew team and enrolled in advanced Army ROTC. He was called to active duty in March 1943, beginning a 40-year military career that spanned 12 campaigns in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. He was wounded four times and honored with 31 awards for valor and service from five nations. He served 15 years overseas in major command assignments. He also commanded the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; the U.S. Army’s Forces Command at Fort McPherson, Georgia; the U.S. Army in Europe; and the NATO Central Army Group in Germany. In 1978, he was appointed vice chief of staff of the U.S. Army. He earned graduate degrees from George Washington University, Command General Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College, and the Army War College, where he was a faculty member for three years. For his years of service, he received the prestigious West Point Association of Graduates Sylvanus Thayer Award in 2007. Kroesen was named a Loyal Son of Rutgers in 1980, and Rutgers awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1984. Kroesen retired from the military in 1983 and became a national and international security consultant.