John Abizaid
John Abizaid | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2019 | |
| United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia | |
| In office 16 June 2019 – 20 January 2021 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Joseph W. Westphal |
| Succeeded by | Michael Ratney |
| 8th Commander of the United States Central Command | |
| In office 7 July 2003 – 16 March 2007 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Tommy Franks |
| Succeeded by | William J. Fallon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 April 1951 Redwood City, California, U.S. |
| Children | 3, including Christine |
| Education | U.S. Military Academy (BS) Harvard University (MA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Years | 1973–2007 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | |
| Wars | Grenada War Gulf War Bosnian War Kosovo War War in Afghanistan Iraq War |
| Awards | |
John Philip Abizaid (born 1 April 1951) is a retired United States Army general and former United States Central Command (CENTCOM) commander who served as the United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 2019 to 2021.
In 2007, Abizaid retired after 34 years of service. As of 2007, Abizaid is employed as a fellow of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He assumed the Distinguished Chair of the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point in December 2007. Abizaid was appointed to the board of directors of RPM International on 24 January 2008, and also sits on the board of directors of the Defense Ventures Group. In 2008, he was selected as a Montgomery Fellow at Dartmouth College.
On 13 November 2018, he was nominated as the United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. He was confirmed by the United States Senate as ambassador on 10 April 2019, and sworn in on 30 April 2019. Abizaid formally presented his credentials to King Salman on 16 June 2019. He resigned on 20 January 2021. He now serves as senior advisor at Albright Stonebridge Group.