David L. Grange

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David L. Grange is a retired United States Army Major General, son of retired Lieutenant General David E. Grange Jr. After retiring in 1999, David L. Grange served as the executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation in Chicago. In September 2005, Grange became the foundation's President and Chief Executive Officer. Grange also serves as a CNN military analyst.

Born on December 29, 1947 in Long Island, New York, David L. Grange graduated from North Georgia College in 1970 with a bachelor of science and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Infantry. Grange later earned a master’s of public service from Western Kentucky University.


[edit] Military career

As a first lieutenant in 1972, Grange was an adviser to the Vietnamese Airborne Division. He commanded C Company, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, which supported Desert One in 1980. In 1982, he was assigned to 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment, completed the selection course (Delta) and served as a squadron commander during the invasion of Grenada.

Grange volunteered for service in Korea in 1987 and commanded the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division. He served as a special-operations officer in Special Operations Command in Washington, D.C., and later served as deputy commander of the 1st SFOD, where he commanded a task force during Desert Storm.

From 1991 to 1993, he commanded the 75th Ranger Regiment and supported the Ranger Memorial Foundation. He then served as deputy commanding officer, United States Army Special Operations Command, and upon selection as a general officer, he served as both ADC for support and maneuver in the 3rd Infantry Division, Germany.

In 1997, Grange returned to Germany and took command of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division and Task Force Eagle in Bosnia, where he was responsible for U.S. forces and operations in Macedonia and Kosovo during the Yugoslav civil wars. In 1999 Grange relinquished command of the 1st ID to John Abizaid and retired from active duty.

Upon retirement, Grange was unable to retain the rank of Major General due to the length of time he had served in that rank. Therefore, his official rank in retirement is Brigadier General (ret.) David L. Grange. His awards include three Silver Stars and two Purple Hearts. His military training includes Ranger, Special Forces, HALO, SCUBA, Airborne, Air Assault and Aviation training; the U.S. Marine Corps Command and General Staff College; the British SAS Course; Delta Force selection; and the National War College.