Press Releases
General Petraeus Recognizes Kazakhstani Soldiers
January 13, 2009
On January 13-15, 2009, General David Petraeus, Commander of the United States Central Command, will be visiting Astana, Kazakhstan. During his visit, General Petraeus will meet with Kazakhstani government officials and military officers to build on the already strong strategic partnership that exists between Kazakhstan and the United States and to discuss ways in which the two nations can cooperate more closely in the area of security, including in supporting Afghan reconstruction and stability.
As Commander of the United States Central Command, General Petraeus has overall responsibility for American forces serving in a large area of the globe, including both Iraq and Afghanistan. Before his current assignment, General Petraeus commanded Coalition forces in Iraq. During his tenure as Coalition Commander, Iraq saw a marked decrease in violence and a continually-improving security situation. During his visit to the Kazakhstani Ministry of Defense at 10:30 AM on January 14, General Petraeus and Deputy Kazakhstani Minister of Defense, Bulat Sembinov, will attend a recognition and award ceremony to thank Kazakhstan's brave soldiers who served honorably to help bring security and freedom to the people of Iraq. Media representatives will be invited to ask questions of General Petraeus and to meet the soldiers being honored.
General Petraeus graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1974. He has held leadership positions in airborne, mechanized, and air assault infantry units in Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. General Petraeus was the General George C. Marshall Award winner as the top graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College Class of 1983. He has earned MPA and Ph.D. degrees in international relations from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, and later served as an Assistant Professor of International Relations at the U.S. Military Academy.
General Petraeus and his wife have two children, a son and a daughter.
For more information on General Petraeus’ visit to Astana, please contact the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Sections at +7 (7172) 70 22 16.
