The U.S. Army Materiel Command updated its website Thursday as General Charles R. Hamilton assumed duties. In his role as commander, the four-star general leads one of the Army’s largest commands with 165,000 military, civilian, and contractor employees.
According to Matt Bowman, BEYA Veterans executive director, a number of Stars and Stripes leaders were in attendance at the change-of-command ceremony where General Hamilton received his fourth star.
Among the BEYA Stars and Stripes leaders present at the event were retired Army general Johnnie Wilson, Career Day Chairman Bruce Crawford, former Army CIO, and scholarship chairman, Lieutenant General Darrell Williams.
Last December, the Senate confirmed Hamilton's promotion. In addition, it announced his assignment as the new commanding general of the Army Materiel Command, where he previously served as deputy chief of staff for logistics and operations, G-3.
Charles R. Hamilton enlisted in the U.S. Army from Houston, Texas. After completing primary and individual training, he was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas. In 1988, he graduated from Officer Candidate School as the Distinguished Military Graduate and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Virginia State University, a master’s degree in public administration from Central Michigan University, and another master’s in military studies from Marine Corps University. He is also a Senior Service College Fellowship – Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellows Program graduate.
In April, Hamilton assumed duties as the deputy chief of staff, G-4 for the United States Army. Before this assignment, he served as the assistant deputy chief of staff for operations, G-43/5/7.
His previous assignments include duties as deputy chief of staff for operations, G-3 for United States Army Materiel Command, commander of the 8th Theater Sustainment Command, the chief logistics officer for United States Forces Korea, and commander of Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Penn.
He also worked as the executive officer to the Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics at the Pentagon, as an assignment officer in the logistics branch in the Office of the Army Chief of Staff, and as the executive officer to the vice director of the Defense Logistics Agency.
On three separate occasions, Hamilton held commands in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2004, he commanded Defense Logistics Agency Contingency Support Team-Afghanistan, and in 2010-11, he was commander of United States Forces-Afghanistan Support South/Southwest. During his most recent tour, in 2013-2014, he was the commander of the 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division.
General Hamilton’s awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (2nd Awd), Bronze Star Medal (2nd Awd), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (3rd Awd), Meritorious Service Medal (9th Awd), Joint Service Commendation Medal (2nd Award), Army Commendation Medal (3rd Awd), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (7th Awd), Good Conduct Medal (2nd Awd) and OEF Campaign Awards. He has also been awarded the Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, Parachute Rigger Badge, Air Assault Badge, Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.
"It was an honor to virtually attend the promotion ceremony of General Charles Hamilton who pinned on his Fourth Star this morning," wrote Colonel Willus Hall on LinkedIn. "The ceremony was presided over by Army Chief of Staff General James McConville. [General Hamilton's] wife, retired lieutenant commander Regina Hamilton, pinned him. The first salute was rendered by his son, who is currently serving as a company commander in the 82nd Airborne Division."