Michael S. Tucker

Lieutenant General Michael S. Tucker (born September 14, 1954) is a retired United States Army general who served Commanding General of the First United States Army from 2013 until 2016. He formerly served as the Commanding General of the 2nd Infantry Division.

On March 9, 2007, The Washington Post reported Army Vice Chief of Staff General Richard A. Cody's announcement that Tucker, a former enlisted soldier and a non-member of the United States Army Medical Corps, had been selected to take over the Deputy Commander position at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as part of a major "leadership restructuring at Walter Reed ... designed to attack problems and lapses exposed" in the growing scandal over poor healthcare and treatment conditions of wounded combat outpatients at the historic medical facility, uncovered in an undercover exposé by Washington Post reporters.

Background and experience A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Michael S. "Mike" Tucker enlisted in the United States Army as a private in 1972. He served as a cavalry scout with the 1st Battalion, 35th Armor in Erlangen, Germany, reaching the rank of staff sergeant in 1977. In 1979, after two years as a drill sergeant in the 3rd Basic Combat Training Brigade at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he was accepted into Officer Candidate School, where he graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate.

After being commissioned as a lieutenant in the armor branch, Tucker's first assignment was as a tank platoon leader in B Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Armor, Germany. During this tour from January 1980 until July 1984 he served as a Tank Company Executive Officer, Battalion Motor Officer, commanded the Battalion's Combat Support Company and C Company. Following stateside schooling, he returned to Germany in January 1986 to command Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Armor. He then served as the Battalion Adjutant, Deputy Sub-Community Commander of Ferris Barracks, and finally as the S3, 1st Battalion, 35th Armor in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. As additional coverage by the Washington Post and other news outlets continued, congressional hearings convened, and a growing scandal emerged. The commander of Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Major General George W. Weightman was relieved of his command, and Secretary of the Army Francis J. Harvey was asked to resign as well, with the Army promising further restructuring and leadership changes to address the situation.

On March 8, 2007, Army Vice Chief of Staff General Richard A. Cody's announced that Tucker would report to Washington to take over the Deputy Commander position at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as part of a major "leadership restructuring at Walter Reed ... designed to attack problems and lapses exposed: in the growing scandal." Explaining the Army's selection of a non-medical corps Tucker, Cody pointed to Tucker's experience as a combat officer:

He understands soldiers. He understands leading in combat. He understands how to run large organizations. He's going to be the guy that we look to be the soldiers' and families' advocate as they go through inpatient and outpatient, but also he's going to be the bureaucratic buster... and take on this bureaucracy that at times frustrates our soldiers.

Tucker retired in July 2016, and was succeeded at First Army by Stephen M. Twitty.

Education Tucker's civilian education includes a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland, a master's degree in Military Arts and Sciences from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and a master's degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg University.

Awards and decorations

Joint Meritorious Unit Award Valorous Unit Award

Lieutenant General Tucker has also earned the German Ranger Badge.