Lieutenant General Franklin L. "Buster" Hagenbeck (Ret.)
About Lieutenant General Franklin L Hagenbeck Bio
Lieutenant General Hagenbeck assumed duties as the 57th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, in June 2006 and retired in July 2010.
General Hagenbeck was born in Morocco to a U.S. Navy family. He attended high school in Jacksonville, Florida, and was commissioned from the U.S. Military Academy in 1971. Later, at Florida State University he earned a Master of Science Degree in Exercise Physiology and served as an assistant football coach. While assigned to the U.S. Military Academy’s Department of Physical Education, he earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Long Island University. General Hagenbeck’s military education includes the Army War College, Army Command and General Staff College, and the Infantry Officer Advanced Course.
General Hagenbeck has commanded at every level from company through division, culminating as Commanding General of the 10th Mountain Division. He has also served in the 25th Infantry Division, 10th Mountain Division, 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions, and TRADOC.
Before becoming Superintendent, General Hagenbeck served as the Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, and in numerous staff positions to include Chief of Staff, 10th Mountain Division; Director, Officer Personnel Management Directorate, U.S. Total Army Personnel Command; and Assistant Division Commander (Operations), 101st Airborne Division.
General Hagenbeck has served in numerous Joint assignments, including Exchange Officer and Tactics Instructor to the Royal Australian Infantry Center; Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J5); and Deputy Director for Current Operations, J33, Joint Staff.
General Hagenbeck served as Commander, Coalition Joint Task Force Mountain, Operations Enduring Freedom / Anaconda and Deputy Commanding General, Combined Joint Task Force 180 in Afghanistan.
General Hagenbeck’s decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal; the Defense Superior Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster; the Legion of Merit with four oak leaf clusters; the Bronze Star with one oak leaf cluster; the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters; the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster; the Army Achievement Medal; the Air Assault Badge; the Master Parachutist Badge; the Expert Infantryman Badge; Australian, British, and Honduran Airborne Wings; the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge; and the Army Staff Identification Badge.
He has been married to Judy for more than 30 years. They have two children, Kelly and Leeann, and four grandchildren.
