Charles R. Hamilton is a retired

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

officer who served in various logistics and command roles during his 43-year military career. He most recently served as the commanding general of the

United States Army Materiel Command The U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) is the primary provider of materiel to the United States Army. The command's mission includes the management of installations, as well as maintenance and parts distribution. AMC operates depots; arsenals; am ...

from March 16, 2023, to March 22, 2024.

Early life and education

Hamilton was born in

Houston, Texas Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...

, and enlisted in the United States Army in 1982. After completing basic and individual training, he was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas. In 1988, he graduated from

Officer Candidate School An officer candidate school (OCS) is a military school which trains civilians and Enlisted rank, enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a Commission (document), commission as Commissioned officer, officers in the armed forces of a country. H ...

as a Distinguished Military Graduate and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the

Quartermaster Corps Following is a list of quartermaster corps, military units, active and defunct, with logistics duties: * Egyptian Army Quartermaster Corps - see Structure of the Egyptian Army * Hellenic Army Quartermaster Corps (''Σώμα Φροντιστών ...

. Hamilton earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from

Virginia State University Virginia State University (VSU or Virginia State) is a Public university, public Historically black colleges and universities, historically Black land-grant university, land-grant university in Ettrick, Virginia, United States. Founded on , Vi ...

in 1990. He later received a Master of Public Administration from

Central Michigan University Central Michigan University (CMU) is a Public university, public research university in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States. It was established in 1892 as a private normal school and became a state institution in 1895. CMU is one of the eigh ...

and a Master of Military Studies from the

Marine Corps University Marine Corps University is a military education university system of the United States Marine Corps. It is part of the Naval University System and accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools t ...

. He is a graduate of th
Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellows Program
a component of the Senior Service College Fellowship.

Military career

Hamilton enlisted in the Army in 1981. He earned his commission via

in the

, as distinguished military graduate, in 1988. Hamilton held a variety of command and staff positions throughout his career: * Commanding General,

* Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics (G-4),

* Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics * Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics and Operations, Army Materiel Command * Commander
8th Theater Sustainment Command
ref name="bio"> * Commander
Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support
ref name="bio" /> * Commander, 101st Sustainment Brigade Hamilton deployed multiple times to

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...

in support of

Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) was the official name used by the U.S. government for both the first stage (2001–2014) of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) and the larger-scale Global War on Terrorism. On 7 October 2001, in response ...

, including assignments leading logistics and sustainment operations. His previous positions also included service as: * Chief of Staff, USFOR-A South/Southwest, Kandahar Airfield * Executive Officer to the Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4 * Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff,

United Nations Command United Nations Command (UNC or UN Command) is the multinational military force established to support the South Korea, Republic of Korea (South Korea) during and after the Korean War. It was the first attempt at collective security by the U ...

United States Forces Korea The United States Forces Korea (USFK) is a Unified Combatant Command#Subordinate Unified Command, sub-unified command of United States Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). USFK was initially established in 1957, and e ...

He was promoted to four-star general in March 2023 and assumed command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command, overseeing global logistics and sustainment operations across the Army.

Suspension and retirement

On March 22, 2024, Hamilton was suspended by the

Secretary of the Army The secretary of the Army (SA or SECARMY) is a senior civilian official within the United States Department of Defense, with statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the United States Army: manpower, personnel, reserve affairs, insta ...

pending an investigation into allegations that he influenced the

Battalion Commander Assessment Program A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of up to one thousand soldiers. A battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and subdivided into several companies, each typically commanded by a major or a captain. The typical battal ...

in favor of a subordinate who had failed the initial assessment. The subordinate, a lieutenant colonel, was not accused of wrongdoing, but the investigation alleged that Hamilton had an inappropriate relationship with her and had improperly intervened in the selection process. The case was referred to the

Department of Defense Office of Inspector General The Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG) is an independent, objective agency that provides oversight related to the programs and operations of the United States Department of Defense (DoD). DoD IG was created in 1982 as a ...

, and Hamilton was temporarily reassigned while retaining his four-star rank. Following the conclusion of the investigation, he was officially relieved of command on December 10, 2024. Hamilton later retired from the Army after more than four decades of service.

Awards and decorations

Hamilton's decorations include:General Charles R. Hamilton Takes Command – Black Engineer
/ref> *

Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army) The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a military decoration of the United States Army that is presented to soldiers who have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility. ...

Defense Superior Service Medal The Defense Superior Service Medal (DSSM) is a military decoration of the United States Department of Defense, which is presented to United States Armed Forces service members who perform superior meritorious service in a position of significant ...

(2 awards) *

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States military, military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievemen ...

(4 awards) *

Bronze Star Medal The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious a ...

(2 awards) *

Defense Meritorious Service Medal The Defense Meritorious Service Medal (DMSM) is an award bestowed upon members of the United States military by the United States Department of Defense. In the order of precedence of the United States Armed Forces, it is worn between the Purple ...

(3 awards) *

Meritorious Service Medal (United States) The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) is a military award presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves with outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States. Introduced in 1969, the MSM was ...

(9 awards) *

Joint Service Commendation Medal The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issues its own version of the Commendation Medal, with a fift ...

(2 awards) *

Army Commendation Medal The Commendation Medal is a mid-level Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issu ...

(3 awards) *

Joint Service Achievement Medal The Achievement Medal is a military Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, decoration of the United States Armed Forces. The Achievement Medal was first proposed as a means to recognize outstanding achievement or meritorious se ...

Army Achievement Medal The Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. The Achievement Medal was first proposed as a means to recognize outstanding achievement or meritorious service of military personnel who were not eligible to rece ...

(7 awards) *

Good Conduct Medal (United States) The Good Conduct Medal is one of the oldest Awards and decorations of the United States military, military awards of the United States Armed Forces. The U.S. Navy's variant of the Good Conduct Medal was established in 1869, the Marine Corps ver ...

(2 awards) * Operation Enduring Freedom Campaign Awards He is also a recipient of the: *

Combat Action Badge The Combat Action Badge (CAB) is a United States military Badges of the United States Army, award given to soldiers of the U.S. Army of any rank and who are not members of an infantry, special forces, or medical MOS, for being "present and active ...

Parachutist Badge (United States) The Parachutist Badge, also commonly referred to as "Jump Wings", is a military badge of the United States Armed Forces. Some services, such as the Marine Corps, officially refer to it as an insignia instead of a badge. The United States Space Fo ...

Parachute Rigger Badge The Parachute Rigger Badge is a military qualification badge of the United States Army and the United States Air Force which was first created in 1948 and officially approved in June 1986. The award is intended as a badge for enlisted, warrant ...

Air Assault Badge The Air Assault Badge, U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry, dated 18 January 1978, last accessed 16 October 2020 is awarded by the U.S. Army for successful completion of the United States Army Air Assault School, Air Assault School. The course includes ...

Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
*

Army Staff Identification Badge The Army Staff Identification Badge is an identification badge awarded by the Chief of Staff of the Army to officers, warrant officers, and enlisted soldiers assigned to authorized positions at Headquarters, Department of the Army.

References

, - , - , - , - , - , - Living people Place of birth missing (living people) Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal Recipients of the Legion of Merit United States Army generals Year of birth missing (living people) {{US-Army-bio-stub