Patrick Frank | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2022 | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Service years | 1989–present |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands | United States Army Central Joint Readiness Training Center 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry |
| Conflicts | Gulf War Operation Uphold Democracy Iraq War War in Afghanistan 2026 Iran conflict |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal (3) |
| Alma mater | St. Bonaventure University (BA) Maxwell School (MPA) United States Army War College (MS) United States Naval War College (MS) |
Patrick D. Frank is an American lieutenant general who has served as the commanding general of United States Army Central since 2022. He most recently served as the Chief of Staff of the United States Central Command from 2020 to 2022 and before that served as the Commanding General of the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, Louisiana, from 2018 to 2020.
Frank graduated from St. Bonaventure University's Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps in 1989 and was commissioned as an Infantry officer. He has been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Haiti. He commanded the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, during a deployment to Afghanistan.
Early life and education
Frank earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in finance from St. Bonaventure University in 1989.[1][2] He later received a Master of Public Administration degree from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, a master's degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College and a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the United States Army War College.[1][3]
Army career
Frank attended St. Bonaventure University on an Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps scholarship and was commissioned as an Infantry second lieutenant when he graduated in 1989. His first assignment was as a platoon leader in the 3rd Infantry Division in Germany from 1990 to 1993, with service in the Gulf War. He then attended the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, after which, from 1993 to 1999, Frank served at Fort Drum, New York, in several roles in the 174th Infantry Brigade and the 10th Mountain Division. He deployed to Haiti during Operation Uphold Democracy in 1994[4] as a staff officer.[5]
After completing the College of Naval Command and Staff, from 2000 to 2004 Frank was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, serving with the 101st Airborne Division as an S-3 officer at several levels. During that time he was deployed for and saw combat in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. From 2004 to 2005 he was aide-de-camp to the United States Secretary of the Army,[4] before serving as commander of the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division.[4][6] While commanding the battalion he was deployed to Iraq again during the Iraq War troop surge.[4]
Frank served as the G-3 officer of the 1st Infantry Division before taking command of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, from 2010 to 2012. In that capacity he was deployed to Kandahar in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. He then served as Executive Officer to the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army before returning to Afghanistan as Executive Officer to the commander of the International Security Assistance Force and the Resolute Support Mission from 2014 to 2015.[4]
He became deputy commanding general (support) of 1st Infantry Division on 8 September 2015 and was promoted to brigadier general on 2 December 2015.[4][7] From October 2016 to July 2017 he was deputy commanding general of 1st Infantry Division and acting senior commander of Fort Riley, Kansas. Frank was deputy commanding general of United States Army Cadet Command from September 2017 to February 2018, and then served as commanding general of the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, Louisiana, until October 2020. He was promoted to major general on 30 September 2020. He served as chief of staff of the United States Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, from October 2020 to June 2022.[7]
ARCENT commander
Frank assumed command of United States Army Central and was promoted to lieutenant general on 7 July 2022 at Shaw Air Force Base, North Carolina.[5][7][8]
On 1 October 2025, he met with Lieutenant General Fahd al-Juhani, the commander of the Royal Saudi Land Forces, to discuss bilateral military cooperation.[9] The U.S. government also appointed Frank as the military head for a Civil-Military Coordination Center later that month, working to implement the Gaza peace plan and get humanitarian aid into the Palestinian enclave.[10]
He was nominated to become deputy commander of the United States Central Command, with the grade of lieutenant general, in December 2025.[11] Frank has directed the defense against Iranian missiles and drones during the Iran conflict that began on 28 February 2026.[12]
Dates of promotion
| Rank | Branch | Date[7] |
|---|---|---|
,_rotated.svg){kind=small} Second lieutenant |
Army | 1989 |
 Brigadier general |
2 December 2015 | |
 Major general |
30 September 2020 | |
 Lieutenant general |
7 July 2022 |
Personal life
He is married to Jennifer, an attorney from Sackets Harbor, New York.[6][5]
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States government.
- ^ a b "Biography: Brigadier General Patrick D. Frank" (PDF). 11 September 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ "Distinguished Alumni". St. Bonaventure University. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ "Outgoing senior commander to be honored at Fort Riley ceremony". 23 June 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f "2016-2017 ROTC Hall of Fame Inductees". St. Bonaventure University. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
- ^ a b c "Lieutenant General Patrick D. Frank". www.usarcent.army.mil. U.S. Army Central. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
- ^ a b "Frank promoted to brigadier general". www.army.mil. 9 December 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Major General Patrick D. Frank – General Officer Management Office". www.gomo.army.mil.
- ^ "Sumter Today: A Change of Command for U.S. Army Central". The Item. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
- ^ "Saudi, US officials explore expansion of bilateral military relations as Washington seeks to reassure". The Arab Weekly. 1 October 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
- ^ "US Names Career Diplomat for Gaza Ceasefire Monitor". The Defense Post. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
- ^ "General Officer Announcements". www.war.gov. U.S. Department of Defense. 18 December 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
- ^ "Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine Hold a Press Briefing". www.war.gov. U.S. Department of Defense. 2 March 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
- Living people
- Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs alumni
- Naval War College alumni
- St. Bonaventure University alumni
- United States Army generals
- United States Army personnel of the Gulf War
- United States Army personnel of the Iraq War
- United States Army personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- United States Army War College alumni
- College of Naval Command and Staff alumni
