Petraeus, David (1952– )

US commanding general of the Multi-National Force in Iraq (MNF-I). As commander of the 101st Airborne (air assault), he was part of V corps' charge from Kuwait to Baghdad. In the immediate aftermath of the Iraq War, the 101st Airborne under Petraeus brought the Iraqi town of Mosul under control and began helping thousands of Iraqi citizens back to work on reconstruction projects. The pacification of Mosul brought him into the media spotlight and he was subsequently made commanding general of the MNF-I.

He joined the military in 1974, having graduated from West Point Military Academy, New York, in the top 5% of his class. An infantry officer at heart, he progressed through Ranger school and took up postings that involved him in both the academic and practical side of the US army. In 1987, having taught at West Point, he achieved a Phd from Princeton University. He was part of the team that assembled the US army field manual on counter-insurgency techniques.

In 1991 he was shot through the chest by another soldier who had tripped and discharged his weapon, however within days of having surgery he had convinced the medical staff to discharge him by performing 50 press-ups.