Walter E. Piatt

Walter E. Piatt (born 1958) is a United States Army lieutenant general who currently serves as the Director of the Army Staff. He enlisted in the army in 1979 and served four years as an infantryman. After graduating from Lock Haven University, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1987. Prior to assuming his current position Piatt was the Commanding General, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum.[1] His other assignments as a general officer include serving as the 52nd Chief of Infantry; Deputy Commanding General-Support, 10th Mountain Division; Commander, Joint Multinational Training Command; Deputy Commanding General, United States Army Europe; and director of Operations/director, Rapid Equipment Fielding, Army Rapid Capabilities Office.[2][3]

Walter E. Piatt
Lieutenant General Piatt
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1979–1983
1987–present
RankLieutenant General
Commands held10th Mountain Division
Joint Multinational Training Command
United States Army Infantry Center
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
Battles/warsIraq War
War in Afghanistan
Operation Inherent Resolve
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (5)
Bronze Star Medal (5)

On January 6, 2021, during the storming of the United States Capitol and an hour and a half after the west side defensive perimeter had been breached,[4] according to Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, Piatt critically delayed or ignored Sund's request for National Guard support, stating, "I don’t like the visual of the National Guard standing a police line with the Capitol in the background," despite this being a stark contrast to the protests of the previous year.[5][6]

Attack on the United States Capitol

Piatt was called and was asked for assistance during the attack on the Capitol on January 6th, 2021.[7] General Piatt has come under criticism for slow-rolling a vital life-saving deployment of National Guard forces to the attack on the Capitol for several hours.[8][6] Capitol Police chief Steven Sund identified Piatt's role during his call to the Army Staff during the early afternoon on January 6th, 2021; Sund had been requesting emergency backup for the Capitol Police at the suggestion of then-House Sergeant-at-Arms Paul Irving, and then-Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Michael Stenger,[6] after it became clear that the 1300-member police force on-duty was overwhelmed by 8000 protestors arriving from a rally at the Ellipse by the White House. The Washington Post reported that Piatt denied the request saying he didn't have the authority to approve it.[6][9]

Awards and decorations
  Combat Infantry Badge
  Ranger tab
  Basic Parachutist Badge
  Air Assault Badge
  10th Mountain Division Combat Service Identification Badge
  Army Staff Identification Badge
  Basic Chilean Parachutist Badge
  27th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
  8 Overseas Service Bars
Army Distinguished Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with four oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star with four oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three campaign stars
Iraq Campaign Medal with four campaign stars
Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with one campaign star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal with one bronze service star
NCO Professional Development Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 9
NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia

References
  1. Fort Drum Public Affairs (March 29, 2019). "Army announces next assignment, promotion for Fort Drum, 10th Mountain Division commander". United States Army. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  2. "Deputy Commanding General Maj. Gen. Walter E. Piatt". United States Army Europe. United States Army. Archived from the original on August 7, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  3. Army Public Affairs (January 24, 2017). "General Officer Assignments". United States Army. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  4. Jaclyn Diaz (January 11, 2021). "Ex-Capitol Police Chief Says Requests For National Guard Denied 6 Times In Riots". NPR. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  5. Mazzetti, Mark; Cooper, Helene; Steinhauer, Jennifer; Kanno-Youngs, Zolan; Broadwater, Luke (11 January 2021). "Inside a Deadly Siege: How a String of Failures Led to a Dark Day at the Capitol". The New York Times.
  6. Leonnig, Carol D.; Davis, Aaron C.; Hermann, Peter; Demirjian, Karoun. "Outgoing Capitol Police chief: House, Senate security officials hamstrung efforts to call in National Guard". Washington Post.
  7. Craig Fox (12 Jan 2021) Former Fort Drum general involved in controversy over calling for reinforcements during Capitol riots
  8. Mazzetti, Mark; Cooper, Helene; Steinhauer, Jennifer; Kanno-Youngs, Zolan; Broadwater, Luke (Jan 11, 2021). "Inside a Deadly Siege: How a String of Failures Led to a Dark Day at the Capitol". Retrieved Jan 12, 2021 – via NYTimes.com.
  9. The Washington Post (January 11, 2021) Backup was denied, former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund says Timeline
Military offices
Preceded by
Jeffrey L. Bannister		 Commanding General, 10th Mountain Division
2017–2019		 Succeeded by
Brian J. Mennes
Preceded by
Joseph M. Martin		 Director of the Army Staff
2019–present		 Incumbent


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