Move Back
![Frank Hagenbeck]()
Major General Frank Hagenbeck greets Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld upon arrival at the Bagram base north of Kabul. Hagenbeck was the U.S. Commander in Afghanistan from December 2001 until May 2002. He was in charge of 5,200 troops.![Dan McNeill]()
General Dan McNeill (left), Commander of the International Security Assistance Force, shakes hands with Major General Jacko Page of Great Britain. McNeill was U.S. Commander in Afghanistan from May 2002 until May 2003 and from February 2007 until June 2008. He was in charge of more than 10,000 troops in 2003 and 30,000 in 2008.![John Vines]()
Lieutenant-General John Vines meets with Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari in Baghdad in January 2006. General Vines, who served as chief of Multi-National Force Iraq, was the U.S. Commander in Afghanistan from May 2003 until October 2003. Vines had 10,400 troops under his command.![David Barno]()
Lieutenant-General David Barno speaks during an interview with Reuters in Kabul. General Barno was the U.S. Commander in Afghanistan from November 2003 until May 2005. In 2003, 10,400 troops were under his command. In 2005, that number shot up to 19,100.![Karl Eikenberry]()
Lieutenant-General Karl Eikenberry speaks at a change-of-command ceremony in Kabul. General Eikenberry was the U.S. Commander in Afghanistan from May 2005 until February 2007. He was in charge of 19,100 troops in 2005. In 2007, more than 23,000 troops were under his command.![Dan McNeill]()
Army General Dan McNeill meets with President George W. Bush in the Oval Office at the White House. General McNeill was U.S. Commander in Afghanistan from May 2002 until May 2003 and from February 2007 until June 2008. He was in charge of more than 10,000 troops in 2003 and 30,000 in 2008.![David McKiernan]()
Army General David McKiernan greets Defense Secretary Robert Gates upon his arrival in Kabul. General McKiernan was on the job from June 2008 until June 2009, when he was replaced by General Stanley McChrystal. There were 37,000 active troops at the beginning of McKiernan's command. At the end, the number shot up to 68,000.![Stanley McChrystal]()
General Stanley McChrystal delivers a speech in London. General McChrystal took over in June and commands 68,000 troops. He is looking for an additional 40,000 troops.Top U.S. Commanding Officers in Afghanistan
The U.S. committed 5,200 troops when the war in Afghanistan began late in 2001. Now there are 68,000, and President Obama is considering a request to send as many as 40,000 more. During the eight years of the war, there have been eight commanding officers. Here is a look at the eight men who have been tasked with winning this difficult war.
Move Forward
- Top U.S. Commanding Officers in Afghanistan
