Early Life and Education

Stephen James Townsend was born in 1959 in Scheinfeld, West Germany. He graduated from the University of North Georgia and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army in 1982. He was previously married to Melissa Crawford but is now divorced.

Military Career

After receiving his commission as a second lieutenant in 1982, Townsend served as platoon leader, executive officer and assistant plans, operations, and training officer (assistant S3) in 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 505th Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division. He participated in Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada. He was transferred to the 7th Infantry Division (Light) at Fort Ord as the 4th Battalion, 21st Infantry S3. He became commander of the battalion's Company A.

After being transferred to Fort Benning, Townsend became S3 (Air) and assistant S3 at 75th Ranger Regiment headquarters. He participated in Operation Just Cause in Panama and later became commander of Company C, 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Townsend graduated from the Command and General Staff College and returned to Fort Benning, where he was Senior Liaison Office for the 75th Ranger Regiment headquarters and the S3 of the 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.

He participated in Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti. Townsend was transferred to United States Pacific Command in Hawaii as J-5 Action Officer. He later became Special Assistant to the Combatant Commander. Townsend was sent to Fort Drum in New York, becoming S3 of the 2d Brigade, 78th Division (Training Support) in 1999. In 2000, he became commander of the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry in the 10th Mountain Division (Light). Townsend became commander of Task Force Polar Bear, deployed to Afghanistan during Operation Anaconda in 2002.

Townsend graduated from the United States Army War College and became Division G3 of the 10th Mountain Division (Light) in 2003. From 2004, he was Director of Operations, C/J3 for Combined Joint Task Force 180 during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Townsend was appointed commander of the 3d Brigade Combat Team, 2d Infantry Division at Fort Lewis. He led Task Force Arrowhead during the Iraq War. Townsend led the brigade in the Battle of Baqubah in June 2007.

Lt. Gen. Townsend and Col. Sylvia, Qayyarah, September 2016

Major Commands

10th Mountain Division (2012-2015)

Townsend commanded the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York, from 2012 to 2015. During his tenure, he focused on preparing the division for deployment and maintaining its readiness for global operations.

XVIII Airborne Corps (2015-2018)

On 4 May 2015, Townsend became commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps. He was promoted to lieutenant general shortly before. Townsend became commander of Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) – Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) on 21 August 2016, replacing Lieutenant General Sean MacFarland. In this capacity he commanded US forces as they engaged in an air war (supported by special forces and limited Marine deployments plus material and intelligence support to bolster allied ground forces) against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). U.S. airstrikes killed tens of thousands of ISIL fighters and catalyzed enormous losses in territory for them.

Under Townsend, the CJTF-OIR coalition together with allies from the Syrian Democratic Forces, the Iraqi Security Forces, and the Libyan Government of National Accord launched simultaneous successful offensives against ISIL's capitals in Syria, Iraq, and Libya respectively: the Raqqa campaign (2016–2017), the Battle of Mosul (2016–2017), and the Battle of Sirte (2016). By the end of 2017 ISIL no longer held any territory in Iraq or Libya, held very little territory in Syria, and was down to under ten thousand fighters in total. The Iraqi Parliament declared in December 2017 that ISIL had effectively been eradicated from Iraq, though ISIL insurgent activity continued regularly.

Army Training and Doctrine Command (2018-2019)

Townsend served as the commanding general of TRADOC, responsible for training and developing Army doctrine. His brief tenure focused on modernizing Army training methods and preparing for future conflicts.

United States Africa Command (2019-2022)

As the final command of his career, Townsend led U.S. Africa Command from 2019 to 2022. During this period, he oversaw U.S. military operations across the African continent, focusing on counterterrorism efforts and building partnerships with African nations.

Townsend receives the AFRICOM command guidon from acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Richard V. Spencer on 26 July 2019

Israel-Gaza War (2023-present)

As a serving United States Army four-star general, Townsend has been actively involved in providing strategic analysis and commentary on the ongoing Israel-Gaza War that began on October 7, 2023. His extensive experience in Middle East operations and counterterrorism has made him a key advisor for understanding the complex dynamics of the current conflict.

As a serving four-star general with deep experience in regional conflicts, Townsend has emphasized the importance of U.S. support for Israel's right to self-defense while advocating for humanitarian considerations and the protection of civilian populations. His insights draw from his extensive command experience in Iraq and Syria, where he led operations against ISIS and other terrorist organizations.

Townsend's analysis of the current conflict has focused on the strategic implications for regional stability, the role of Iran and its proxies, and the challenges of conducting military operations in densely populated urban environments. His expertise in counterterrorism operations has provided valuable perspective on the nature of the threat posed by Hamas and the broader security challenges in the region.

Through various media appearances and expert commentary, Townsend has advocated for a comprehensive approach to the conflict that addresses both immediate security concerns and long-term stability in the region. His military background and regional expertise continue to inform discussions about U.S. policy and support for allies in the Middle East.