Meet Brigadier General John Cushing, a remarkable leader in the U.S. Army. He is the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM).
Who Is John M. Cushing?
Before his current role, Brigadier General Cushing was in charge of operations in the U.S. Army Recruiting Command, where his main responsibility was to find and recruit exceptional individuals for the Army. He believes that people are the Army’s top priority and crucial for its progress. Keep reading to know more about this leader:
General Cushing is from Rochester, Michigan, and became an armor officer after graduating from West Point. He has served in different roles in the U.S. and overseas. He went to Iraq during Operation Inherent Resolve, Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom, and had two tours in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The Career Journey of Brig. Gen. John M. Cushing
Brig. Gen.l John M. Cushing has a distinguished and varied career in the U.S. Army, demonstrating leadership and expertise across multiple roles and assignments. Currently serving as the Commanding General of U.S. Army DEVCOM at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, he oversees critical operations in defense research and development. Before this, he served as the Deputy Commanding General of operations at the U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC).
Brigadier General Cushing’s career includes command assignments such as Deputy Commanding General – Support for the 3rd Infantry DIV and Brigade Commander of the US Army 1st Recruiting Brigade. He also served as Chief of Staff and Deputy Commanding Officer for Sustainment during a deployment to Iraq. His earlier experiences include commanding a squadron of 500 cavalry troopers during Operation New Dawn in Iraq and serving as Brigade Executive Officer for the 3rd Infantry DIV. He was also an Associate Professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Catch Gen. John M. Cushing at the Potomac Officers Club’s 10th Annual Defense Summit
Gen. John Cushing is one of the speakers at the 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit. He’ll be joined by a lineup of speakers, including Heidi Shyu, Aditi Kumar, and Stephen Shelby. Together, they will dive into the latest advancements in technology for the U.S. military.
Hosted by the Potomac Officers Club, this summit is just the beginning of an action-packed series of monthly events planned for next year. The day-long summit will feature speeches from these influential leaders and panel discussions. These topics will explore the intense competition among global powers to track the journey of technology from innovation to real-world implementation.
The event will take place in the Tysons Corner area of Virginia. As with all Potomac Officers Club gatherings, this summit presents an excellent opportunity to pose your most challenging questions to the esteemed speakers and to network with peers and competitors. It’s an event you won’t want to miss!
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Gen. John M. Cushing on Military Recruitment Shortage
Brigadier General John Cushing understands that recruiting is tough these days. As a former deputy commanding general of Army Recruiting Command, he’s impressed by the men and women joining up. Gen. Cushing believes the current generation is smarter and more tech-savvy than his own. He thinks that’s what the military needs. However, he insists that the Army has certain standards that must be met. Quality matters more than quantity.
The general feels they haven’t done a good job informing young people about the opportunities in the Army. He says today’s young adults, Generation Z, care more about the present than the future. They want to know what they’ll get right now, not about retirement plans. He worries that there’s a lack of willingness to support and serve the country among this generation.
But Brig. Gen. John M. Cushing is quite optimistic. He believes that if given a chance, his recruiters can convince young people that the Army should be their first choice, not their last. He simply asks them about their dreams and explains how the Army can help achieve them.
