Antonio A. Aguto Jr. | |
|---|---|
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| Nickname | Tony |
| Born | (1966-11-18)18 November 1966 (age 59) Illinois, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Service years | 1988–2024 |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
| Commands | Security Assistance Group–Ukraine First United States Army 3rd Infantry Division 7th Army Training Command 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment 4th Squadron,2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment |
| Conflicts | Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (4) Bronze Star Medal (4) |
| Alma mater | United States Military Academy United States Army Command and General Staff College United States Naval War College |
Antonio Alzona Aguto Jr. (born 18 November 1966) is a retiredUnited States Armylieutenant general who served as the commander ofSecurity Assistance Group–Ukraine (SAGU) from 2022 to 2024. Before that, he was the commanding general ofFirst United States Army from 2021 to 2022 and the commanding general of the3rd Infantry Division from 2019 to 2021. Aguto was commissioned from theUnited States Military Academy in 1988 as anarmor officer and had multiple deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Antonio Alzona Aguto Jr.[1] was born on 18 November 1966.[2] His grandfather served in thePhilippine Scouts duringWorld War II and became a captain in theUnited States Army.[3] Aguto graduated from theUnited States Military Academy in 1988 with aBachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering. He later also graduated from theUnited States Army Command and General Staff College and theUnited States Naval War College.[4]
Aguto was commissioned anarmor officer from the United States Military Academy in 1988. As a young officer he served as a tank platoon leader, company executive officer and support platoon leader in the 4th Squadron,8th Cavalry Regiment,3rd Armored DivisionUnited States Army Europe duringOperations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Aguto later served as an armor company commander in 2nd Battalion,64th Armor,3rd Infantry Division and Headquarters Commander 1st Battalion,77th Armor,1st Infantry Division, United States Army Europe during operations inBosnia and Herzegovina; and aide-de-camp to the commander of 1st Infantry Division.[4]
Aguto later served as operations officer, J33 Readiness Division,Joint Staff and HQDA G3 Army Operations Center, Readiness Division. Following Command and General Staff College, Aguto served as squadron operations and executive officer,3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and as the regimental executive officer while deployed toOperation Iraqi Freedom from 2003 to 2004. From November 2005 to June 2006, Aguto commanded 2nd Squadron,14th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team,25th Infantry Division,Fort Lewis,Washington. Aguto became the commander of 4th Squadron,2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment after 1st Brigade reflagged to the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment on 1 June 2006 inVilseck,Germany. He commanded the squadron in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom inBaghdad andDiyala,Iraq from 2007 to 2008.[4]
From 2010 to 2012, Aguto commanded the11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at theNational Training Center,Fort Irwin,California. From 2012 to 2015, Aguto worked for the Army'sTraining and Doctrine Command both as the Chief of Staff, Combined Arms Center,Fort Leavenworth,Kansas and the executive officer to the commanding general,Fort Eustis,Virginia. Aguto was assigned as the deputy commanding general of operations,7th Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, from 2015 to 2016. During that time, he deployed toKandahar,Afghanistan to serve concurrently as the commanding general for Combined Joint Task Force-7 (CJTF-7), Train, Advise, Assist Command - South (TAAC-S) as part ofOperation Freedom's Sentinel and the NATOResolute Support Mission.[4] He was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans, and Training (G-3/5/7) ofU.S. Army Forces Command from May 2018 to May 2019.[5]
Aguto took command as the commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division on 3 June 2019 atFort Stewart,Georgia.[6] During his tenure, the division provided support duringHurricane Dorian and experienced theCOVID-19 pandemic. He relinquished command of the division on 21 June 2021.[7] After that, Aguto became the 40th commanding general of theUnited States First Army on 8 July 2021 atRock Island Arsenal,Illinois.[8][9][10][11] In November 2022 it was reported that Aguto was considered the leading candidate to become the first commander of theSecurity Assistance Group–Ukraine (SAGU), which was formed inGermany to replace theXVIII Airborne Corps in the role of supporting theArmed Forces of Ukraine during theRusso-Ukrainian war.[12][13] Aguto relinquished command of First Army on 2 December 2022[14] and took up his post as the commander of SAGU on 9 December.[15]
As of December 2023 Aguto was dispatched to Ukraine to improve the quality of advice afforded Ukraine during the winter offensive,[16] because Ukrainian officials have asked their counterparts for more "face time with senior military officials".[17][18] Aguto has warned of the vulnerability of U.S. precision guided weapons to electronic warfare in the Russo-Ukrainian war.[19] He relinquished command of Security Assistance Group–Ukraine to Lt. Gen.Curtis A. Buzzard on 5 August 2024.[15]
Aguto's awards and decorations include theLegion of Merit (4 oak leaf clusters),Bronze Star Medal (3 oak leaf clusters), theMeritorious Service Medal (2 oak leaf clusters), the Joint Staff Commendation Medal, theArmy Commendation Medal (2 oak leaf clusters), the Joint Staff Achievement Medal,Army Achievement Medal (4 oak leaf clusters), theNational Defense Service Medal (2 awards),NATO Medal,Parachutist Badge, Army and Joint Staff Badges.[4]
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| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Commanding General of the7th Army Training Command 2016–2018 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commanding General of the3rd Infantry Division 2019–2021 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commanding General of the First United States Army 2021–2022 | Succeeded by |
| Command established | Commander ofSecurity Assistance Group-Ukraine 2022–2024 | Succeeded by |