Charles R. Hamilton


Charles R. Hamilton is a retired United States Army officer who served in various logistics and command roles during his 43-year military career. He most recently served as the commanding general of the United States Army Materiel Command from March 16, 2023, to March 22, 2024.

Early life and education

Hamilton was born in Houston, Texas, and enlisted in the United States Army in 1982. After completing basic and individual training, he was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas. In 1988, he graduated from Officer Candidate School as a Distinguished Military Graduate and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps.
Hamilton earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Virginia State University in 1990. He later received a Master of Public Administration from Central Michigan University and a Master of Military Studies from the Marine Corps University. He is a graduate of the , a component of the Senior Service College Fellowship.
He also attended executive education at the Center for Creative Leadership in Colorado Springs and Harvard Business School, where he completed programs in corporate performance, private equity, and venture capital.

Military career

Hamilton enlisted in the Army in 1981. He earned his commission via Officer Candidate School in the Quartermaster Corps, as distinguished military graduate, in 1988. Hamilton held a variety of command and staff positions throughout his career:
Hamilton deployed multiple times to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, including assignments leading logistics and sustainment operations.
His previous positions also included service as:
He was promoted to four-star general in March 2023 and assumed command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command, overseeing global logistics and sustainment operations across the Army. In this role, Hamilton led a workforce of 190,000 military, civilian, and contractor personnel, impacting all 50 U.S. states and more than 150 countries with an annual budget of over $50 billion.
He also served on several Department of Defense boards, including as chairman of the Defense Commissary Agency and the Army & Air Force Exchange Board of Directors.

Suspension and retirement

On March 22, 2024, Hamilton was suspended by the Secretary of the Army pending an investigation into allegations that he influenced the Battalion Commander Assessment Program in favor of a subordinate who had failed the initial assessment. The subordinate, a lieutenant colonel, was not accused of wrongdoing, but the investigation alleged that Hamilton had an inappropriate relationship with her and had improperly intervened in the selection process.
The case was referred to the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, and Hamilton was temporarily reassigned while retaining his four-star rank. Following the conclusion of the investigation, he was officially relieved of command on December 10, 2024. Hamilton later retired from the Army after more than four decades of service.

Later career

After retiring, Hamilton founded C3R Hamilton Consulting Group, LLC, a strategic consulting firm specializing in corporate operations, supply chain optimization, and national security issues.
He has also appeared as a commentator on national security issues for outlets including Fox News and the BBC, discussing ceasefire proposals in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine.

Publications

Hamilton has written and co-authored several works on logistics and sustainment, including:
  • "101st Validates for Deployment"
  • "The Road to Predictive Logistics"
  • "Driving Readiness at Echelon"
  • "The Art and Science of Educating Today's Sustainers for Tomorrow's Operations"
He was frequently cited in military and defense publications for his views on predictive sustainment, contested logistics, and modernization of the Army's materiel enterprise.

Awards and decorations

Hamilton's decorations include:
He is also a recipient of the:
Hamilton was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by Virginia State University and was inducted into the Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame.