Commander, U.S. Central Command

General David Thompson Nguyen currently serves as the 9th Commander of the United States Central Command. 

David, a native of Saigon, Vietnam, was born into an influential family. His father, Bảo Đại, was the last emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty in Vietnam. As war broke out in Vietnam during the First Indochina War, his father worried for his safety. Major Bill Thompson, a military advisor under the Military Assistance Advisory Group sent by President Harris S. Truman, fought hard to take David under his wing and adopt him. Emperor Bảo Đại agreed in the adoption and David moved to the United States in 1951. In the States, David lived a regular American life. He went fishing on the weekends, went to church on Sunday, and participated in the Scouting program. He eventually earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. David, influenced from his father, applied and received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1963. 

Cadet David Nguyen loved life at West Point. He took part in the West Point Baseball Team and in many clubs. He rose up in the cadet ranks and became a regimental commander. At West Point, he met Lillian Hatch, the daughter of a Lieutenant Colonel who served in West Point's staff. As the Vietnam Conflict grew worse in 1965, many cadets including Nguyen were motivated to get involved. David Nguyen graduated and commissioned from the US Military Academy in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science Degree. 

The newly promoted Second Lieutenant Nguyen reported to Fort Benning for the Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course (IBOLC), US Army Ranger School, and US Army Airborne School. 

Lieutenant Nguyen served two tours to Vietnam as a platoon leader in the 3-187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division from 1967 through 1970.  He fought in many assaults such as the Tet Offensive and the Battle of Hamburger Hill.

Following his tours, Nguyen reported to Fort Bragg to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course. He earned his green beret in 1970 and deployed to Vietnam for a third time, starting his career in Special Forces. He served as a Detachment Commander for Detachment A-321, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) for only a few months. He was then assigned to serve as Team Leader in the infamous Recon Team Florida, Command & Control North (CCN), MACV-SOG. As MACV-SOG began to downsize towards the end of the war, Captain Nguyen went back to the states serving as a Cadre at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School until 1975. He enjoyed his time at JFKSWCS, teaching fellow soldiers what he learned from his three deployments. As tension rose in Europe, CPT. Nguyen was then assigned as the Battalion S-3 (Operations) Officer for 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group in Germany. Following his tour as S-3 in 1977, he was invited to attend the Operator Training Course to be selected into the newly formed 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment–Delta also known as "Delta Force." In SFOD-D, he served as a troop commander from 1978-1981. He participated in Operation Eagle Claw during his time in the unit. He loved his time in combat, but hung the coat to focus on post graduate education and administrative positions within the Department of Defense.

His field grade assignments include Battalion Commander, 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) (1982-1985), Student, United States Army Command and General Staff College (1986-1986), Student, National War College (1987-1987), Senior Military Assistant to the Commanding General, U.S. Central Command (1987-1991), Deputy Commanding General, United States Army Special Operations Command (1992-1995), Commanding General, John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (1995-1999), Commanding General, United States Army Special Operations Command (2000-2003), Commanding General, United States Army Central (2004-2006), Commanding General, United States Central Command (2007-present). 

General David J. Nguyen continues to be well known in the Special Forces Community. He is happily married to Lillian Hatch Nguyen and has five children. Two of his children currently serve in the Department of Defense. He currently holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science Degree from USMA at West Point; Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from United States Army Command and General Staff College; Masters Degree in National Security Studies from the National War College; and Master of Business Administration from Harvard University.