About General Robert W. Cone
Robert W. Cone was born on March 19, 1957 in Manchester, New Hampshire to Donald and Marie Cone. After graduating Memorial High School in 1975, Cone joined the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1979 as a Second Lieutenant with a Bachelor of Science and entered the U.S. Army as an Armor Officer. In 2004, Cone, at this point a Brigadier General, assumed command of National Training Center Fort Irwin. He commanded NTC Fort Irwin for 33 months making him its longest-serving Commanding General at the time. BG Cone pioneered the establishment of the Joint Center of Operational Excellence to train the defeat of improvised explosive devices, resulting in countless lives saved. On September 19, 2016 GEN Robert Cone (Ret.) was laid to rest in National Arlington Cemetery. His grave is marked by a traditional tombstone with four-stars, a cross, and his original philosophy, "Leadership is a privilege."