5 Things About The New Neighbor: DCIA Petraeus

McLean has a new most important neighbor moving to town. President Obama in May nominated Lt. Gen. David Petraeus to lead our neighbor, the CIA. If you run into him at Greenberrys or McLean Family Restaurant, here are five things that might start a conversation for you:

1. Gen. David Petaeaus  was born and raised in Cornwall-on-Hudson,  N.Y. He graduated from Cornwall Central High School in 1970 and  from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1974. Lt. Gen. Petraeus was commissioned in the infantry upon graduation from West Point.
2. Petraeus married Holly Knowlton, the daughter of the West Point superintendent, Lt. Gen. William Knowlton. They have two children, a daughter, and a son, who is also in uniform. Mrs. Petraeus has been a champion for the fair treatment of military families.
3. He holds a  MPA and Ph.D. degrees in international relations from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.That's right, you can also call him Dr. Petraeus.
4. He has held leadership positions in airborne, mechanized, and air assault infantry units in Europe, the Middle East, and the United States, including command of a battalion in the 101st Airborne Division and a brigade in the 82nd Airborne Division. He is a Master Parachutist and Air Assault and Ranger qualified. He served in the U.S. Army for 37 years.
5. Gen. Petraeus, born on Nov. 7, 1952, prides himself on his athletic prowess. While in Iraq, he usually ran five miles six days a week, often besting the younger captains he took along with him. After the runs usually come a grueling regime of calisthenics. Well into his 50s, General Petraeus could do 17 pull-ups. Recently, though, questions have arisen about his health. In 2009, he underwent treatment for prostate cancer; he said he is now cured.