Editing Tommy Franks

{{Short description|American general (born 1945)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}

{{Infobox military person
| name          = Tommy Franks
| image         = Gen. Tommy Franks CENTCOM.jpg
| image_size    = 
| alt           = 
| caption       = Official portrait, 2000
| nickname      = 
| birth_name    = Tommy Ray Bentley
| birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1945|06|17|df=y}}
| birth_place   = [[Wynnewood, Oklahoma|Wynnewood]], [[Oklahoma]], U.S.
| death_date    = 
| death_place   = 
| placeofburial = 
| spouse        = {{marriage|Cathryn Carley|1969|}}
| allegiance    = United States
| branch        = [[United States Army]]
| serviceyears  = 1965–2003
| rank          = [[File:US Army O10 shoulderboard rotated.svg|25px]] [[General (United States)|General]]
| servicenumber = 
| unit          = 
| commands      = [[United States Central Command]]<br/>[[Third United States Army]]<br/>[[2nd Infantry Division (United States)|2nd Infantry Division]]<br/>[[82nd Field Artillery Regiment (United States)|82nd Field Artillery Regiment]]<br/>2nd Battalion, 78th Field Artillery
| battles       = {{hidden
|See list
|{{tree list}}
* '''[[Vietnam War]]'''
* '''[[Gulf War]]'''
* '''[[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]]'''
** [[Operation Crescent Wind]]
** [[Fall of Mazar-i-Sharif]]
** [[Siege of Kunduz]]
** [[Fall of Kabul (2001)|Fall of Kabul]]
** [[2001 uprising in Herat|Herat Uprising]]
** [[Fall of Kandahar]]
** [[Battle of Qala-i-Jangi]]
** [[Battle of Tora Bora]]
* '''[[Iraq War]]'''
** [[2003 attack on Karbala|Karbala Attack (2003)]]
** [[Battle of Baghdad (2003)|Battle of Baghdad]]
{{tree list/end}}
|-
|headerstyle=background:#dbdbdb
|style=text-align:center;
}}
| awards        = {{nowrap|[[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]] (3)}}<br/>[[Army Distinguished Service Medal]] (2)<br/>[[Legion of Merit]] (3)<br/>[[Bronze Star Medal]] (5)<br/>[[Purple Heart]] (3)<br/>[[Presidential Medal of Freedom]]<br/>[[Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (United Kingdom)
| relations     = 
| alma_mater     = [[University of Texas at Arlington]]
| laterwork     = 
}}
'''Tommy Ray Franks''' (born 17 June 1945) is a retired [[United States Army]] [[General (United States)|general]]. His last army post was as the Commander of the [[United States Central Command]], overseeing [[United States Armed Forces|United States military]] operations in a 25-country region, including the [[Middle East]]. Franks succeeded General [[Anthony Zinni]] to this position on 6 July 2000 and served until his retirement on 7 July 2003.
Franks was the United States general leading the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|attack on the Taliban in Afghanistan]] in response to the [[September 11 attacks]] on the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]] and [[The Pentagon]] in 2001. He also oversaw the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] and the overthrow of [[Saddam Hussein]].

==Early life and education==
Franks was born '''Tommy Ray Bentley''' in [[Wynnewood, Oklahoma]], and was adopted by Ray and Lorene "Pete" Parker Franks. Franks attended [[Midland High School (Midland, Texas)|Midland High School]] and graduated from [[Robert E. Lee High School (Midland, Texas)|Robert E. Lee High School]] in [[Midland, Texas]] one year ahead of [[First Lady of the United States|First Lady]] [[Laura Bush]].{{sfn|Franks|2004|page=23}}  He attended the [[University of Texas at Austin]], where he was a brother of [[Delta Upsilon]] International Fraternity. He dropped out of college after two years due to subpar grades and lack of motivation. Franks decided to give himself a "jolt" and joined the [[United States Army]].<ref>{{cite web|date= 9 March 2003|url= https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/March|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160305100052/http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/March|url-status= dead|archive-date= 5 March 2016|title= Texas general takes sharpest of minds into Iraq conflict|publisher= [[Associated Press]]|access-date = 10 April 2008}}</ref>

Later, through the military, Franks was able to enroll at the [[University of Texas at Arlington]], where he graduated with a [[Bachelor of Business Administration]] degree in 1971. He also holds a [[Master of Public Administration|Master of Science in Public Administration]] from the [[Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania]] and is a graduate of the [[Armed Forces Staff College]] and the [[United States Army War College|Army War College]].<ref name="Fr01" />

==Military career==
Franks enlisted in the [[United States Army]] in 1965 and attended [[United States Army Basic Training|Basic Training]] at [[Fort Leonard Wood (military base)|Fort Leonard Wood]], [[Missouri]] and received his Advanced Individual Training as a [[cryptanalysis|cryptologic analyst]] at [[Fort Devens]], [[Massachusetts]]. Standing out among his peers in outstanding marksmanship and leadership qualities, [[Private First Class]] Franks was selected to attend the [[Officer Candidate School (U.S. Army)|Artillery and Missile Officer Candidate School]], [[Fort Sill]], [[Oklahoma]] and was commissioned a [[second lieutenant]] in February 1967.<ref>Tommy Franks (2004), "American Soldier," 49-56. Franks writes on page 49 that he had "lugged my duffle bag under the steel arch topped with the sign reading "Robinson Barracks, United States Army Artillery Officer Cadet School."</ref> After an initial tour as a battery Assistant Executive Officer at Fort Sill, he was assigned to the [[9th Infantry Division (United States)|9th Infantry Division]] in [[Vietnam]], where he served as [[forward observer]], [[aerial observer]], and Assistant S-3 with [[4th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)|2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery]]. He also served as Fire Direction Officer and Fire Support Officer with [[60th Infantry Regiment (United States)|5th Battalion (mechanized), 60th Infantry]] during this tour.

In 1968, Franks returned to Fort Sill, where he commanded a cannon battery in the Artillery Training Center. In 1969, he was selected to participate in the Army's "Boot Strap Degree Completion Program", and subsequently attended the [[University of Texas at Arlington]], where he finished his [[bachelor's degree]] in 1971. Following attendance at the Artillery Officer Advanced Course, he was assigned to the [[2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment]] in West Germany in 1973, where he commanded the 1st Squadron Howitzer Battery and served as Squadron S-3. He also commanded the 84th Armored Engineer Company, and served as Regimental Assistant S-3 during this tour.

Franks, after graduating from the [[Armed Forces Staff College]], was posted to [[The Pentagon]] in 1976, where he served as an Army [[Inspector General]] in the Investigations Division. In 1977 he was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Staff, Army where he served on the Congressional Activities Team, and subsequently as an Executive Assistant.

In 1981, Franks returned to West Germany where he commanded the 2nd Battalion, 78th Field Artillery (1st Armored Division) for three years. He returned to the United States in 1984 to attend the [[United States Army War College|Army War College]] at [[Carlisle, Pennsylvania]], where he also completed graduate studies at the [[Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania]]. He was next assigned to [[Fort Hood]], [[Texas]], as [[III Corps (United States)|III Corps]] Deputy Assistant G3, a position he held until 1987 when he assumed command of [[1st Cavalry Division Artillery (United States)|1st Cavalry Division Artillery]]. He also served as Chief of Staff, [[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Cavalry Division]] during this tour.

Franks's initial general officer assignment was Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver), 1st Cavalry Division during [[Gulf War#Operation Desert Shield|Operation Desert Shield]] and [[Gulf War|Operation Desert Storm]]. During 1991–1992, he was assigned as Assistant [[Commandant]] of the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill. In 1992, he was assigned to [[Fort Monroe, Virginia]] as the first Director, Louisiana Maneuvers Task Force, Office of Chief of Staff of the Army, a position held until 1994 when he was reassigned to South Korea as the CJG3 of Combined Forces Command and United States Forces Korea.

From 1995 to 1997, Franks commanded the [[2nd Infantry Division (United States)|2nd Infantry Division]], Korea. He assumed command of [[Third United States Army]]/Army Forces Central Command in Atlanta, Georgia in May 1997, a post he held until June 2000 when he was selected for promotion to general and assignment as Commander in Chief, [[United States Central Command]]. Franks was the United States general leading the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|2001 invasion of Afghanistan]] and the overthrow of the [[Taliban]] in government in response to the [[September 11 attacks]]. He also led the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] and the overthrow of [[Saddam Hussein]].

Critics of Franks's tenure as commander of United States forces in Afghanistan cite his failure to deploy 800 [[United States Army Rangers]] to the [[Battle of Tora Bora]] as a key factor in allowing [[Osama bin Laden]] to escape into Pakistan. [[Peter Bergen]], a prominent journalist and expert on Osama bin Laden and [[al-Qaeda]], described Franks's decision as "one of the greatest military blunders in recent US history," which allowed al-Qaeda to recover and begin to mount an insurgency.<ref>{{cite magazine| url = http://www.tnr.com/article/the-battle-tora-bora| title = "The Battle for Tora Bora&nbsp;– How Osama bin Laden slipped from our grasp: The definitive account"| magazine = The New Republic| date = 30 December 2009| last1 = Bergen| first1 = Peter}}</ref> Franks defended his decision with the support of other prominent US military leaders, citing a lack of conclusive evidence that bin-Laden was at Tora Bora,<ref>Bergen, Peter. Manhunt: The Ten Year Search for Bin Laden From 9/11 to Abottabad. 2012. p. 50-51</ref> but Bergen and other critics, including the [[Delta Force]] commander at Tora Bora, [[Dalton Fury]], claimed that the evidence that bin-Laden was present at the battle was very robust; Fury claimed that his team came within 2,000 meters of bin Laden's suspected position, but withdrew because of uncertainty over the number of al-Qaeda fighters guarding bin Laden and a lack of support from allied Afghan troops.<ref name="cbsnews.com">Efran, Shawn (producer), "[https://web.archive.org/web/20081003102018/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/02/60minutes/main4494937.shtml Army Officer Recalls Hunt For Bin Laden]", [[60 Minutes]], ''[[CBS News]]'', 5 October 2008.</ref>

Franks's retirement was announced on 22 May 2003. Secretary [[Donald Rumsfeld]] reportedly offered him the position of [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army]], but he declined.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Grossman|first=Elaine|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24819977|title=News analysis: SCHOOMAKER CHOICE SENDS RIPPLE EFFECT THROUGH ARMY AND BEYOND|date=4 August 2003|access-date=13 October 2024|journal=Inside the Army|volume=15|issue=31|pages=13–15|publisher=Inside Washington Publishers|jstor=24819977 }}</ref> On 7 July 2003 Franks's retirement took effect.

Franks's awards include the [[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]]; [[Army Distinguished Service Medal]] (two awards); [[Legion of Merit]] (four awards); [[Bronze Star Medal]] with [[Valor device]] and four [[oak leaf clusters]]; [[Purple Heart]] (two oak leaf clusters); [[Air Medal]] with Valor Device; [[Army Commendation Medal]] with Valor Device; and a number of U.S. and foreign service awards. He wears the [[Army Staff Identification Badge]] and the [[Aircraft Crewmember's Badge]]. He is an [[Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]. In 2004, President George W. Bush awarded him the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]]

===Iraq War===
[[File:US Navy 030416-D-0000D-001 Gen. Tommy Franks, Commander, U.S. Forces Central Command (CENTCOM).jpg|thumb|Gen. Franks touring the ruins of one of Saddam Hussein's palaces in April 2003]]
Authors suggest that Franks was worn down by repeated pressure from U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to reduce the number of U.S. troops in war plans and cancel the deployment of the 1st Cavalry Division, a scheduled follow-on unit that was slated for deployment in April 2003.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dash to Baghdad Left Top U.S. Generals Divided|last1=Gordon|first1=Michael R.|last2=Trainor|first2=Bernard E.|date=13 March 2006|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/13/world/middleeast/dash-to-baghdad-left-top-us-generals-divided.html|access-date=11 March 2022}}</ref> More generally, they argue Franks's command was somewhat understandably focused on the immediate task in front of it&nbsp;– defeating Saddam Hussein and taking Baghdad&nbsp;– and few were willing to divert resources away from that effort and toward the long-term post-war needs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Persian Gulf War {{!}} Summary, Dates, Combatants, Casualties, Syndrome, Map, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Persian-Gulf-War |access-date=16 May 2022 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

The writers also question his decision during the war to keep sealift ships carrying the equipment for the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at sea instead of bringing the equipment ashore in Kuwait sooner so the division could have entered Iraq earlier than it did to add to the force levels in post-war Iraq. Franks argues that by keeping the ships at sea the Iraqis were deceived into believing a U.S. attack was yet to come from the north through Turkey, though Colin Powell and others have questioned his view.<ref>Plan of Attack, Bob Woodward, 2004</ref>

Franks wanted to retire after the major combat phase of the war, tired from planning and prosecuting two major wars and leading the overall war on terrorism since September 2001. As a result, Gordon and Trainor argue he was slow to act during the crucial months following the fall of [[Baghdad]]. They suggest there was a leadership void at U.S. Central Command because his two deputies, [[Michael Delong]] and [[John Abizaid]], were at odds with each other until Abizaid succeeded Franks in the middle of the summer of 2003. Delong retired with a bitter taste in his mouth and wrote his own book regarding the leadership failures in the headquarters. They also note that there was a command transition in Iraq as V Corps and General Ricardo Sanchez took command of U.S. forces in Iraq without being fully resourced and trained for the mission in advance.<ref>COBRA II Gordon and Trainor 2006</ref>

In ''[[Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq]]'', veteran defense and Pentagon reporter [[Thomas E. Ricks (journalist)|Thomas E. Ricks]] echoes criticism from officers who had served under Franks who put forth that, while tactically sound, he lacked the strategic mindset and overall intellect necessary for the task. Some close to him argued he was more thoughtful than he seemed, was aware that Secretary Rumsfeld and his staff were unable to discuss the Iraq War in military terms and had an obligation to put forth stronger objections to the civilian control of military planning. While demanding and goal oriented he was also criticized for being unwilling to countenance alternate viewpoints and for detaching himself from day-to-day affairs when the ground war ceased and he prepared for retirement.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

====Weapons of mass destruction====
According to ''Time'' magazine, on 21 November 2003, Franks said that in the event of another terrorist attack, American constitutional liberties might be discarded by popular demand in favor of a military state. Discussing the hypothetical dangers posed to the US in the wake of the [[September 11 attacks|9/11 attacks]], Franks said that "the worst thing that could happen" is if terrorists acquire and then use a biological, chemical or nuclear weapon that inflicts heavy casualties. If that happens, Franks said, "... the Western world, the free world, loses what it cherishes most, and that is freedom and liberty we've seen for a couple of hundred years in this grand experiment that we call democracy." Franks then offered "in a practical sense" what he thinks would happen in the aftermath of such an attack.

"It means the potential of a weapon of mass destruction and a terrorist, massive, casualty-producing event somewhere in the Western world&nbsp;– it may be in the United States of America&nbsp;– that causes our population to question our own Constitution and to begin to militarize our country in order to avoid a repeat of another mass, casualty-producing event. Which in fact, then begins to unravel the fabric of our Constitution."

"[No] one in this country probably was more surprised than I when weapons of mass destruction were not used against our troops as they moved toward Baghdad," said Franks on 2 December 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200408/s1177570.htm|title=Retired general 'surprised' no WMD found|first=Joby|last=Warrick|work=CNN|date=16 August 2004|access-date=22 June 2011}}</ref>

====Service summary====
'''Dates of rank'''
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Insignia !! Rank !! Date
|-
|{{center|[[File:Army-USA-OR-02-2015.svg|40px]]}} || [[Private second class]] || 1965
|-
|{{center|[[File:US-O1 insignia.svg|15px]]}} || [[Second lieutenant#United States|Second Lieutenant]] || 1967
|-
|{{center|[[File:US-OF1A.svg|15px]]}} || [[First Lieutenant (United States)|First Lieutenant]] || 1968
|-
|{{center|[[File:US-O3 insignia.svg|40px]]}} || [[Captain (U.S. Army)|Captain]] || 1969
|-
|{{center|[[File:US-O4 insignia.svg|40px]]}} || [[Major (United States)|Major]] || 1978
|-
|{{center|[[File:US-O5 insignia.svg|40px]]}} || [[Lieutenant Colonel (United States)|Lieutenant Colonel]] || 1982
|-
|{{center|[[File:US-O6 insignia.svg|60px]]}} || [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]] || 1987
|-
|{{center|[[File:US-O7 insignia.svg|33px]]}} || [[Brigadier General (United States)|Brigadier General]] || 1991
|-
|{{center|[[File:US-O8 insignia.svg|66px]]}} || [[Major General (United States)|Major General]] || 1994
|-
|{{center|[[File:US-O9 insignia.svg|99px]]}} || [[Lieutenant General (United States)|Lieutenant General]] || 1997
|-
|{{center|[[File:US-O10 insignia.svg|132px]]}} || [[General (United States)|General]] || 2000
|}

'''Awards and decorations'''

'''Left breast'''
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan="3"|[[File:ArmyAvitBadge.gif|240px]]
|-
|colspan="3"|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=4|other_device=v|type=oak|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Purple Heart BAR.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=5|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Service ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|other_device= |type=oak|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}<span style="position:relative; top: 1px; left: -80px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Valor device.svg|22px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 1px; left: -51px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Award numeral 9.png|20px]]</span>
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|other_device=v|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Army Achievement Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Good Conduct Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}
|-
|[[File:Presidential Medal of Freedom (ribbon).svg|border|106px]]
|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg{{!}}border|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Service Ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=numeral|ribbon=Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg|width=106}}<span style="position:relative; top: 1px; left: -64px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Award numeral 4.png|20px]]</span>
|[[File:Order of the British Empire (Military) Ribbon.png|border|104px]]
|[[File:Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|border|106px]]
|-
|[[File:Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg|border|106px]]
|[[File:Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg|border|106px]]
|[[File:Cheon-Su Security Medal Ribbon.png|border|106px]] 
|-
|colspan="3"|[[File:Seal of the United States Central Command.png|160px]]
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="12"|[[Aircraft Crewmember's Badge]]
|-
|colspan="12"|[[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]] <br /> with 2 [[oak leaf clusters]]{{sfn|Franks|2004|page=623}}
|-
|[[Army Distinguished Service Medal]] <br /> with 1 oak leaf cluster
|[[Legion of Merit]] <br /> with 2 oak leaf clusters
|[[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] <br /> with [["V" device]] and 4 oak leaf clusters
|-
|[[Purple Heart]] <br /> with 2 oak leaf clusters
|[[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]] <br /> with 5 oak leaf clusters
|[[Air Medal]] <br /> with "V" device and [[award numeral]] 9
|-
|[[Army Commendation Medal]] <br /> with "V" device
|[[Army Achievement Medal]] <br /> with 1 oak leaf cluster
|[[Army Good Conduct Medal]]
|-
|[[Presidential Medal of Freedom]]
|[[National Defense Service Medal]] <br /> with 2 [[service stars]]
|[[Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal]]
|-
|[[Vietnam Service Medal]] <br /> with 2 [[campaign stars]]
|[[Southwest Asia Service Medal]] <br /> with 2 [[campaign stars]]
|[[Army Service Ribbon]]
|-
|[[Army Overseas Service Ribbon]] <br /> with award numeral 4
|[[Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]
|[[Vietnam Campaign Medal]]
|-
|[[Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)|Kuwait Liberation Medal]] <br /> ([[Saudi Arabia]])
|[[Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)|Kuwait Liberation Medal]] <br /> ([[Kuwait]])
|[[Order of National Security Merit (Korea)|Cheon-Su Security Medal]]
|-
|colspan="12"|[[United States Central Command]] Badge
|}

'''Right breast'''
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan="3"|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Valorous_Unit_Award_ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}
|[[File:Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png|border|106px]]
|[[File:Civil Action Unit Citation.png|border|106px]]
|-
|colspan="3"| [[File:United States Army Staff Identification Badge.png|160px]]
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan="12"|[[Joint Meritorious Unit Award]]
|-
|[[Valorous Unit Award]]
|[[Vietnam Gallantry Cross|Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Ribbon]]
|[[Vietnam Civil Actions Medal|Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation Ribbon]]
|-
|colspan="12"|[[Army Staff Identification Badge]]
|}

==Personal life==
Since 2003, Franks has operated Franks & Associates LLC, a private [[consulting firm]], active in the [[IT disaster recovery|disaster recovery]] industry. In June 2006, General Franks formed a partnership with Innovative Decon Solutions.<ref>{{cite news|title=www.idsint.com|url=http://www.idsint.com/index.html|access-date=27 September 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070402062903/http://www.idsint.com/index.html|archive-date=2 April 2007}}</ref>

Following his retirement, Franks published his memoirs in ''American Soldier'',{{sfn|Franks|2004}} which debuted as #1 on the ''New York Times'' Best Seller list in August 2004,<ref name="Fr01" /> displacing President [[Bill Clinton]]'s memoir from the top spot. One reviewer praised General Franks's recollections of his Vietnam service but opined that the book, like the plan for and execution of the Iraq war itself, he said, "begins better than it ends." The reviewer expressed the wish that Franks had "relied less on the official record and more on his own experience and memories" in recalling the later war, as he had in recalling the earlier one.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/26/books/review/26NEWM01.html?scp=1&sq=American%20Soldier%20franks&st=cse "'American Soldier': Man With a Plan, Sort Of"] Review by Michael Newman, ''The New York Times Sunday Book Review'', 26 September 2004. Retrieved 2 March 2010.</ref>

Speaking at the Republican Convention in New York on 31 August 2004, Franks endorsed President [[George W. Bush]] for re-election.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57264-2004Sep2.html "Text: Remarks by Retired General Tommy Franks to the Republican National Convention"], ''Washington Post'', 2 September 2004 10:21 PM ET. Retrieved 2 March 2010.</ref> President Bush awarded Franks the country's highest civilian award, the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] on 14 December 2004.<ref name="Fr01">[http://www.tommyfranks.com/About.shtml "About General Franks."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306081530/http://www.tommyfranks.com/About.shtml |date=6 March 2009 }} Article at ''tommyfranks.com''. Retrieved 2 March 2010.</ref> In the same month, Franks became a spokesman for Teen Arrive Alive, which is a company that uses [[GPS]] in [[cellular phones]] to tell parents how fast their teenage children are driving.

In December 2005, Franks was appointed to the [[Bank of America]] [[board of directors]], a position he held until resigning on 11 June 2009 for unspecified reasons but as part of an "exodus" of ten directors from April to August 2009.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aDWfbk0K9gmY "Bank of America Says Three Directors Quit as Exodus Totals 10"] by David Mildenberg, ''Bloomberg.com'', 1 August 2009. Retrieved 8/1/09.</ref>

Franks also sits on [[OSI Restaurant Partners]]'s board of directors. On 26 March 2008, he was elected to the board of directors of [[Chuck E. Cheese's]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Asjylyn |last=Loder |title=Chuck E. Cheese enlists Gen. Franks |date=2 April 2008 |newspaper=[[St. Petersburg Times]]|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/business/article440862.ece |access-date=20 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091220123130/http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/article440862.ece |archive-date=20 December 2009}}</ref>

[[File:GEN Franks in Cedar Rapids.JPG|thumb|Franks speaking in [[Cedar Rapids, Iowa]] in 2014]]

Franks sits on the board of directors of the [[National Park Foundation]]. He is an advisor to the Central Command Memorial Foundation and the Military Child Education Coalition, and is a spokesman for the Southeastern Guide Dogs Organization.<ref name="Fr01" />

Additionally he sits in the board of trustees for William Penn University, a university founded and supported by the Society of Friends (Quakers).

A museum dedicated to him lies in [[Hobart, Oklahoma]].

Franks currently resides in [[Roosevelt, Oklahoma]].

===Charity controversy===
In January 2008, [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] and the ''[[Army Times]]'' reported on Franks's involvement with the charitable Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, which he charged $100,000 to use his name to raise money for wounded soldiers. Following Congressional investigators and [[Watchdog group|watchdog groups']] criticism because only 25% of the money found its way to wounded veterans, compared to the industry standard of 85%, Franks ended his support for the group in late 2005. [[Roger Chapin]], president of the charity, and his wife had apparently been living a lavish lifestyle on the charity's money.<ref>{{cite web|date=17 January 2008|author=Ross, Brian|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Story?id=4149437&page=1|title=Gen. Tommy Franks Paid $100,000 To Endorse 'F' Veterans Charity|publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|access-date=20 January 2008|author-link=Brian Ross (journalist)}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=18 January 2008|author=Jowers, Karen|url=http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/military_charity_080117w/|title=Charity draws fire for paying generals|newspaper=[[Army Times]]|access-date=20 January 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=18 January 2008|author=Rucker, Philip|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/17/AR2008011703620.html|title=Chief of Veterans Charities Grilled on Groups' Spending|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=20 January 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|date=21 December 2007|author=Barrett, William P.|url=https://www.forbes.com/business/2007/12/21/chapin-fundraising-veterans-biz-cz_bb_1221chapin.html|title=Charitable Taking|magazine=[[Forbes]]|access-date=20 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223014417/http://www.forbes.com/business/2007/12/21/chapin-fundraising-veterans-biz-cz_bb_1221chapin.html|archive-date=23 December 2007}}</ref> [[Bob Schieffer]], host of [[CBS]]'s ''[[Face the Nation]]'', criticized Franks, saying, "What kind of ''person'' would insist, or even ''allow'' himself, to be paid to raise money for those who were wounded while serving under him?" Franks said he severed his connection to the fundraiser when he realized most of the money he helped raise went to the fundraiser, not the troops".<ref>{{cite web |author=Schieffer, Bob|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-follies-of-fundraising/|title=The Follies of Fundraising|publisher=CBS News Opinion: Face The Nation|date=20 January 2008|access-date=20 January 2008|author-link=Bob Schieffer}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite book|last=Franks |first=Tommy |title=American Soldier |publisher=HarperCollins |url=http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780060731588/American_Soldier/index.aspx |isbn=9780061739217 |date=2004 |access-date=2 March 2010}}
* Thomas E. Ricks, ''[[Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq]]''. Penguin Group, 2006. {{isbn|1-59420-103-X}}
* Thomas E. Ricks, ''The Generals: American Military Command from World War II to Today''. Penguin Press, 2012. ISBN 978-1-59420-404-3

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/military_charity_080117w/ "Gen. Tommy Franks paid $100,000 out of money donated for wounded veterans"] ''Army Times'', 18 January 2008
* [http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/10/24/ret.franks/ "Gen. Tom Franks: A silent partner in Operation Enduring Freedom"] – CNN, 24 October 2001
* [https://www.theguardian.com/waronterror/story/0,1361,590822,00.html General Tommy Franks] – ''The Guardian'' (UK), 9 November 2001
* [http://www.harpercollins.com/authors/27850/General_Tommy_R_Franks/index.aspx?WT.mc_id=WIKI_AUTH_FRANKS_041307 Official publisher web page for ''American Soldier''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226150717/http://www.harpercollins.com/authors/27850/General_Tommy_R_Franks/index.aspx?WT.mc_id=WIKI_AUTH_FRANKS_041307 |date=26 December 2007 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090123214609/http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/article.asp?ID=562 Who is General Tommy Franks?] – the truth seeker, 7 March 2003
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070816033433/http://www.tommyfranks.com/Index.shtml Franks & Associates LLC&nbsp;– About General Franks]
* {{C-SPAN}}

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{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Anthony Zinni]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Commander-in-Chief of [[United States Central Command]]|years=2000–2003}}
{{s-aft|after=[[John Abizaid]]}}
{{s-bef|before= Robert R. Ivany}}
{{s-ttl|title=Commanding General of the [[Third United States Army]]|years= 1997–2000}}
{{s-aft|after= [[Paul T. Mikolashek]]}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Franks, Tommy}}
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