Former Drum commander leaving post as West Point head

WEST POINT — Former Fort Drum and 10th Mountain Division Commander Lt. Gen. Franklin L. "Buster" Hagenbeck will step down as superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy, the Associated Press reported Friday.

Gen. Hagenbeck will leave this summer after four years on the job, cutting short his time in what is typically a five-year post. He has been informing people of his retirement over the past week. The 39-year Army veteran did not provide a reason in a letter to supporters.

He became superintendent of the academy in June 2006.

Gen. Hagenbeck led the 10th Mountain Division from August 2001 to August 2003 and twice deployed with the division to Afghanistan. His soldiers were credited with spearheading a successful campaign against al-Qaida and Taliban militia fighters there as part of Operation Anaconda in March 2002.

After leaving Fort Drum, Gen. Hagenbeck served as the Army's deputy chief of staff for personnel.