Huba Wass de Czege

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Huba Wass de Czege (1941–2025) was a Hungarian-born United States Army brigadier general who helped shape U.S. military thinking and education.

- Early life: He was born on August 13, 1941, in Kolozsvár (now Cluj-Napoca, Romania). He was the son of Count Albert Wass de Szentegyed et Czege and later became a naturalized American citizen.

- Military career start: Wass de Czege graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1964. He served as a platoon leader in the 8th Infantry Division in West Germany.

- Vietnam War: He spent two tours in Vietnam. On his first tour he was a senior advisor to a Vietnamese Ranger battalion, and on his second tour he commanded Company A, 3rd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment. For his actions in Vietnam, he earned five Bronze Stars and the Silver Star for gallantry in action.

- Education and intermediate commands: After Vietnam, he completed the Infantry Officer Advanced Course in 1970. He studied at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth in 1976. During this period he held assignments in the 9th Infantry Division and commanded the 60th Infantry Regiment.

- Contributions to military thinking: Wass de Czege was a principal designer of the AirLand Battle concept, the U.S. Army’s major doctrinal approach for many years. He founded and directed the Army’s School for Advanced Military Studies at the Command and General Staff College, where he taught applied military strategy. In the late 1980s he commanded the 1st Brigade, 9th Infantry Regiment of the 7th Infantry Division (Light).

- Senior roles and later work: His senior military position was as an assistant division commander (brigadier general) of the 1st Infantry Division. After retiring in 1993, he worked on the Army After Next Project and served on Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) advisory panels.

- Death: Wass de Czege died on November 22, 2025, in Gainesville, Florida, at the age of 84.

- Awards: His decorations included the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (with “V” device and four oak leaf clusters), Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, and other honors. He also wore the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge, and the Ranger Tab.