Lieutenant General William James Lennox, Jr. of Houston, Texas, assumed duties as the 56th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York on 8 June 2001. He entered the Army following graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1971, where he earned his commission as a lieutenant of Field Artillery.

General Lennox has served in a wide variety of field assignments. He served as a Forward Observer, Executive Officer, and Fire Support Officer in the 1st Battalion, 29th Field Artillery, and as Commander, Battery B, 2d Battalion, 20th Field Artillery, 4th Infantry Division. He was the Operations Officer and Executive Officer for the 2d Battalion, 41st Field Artillery, 3d Infantry Division. He commanded the 5th Battalion, 29th Field Artillery in the 4th Infantry Division and the Division Artillery in the 24th Infantry Division. General Lennox has also served in a number of staff positions including White House Fellow, Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Army, and Executive Officer for the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans. He served as Deputy Commanding General and Assistant Commandant of the U.S. Army Field Artillery Center; Chief of Staff for III Corps and Fort Hood; Assistant Chief of Staff, CJ-3, Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea and Deputy Commanding General, Eighth United States Army; and, most recently, Chief of Legislative Liaison.

In addition to his Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy, General Lennox holds a Masters Degree and a Doctorate in Literature from Princeton University. His military education includes the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, the Infantry Officer Advance Course, the distinguished graduate from the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the Senior Service College Fellowship at Harvard University.

General Lennox's awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal; the Distinguished Service Medal; the Legion of Merit with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters; the Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; the Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters; the Army Achievement Medal; the Korean Order of Military Merit--Inheon Medal; the Ranger Tab; the Parachutist Badge; and the Army Staff Identification Badge.

General Lennox and his wife, Anne, have three sons: Matthew and Andrew, both Captains in the Field Artillery; and Jonathan, a financial consultant.