President Barack Obama nominated Grigsby for the promotion, which was announced Tuesday by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.

The nomination is subject to review by the U.S. Senate.

Grigsby began his career at Fort Clayton, Panama. Following graduation from Salisbury State University, he served as a rifle platoon leader, support platoon leader, and battalion assistant S-3 in 1-187 Infantry Rakassans and 5-87 Infantry, in Panama.

After attending the Infantry Officers Advanced Course in 1988 at Fort Benning, Ga., Grigsby served as the battalion adjutant in 3-7 Infantry Cottonbalers. Grigsby then went on to command B Company, 3-7 Infantry, during Desert Shield/ Desert Storm. After Desert Storm, he commanded Headquarters Company, 2-7 Infantry Cottonbalers. He then spent two years as an infantry branch assignment officer.

In June of 1996, he served as the chief of plans for the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, N.C. In October 1997, he moved to 1-504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, where he served as the battalion operations officer. He then served as the 504th Parachute Infantry regimental operations officer. In May 1998, Grigsby served as the aide de camp to the commander of XVIII Airborne Corps, followed by the director of plans for the XVIII Airborne Corps.

In June 2001, Grigsby assumed command of the Blue Spaders, 26th Infantry 1st Battalion regiment, where he deployed the battalion in support of the Combined Joint Task Force Kosovo and part of Army Forces Turkey, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I. He then served as the Big Red One Division G3 for two years, which included combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II.

Following his completion of the National War College, Grigsby served as the commander of 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team/ 3rd Infantry Division Sledgehammer; participating as one of the five surge brigades in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom V. Following brigade command, he served as the joint operations division chief in the J33 Joint Staff.

Prior to his current assignment as the director of the School of Advanced Military Studies, Grigsby was the chief of the International Security Assistance Force’s joint command’s Future Operations Cross-Functional Team in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Grigsby’s military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Jumpmaster Course, the Command and General Staff College, Advanced Military Studies Program at Fort Leavenworth, and the National War College at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. He has earned a master’s degree in national security strategy from Fort McNair.

His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (with two oak leaf clusters), the Bronze Star (with two oak leaf clusters) and the Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award. Grigsby also wears the Combat Infantryman’s Badge second award, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge and the Ranger Tab.