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Mark Kimmitt

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Mark T. Kimmitt
File:Mark kimmitt.jpg
16th Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs
In office
August 8, 2008 – January 20, 2009
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byJohn Hillen
Succeeded byFrank Ruggiero (acting)
Personal details
Born (1954-06-21) June 21, 1954 (age 70)
Fort Sill, Oklahoma
SpouseCatherine Kimmitt
Childrennone
Alma materWest Point
ProfessionSoldier
Statesman
AwardsDefense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star
NATO Medal (3)
Military service
AllegianceUnited States of America
Branch/serviceUnited States United States Army
Years of service1976-2007
RankBrigadier General
Battles/warsBosnian War
Kosovo War
Iraq War

Mark Traecey Patrick Kimmitt[1] (born 21 June 1954) was the 16th Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, serving under George W. Bush from August 2008 to January 2009.[2] Prior to joining the State Department, he was a Brigadier General in the United States Army, and served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East[3]. Kimmitt has also served as Deputy Director for Strategy and Plans for the United States Central Command, and Deputy Director for Operations/Chief Military Spokesman for Coalition Forces in Iraq,[3] and served at NATO's SHAPE headquarters in Belgium.

Personal background

Kimmitt was born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and is married to Catherine Kimmitt[4].

Education

Kimmitt graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point as a part of the class of 1976,[5] and earned a Masters in Business Administration degree, graduating with distinction, from Harvard University as part of the class of 1984.[6] He also received master's degrees from the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the National Defense University.[3] He earned a certification as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) while serving as Assistant Professor of Finance and Economics in the Department of Social Sciences at the United States Military Academy.

Military career

Kimmitt retired from the US Army a Brigadier General in December 2006.[7] While in the Army, Kimmitt had command and staff assignments throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, including planning positions within both Allied and Joint service commands. Additionally, he spent three years as an assistant professor and instructor with the Military Academy’s Department of Social Sciences.[5].

Kimmitt's professional military education includes the Field Artillery Officer Basic and Armor Officer Advanced Courses, the Army Command and General Staff College, the Advanced Military Studies Program, and the National War College.[4] Additionally, Brigadier General Kimmitt completed Ranger, Airborne, Jumpmaster, Naval Gunfire, Joint Firepower Control, Air Assault, Pathfinder, and Jungle Schools.[4]

Timeline

Kimmitt's military service[7]:

  • 1977-78 - Battery Executive Officer; 1/15th Field Artillery; Camp Stanley, Korea
  • 1978-80 - Fire Support Officer; 2nd Ranger Battalion; Fort Lewis, Washington
  • 1980-82 - Battery Commander and Battery Executive Officer; 9th Infantry Division; Fort Lewis, Washington
  • 1984-87 - Assistant Professor, Department of Social Sciences; U.S. Military Academy; West Point, NY
  • 1989-91 - Chief of War Plans; 8th Infantry Division; Bad Kreuznach, Germany
  • 1991-92 - 4/29th Field Artillery; Baumholder, Germany
  • 1992-93 - Division Artillery Executive Officer; lst Armored Division; Baumholder, Germany
  • 1993-96 - Battalion Commander; 2/320th Field Artillery; Fort Campbell, KY
  • 1996-97 - Special Assistant - J5; Joint Chiefs of Staff; The Pentagon
  • 1997-99 - Division Artillery Commander; 1st Armored Division; Baumholder, Germany
  • 1999-02 - Military Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe; Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers Europe; Mons, Belgium
  • 2002-04 - Chief of Staff and Commander; Corps Artillery XVIII Airborne Corps; Fort Bragg, NC
  • 2003-04 - Deputy Director of Operations; Combined Joint Task Force - Seven; Baghdad, Iraq
  • 2004-06 - Deputy Director, Strategy, Plans and Policy; U.S. Central Command; MacDill Air Force Base, FL

Government career

Subsequent to retiring from the Army in 2006, Kimmitt served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East Policy, responsible for military policy development, planning, guidance and oversight for the region[8]. Kimmitt served in this position until July 31, 2008, and was sworn as Assistant Secretary of State on August 8, 2008[8]. He left office in January 2009.

Nomination Delay

Kimmitt's nomination for Assistant Secretary of State was delayed because of two investigations into anonymous letters sent to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.[7][9][10] Upon receipt of each letter, Sen. Joseph Biden requested that the Inspector General of the Department of Defense (IG) investigate the allegations.[7][9][10] After a four month investigation, the IG concluded after the first investigation that "BG Kimmitt's leadership style was occasionally inconsistent with the standards expected for senior Government leaders" and that "cognizant management officials should continue to monitor his leadership style."[7] "[T]estimony indicated that morale In BG Kimmitt's organization was negatively affected by BG Kimmitt's leadership style, combined with the heavy workload and long hours. Finally, we found that BG Kimmitt's leadership style discouraged subordinates from free and open communication with him."[7][10] The report also stated that the IG "obtained testimonial evidence that tended to mitigate the adverse impact of BG Kimmitt's leadership lapses. In that regard several witnesses, primarily BG Kimmitt's superiors, emphasized that BG Kimmitt brings superb qualifications and intellect to his position; that he has strengthened the overall performance of his office; and that he operates in a stressful, demanding environment, which could trigger confrontation."[7] The Department of Defense Inspector General's office, in a separate letter to the committee, also disclosed "a substantiated allegation that Mr. Kimmitt . . . failed to properly safeguard information, in violation of Army regulations," but it did not elaborate.[7][10] The exact nature of this violation has not been disclosed.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Presidential Nomination". The White House. Retrieved 2007-10-30.
  2. ^ "Reid Statement On Nomination Deal". The Senate. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
  3. ^ a b c "Personnel Announcement". The White House. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
  4. ^ a b c "BRIGADIER GENERAL MARK T. KIMMITT" (PDF). BritishAmerican Business Inc. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
  5. ^ a b "Iraq: Mission Continued?". The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
  6. ^ "New Horizons for Iraq". Harvard Business School Bulletin. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Inquiry into an Allegation Involving Brigadier General Mark T. Kimmitt, U.S. Army, Retired, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Near East and South Asian Affairs)" (PDF). Retrieved August 21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ a b ""Kimmitt, Mark"". Retrieved August 12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ a b Al Kamen. "But His Dad Was a Good Guy". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  10. ^ a b c d Adam Graham-Silverman (June 4, 2008), Inspector General Finds That Employees Feared State Department Nominee, Congressional Quarterly

Mark Kimmitt State Department biography

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