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Mark Kimmitt
View on WikipediaMark Traecey Patrick Kimmitt[1] (born 21 June 1954) is a retired American general and former diplomat. He served as the 16th Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs under George W. Bush from August 2008 to January 2009.[2] Before he joined 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.[1] 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;[1] he also served at NATO's SHAPE headquarters in Belgium.
Key Information
Early life and education
[edit]Kimmitt was born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma,[3] while his father was stationed there. His older brother Robert also served in the U.S. Army and was the former United States Ambassador to Germany. Their father, Joseph Stanley Kimmitt, was the Secretary of the United States Senate and Secretary for the Majority from 1977 to 1981.
Kimmitt graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point as a part of the class of 1976,[4] and earned a Masters in Business Administration degree from Harvard University as part of the class of 1984.[5] He also received Master of Arts degrees from the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the National Defense University.[1] 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.
Personal life
[edit]He is married to Catherine Kimmitt.[6]
Military career
[edit]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.[4]
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.[6] Kimmitt completed Ranger, Airborne, Jumpmaster, Naval Gunfire, Joint Firepower Control, Air Assault, Pathfinder, and Jungle Schools.[6]
Timeline
[edit]Kimmitt's military service:
- 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; 1st 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
- 1997–00 – Division artillery commander; 1st Armored Division; Baumholder, Germany
- 2000–02 – 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
Awards and decorations
[edit]Kimmitt's awards and decorations include:[6]
United States awards
[edit]
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terror Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Master Parachutist Wings
Foreign and international awards
[edit]
NATO Medal for operations in Bosnia
NATO Medal for operations in Kosovo- NATO Medal for operations in Republic of Macedonia.[4]
NATO Meritorious Service Medal- German Parachutist Wings
- German Leistungsabzeichen in Gold.
Government career
[edit]After 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.[7] Kimmitt served in this position until July 31, 2008, before being nominated as Assistant Secretary of State. Kimmitt's nomination was delayed because of two investigations into anonymous letters sent to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,[8] but was ultimately confirmed, and was sworn as Assistant Secretary of State on August 8, 2008.[7] In this role, Kimmitt was responsible for State Department political-military policy, with particular emphasis on security assistance and sales of arms around the world, as well as serving as the primary liaison between the Departments of State and Defense. He was also instrumental in recent counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia, and negotiated the groundbreaking arrangements for the prosecution of pirates abroad.[2] He left office in January 2009.
Nomination delay
[edit]Kimmitt's nomination for Assistant Secretary of State was delayed because of two investigations into anonymous letters sent to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.[9][8][10] Upon receipt of each letter, Sen. Joseph Biden requested that the Inspector General of the Department of Defense (IG) investigate the allegations.[9][8][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."[9] "[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."[9][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."[9] 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.[9][10] The exact nature of this violation has not been disclosed.[9]
Controversy
[edit]After the Mukaradeeb wedding party massacre in 2004, Kimmitt said, "There was no evidence of a wedding: no decorations, no musical instruments found, no large quantities of food or leftover servings one would expect from a wedding celebration. There may have been some kind of celebration. Bad people have celebrations, too."
Video footage obtained by the Associated Press seems to contradict this view. The video shows a series of scenes of a wedding celebration, and footage from the following day showing fragments of musical instruments, pots and pans and brightly colored beddings used for celebrations, scattered around a destroyed tent.[11][12]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Presidential Nomination". The White House. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
- ^ a b "Middle East Strategy at Harvard". Harvard University. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
- ^ "Wayback Wednesday: West Point founded". The Oklahoman. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
- ^ a b c "Iraq: Mission Continued?". The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
- ^ "New Horizons for Iraq". Harvard Business School Bulletin. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
- ^ a b c d "BRIGADIER GENERAL MARK T. KIMMITT" (PDF). BritishAmerican Business Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 9, 2005. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ a b c "Kimmitt, Mark". 5 August 2008. Retrieved August 12, 2008.
- ^ a b c Al Kamen (April 30, 2008). "But His Dad Was a Good Guy". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
- ^ a b c d e f g "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). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2015. Retrieved August 21, 2008.
- ^ a b c d Adam Graham-Silverman (June 4, 2008), Inspector General Finds That Employees Feared State Department Nominee, Congressional Quarterly
- ^ "US general strongly defends air campaign against ISIS". Fox News. 2015-06-06. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- ^ McCartyh, Rory (2004-05-25). "Wedding party video casts doubt on American version of attack that killed 42". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
External links
[edit]- Mark Kimmitt State Department biography
- Appearances on C-SPAN
Mark Kimmitt
View on GrokipediaEarly Life and Education
Family Background and Early Influences
Mark Kimmitt was born on June 21, 1954, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, during his father's military assignment there.[4] His father, Joseph Stanley "Stan" Kimmitt, was a U.S. Army colonel who served through World War II and the Korean War, exemplifying a commitment to military duty that shaped the family's ethos of public service.[5] Later, Stanley Kimmitt transitioned to civilian government roles, including as Secretary of the Senate from 1975 to 1981, highlighting a broader tradition of national involvement.[6] Kimmitt's mother, Eunice Kimmitt, supported the family's peripatetic military lifestyle, which exposed him from childhood to environments emphasizing discipline, leadership, and patriotism.[6] An older brother, Robert M. Kimmitt, similarly pursued high-level public service, including positions at the U.S. Treasury Department, reinforcing familial patterns of dedication to government and policy. These early surroundings, rooted in his father's combat experience and postwar career, profoundly influenced Kimmitt's decision to enter military service, culminating in his admission to the United States Military Academy at West Point.[1]Academic and Professional Training
Kimmitt graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1976, earning a Bachelor of Science degree and receiving his commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army.[1][7][8] He subsequently obtained a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School in 1984, awarded with distinction.[1][9][10] Kimmitt further pursued advanced professional military education, earning master's degrees from the National Defense University and the United States Army War College.[2][11]Personal Life
Marriage and Family
Kimmitt has been married since approximately 1983.[12] He met his wife in Tacoma, Washington.[12] Kimmitt has no children.[13]Interests and Philanthropy
Kimmitt engages in educational initiatives focused on leadership and strategic communication, drawing from his military background to inform civilian professional development. On April 20, 2021, he presented a session titled "Communicating Strategically" for the American Foundation for Educational Excellence, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing educational programs.[11] He has also contributed as a speaker to the foundation's "The Art of Business & The Art of War" leadership program, which examines parallels between military tactics and business strategy to cultivate executive skills.[14] These voluntary presentations underscore his post-retirement involvement in mentoring and knowledge-sharing efforts outside formal government or consulting roles. No public records detail monetary donations or other charitable activities by Kimmitt.Military Career
Initial Assignments and Promotions
Kimmitt was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery branch of the United States Army upon his graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1976.[8][7] His initial operational assignment was as battery executive officer in the 1st Battalion, 15th Field Artillery, stationed at Camp Stanley, South Korea, from 1977 to 1978.[13] Following this posting, Kimmitt advanced through junior officer roles, including service as an assistant professor of finance and economics in the Department of Social Sciences at the United States Military Academy.[1] By the late 1990s, having progressed to colonel, he assumed command of the 1st Armored Division Artillery from 1997 to 1999, overseeing fire support operations for the division during training and deployments.[8] Kimmitt's promotion trajectory reflected consistent performance in operational and staff positions, culminating in his selection for general officer ranks. He was promoted to brigadier general effective January 1, 2003, while serving as Commanding General of the XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery.[15] This advancement positioned him for higher-level responsibilities in joint and coalition environments prior to his retirement from active duty in 2006.[1]Key Operational Roles and Deployments
Kimmitt commanded an infantry company in the 82nd Airborne Division, emphasizing rapid airborne assault capabilities central to the unit's operational doctrine.[2] He later led the 5th Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment (Light) within the 10th Mountain Division, overseeing light infantry operations suited for mountainous and rapid deployment scenarios.[2] These roles honed his experience in high-mobility, expeditionary forces prior to higher-level commands.[1] As a brigade commander in the 82nd Airborne Division, Kimmitt directed airborne training and contingency operations, maintaining the division's readiness for global deployments.[2] His tenure involved coordinating joint exercises and preparing forces for potential crisis response, reflecting the division's role in post-Cold War interventions.[16] From October 2003 to July 2004, Kimmitt deployed to Iraq as Deputy Director for Operations and Chief Military Spokesman for the Coalition Provisional Authority under Combined Joint Task Force 7.[1] In this capacity, he oversaw daily operational planning against insurgent activities, including responses to attacks in Fallujah and Baghdad, and delivered press briefings detailing coalition military actions and casualty reports.[3] For instance, on February 25, 2004, he addressed ongoing operations and troop movements, emphasizing sustained coalition efforts amid rising violence.[3] Earlier, Kimmitt served as Deputy Director for Strategy and Plans at United States Central Command, contributing to operational planning for Middle East contingencies, including preparations for Operation Iraqi Freedom.[1] This strategic role bridged his tactical command experience with theater-level operations.[16]Leadership in Iraq Operations
In October 2003, Brigadier General Mark T. Kimmitt assumed the role of Deputy Director for Coalition Operations (C-3) with Multi-National Forces-Iraq in Baghdad, a position he held until July 2004.[17] In this capacity, he directed the operational planning and execution of coalition military activities amid escalating insurgency following the initial invasion, coordinating tactical responses including raids, patrols, and support for Iraqi security forces development.[18] His oversight extended to force allocation and real-time adjustments to combat operations, such as those targeting high-value insurgents, with coalition forces reporting the capture or elimination of 42 out of 55 priority targets by early 2004.[19] As Chief Military Spokesman, Kimmitt conducted near-daily press briefings alongside civilian officials, providing updates on operational progress, casualty figures, and counterinsurgency efforts to shape public and international perceptions.[3] These briefings emphasized measurable successes, such as Iraqi police contributions to security—described by Kimmitt as personnel "willing to put their lives on the line every day"—while framing violence as orchestrated by remnants of the former regime seeking authoritarian restoration rather than widespread popular resistance.[20] [21] In April 2004, he announced structural reforms, including the establishment of Multinational Corps-Iraq focused on day-to-day tactical operations and Multinational Security Transition Command-Iraq for training indigenous forces, aimed at transitioning security responsibilities ahead of sovereignty handover on June 30, 2004.[22] Kimmitt's leadership emphasized integration of coalition partners and Iraqi elements into operations, with forces under his operational direction conducting thousands of missions that disrupted insurgent networks, though official reports noted persistent challenges from suicide bombings and improvised explosive devices, including a Mosul attack in April 2004 killing 62 civilians.[23] Drawing from prior airborne and command experience, he advocated for adaptive strategies, later reflecting in interviews that ground commanders received requested troop strengths, enabling sustained pressure on adversaries despite logistical strains.[17] This period marked a shift from major combat to stabilization, with Kimmitt's dual operational and informational roles central to maintaining coalition momentum through June 2004.[24]Awards and Decorations
United States Military Honors
Kimmitt received numerous United States military decorations in recognition of his service, as documented in a 2008 Department of Defense Inspector General inquiry biographical summary.[13] These include:- Army Distinguished Service Medal (1 award)[13]
- Defense Superior Service Medal (1 award)[13]
- Legion of Merit (2 awards, with 1 oak leaf cluster)[13]
- Bronze Star Medal (1 award)[13]
- Defense Meritorious Service Medal (1 award)[13]
- Meritorious Service Medal (5 awards, with 4 oak leaf clusters)[13]
- Joint Service Commendation Medal (1 award)[13]
- Army Commendation Medal (2 awards, with 1 oak leaf cluster)[13]
- Army Achievement Medal (3 awards, with 2 oak leaf clusters)[13]
Foreign and International Awards
Kimmitt received the NATO Medal three times in recognition of his service in NATO operations, including deployments to the Balkans.[13] These awards reflect his roles in multinational efforts under Supreme Allied Command Europe, such as operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina where he contributed to fire support coordination.[25] No other foreign government decorations or international honors from non-NATO entities are documented in official records.[13]Government Positions
Post-Retirement Military-to-Civilian Transition
Following his retirement from the United States Army in 2006 at the rank of Brigadier General after over 30 years of service, Mark Kimmitt promptly entered civilian government roles, leveraging his operational expertise in Iraq and the Middle East for policy positions.[1] He joined the Department of Defense as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East Affairs, a role that involved overseeing strategic partnerships and security cooperation in the region, drawing directly on his prior command experiences such as leading the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment during Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2003 to 2004.[26] This appointment exemplified a typical pathway for senior military officers, where institutional knowledge facilitates rapid integration into civilian defense bureaucracy without extended unemployment or retraining periods common in broader military-to-civilian transitions. Kimmitt's tenure in the DoD position, spanning approximately 2006 to 2008, focused on Near East policy amid ongoing counterinsurgency efforts and regional alliances, reflecting a causal continuity from battlefield leadership to advisory functions that prioritized empirical assessments of threat dynamics over abstract policy frameworks.[13] The transition was unencumbered by notable gaps, as his military pension and rank enabled immediate high-level access, contrasting with challenges faced by lower-enlisted personnel such as credential mismatches or cultural adjustment to non-hierarchical environments. In this capacity, he contributed to interagency coordination, including briefings on coalition operations, which built on his pre-retirement roles like Deputy Director for Operations at U.S. Central Command. By mid-2008, Kimmitt's civilian trajectory advanced further when President George W. Bush nominated him for Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, a position he assumed on August 8, 2008, following Senate confirmation.[1] This move to the State Department underscored the value of military retirees in bridging defense and diplomacy, particularly in arms transfer policies and multinational military engagements, with Kimmitt serving until January 2009. His seamless shift highlights how specialized operational data from deployments informed civilian decision-making, though it also raised questions in some inquiries about potential conflicts between retired officer status and active policy influence, as documented in a 2008 Department of Defense review that ultimately cleared him for the State role.[13]Department of Defense Service
![Mark Kimmitt conducting a briefing as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense][float-right] Following his retirement from the U.S. Army as a brigadier general in 2006, Mark Kimmitt assumed the civilian position of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East Policy, serving from 2006 to 2008.[1] In this role within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, he managed military policy formulation, strategic planning, programming, and budgeting initiatives focused on the Middle East region.[11] His responsibilities included coordinating U.S. defense engagements with Middle Eastern allies, emphasizing enhanced regional security cooperation.[11] Kimmitt's tenure spanned the leadership of Secretaries of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates, during which he contributed to key policy developments such as the Gulf Security Dialogue, a multilateral framework aimed at bolstering defense capabilities and interoperability among Gulf Cooperation Council nations and the United States.[11] [27] He regularly engaged in operational briefings at the Pentagon, including updates on Iraqi security forces' progress and broader counterinsurgency efforts in the region.[28] These activities underscored his focus on translating military operational experience into civilian policy execution amid ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.[29] During this period, Kimmitt also navigated interagency coordination between the Department of Defense and other U.S. government entities, advocating for integrated approaches to regional stability and threat mitigation.[30] His service concluded in 2008, paving the way for his subsequent nomination to the State Department.[1]State Department Appointment and Challenges
In June 2008, President George W. Bush nominated retired Brigadier General Mark T. Kimmitt to serve as Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, a role overseeing U.S. security assistance, arms transfers, and defense trade policy.[31] The Senate confirmed the nomination, and Kimmitt was sworn in on August 8, 2008, as a non-career appointee from Virginia.[1] His tenure focused on politico-military coordination during the final months of the Bush administration, amid ongoing global security operations including those in Iraq and Afghanistan. Kimmitt's nomination faced delays stemming from anonymous allegations submitted to Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph R. Biden Jr. on August 15, 2007, and February 13, 2008, claiming deficient leadership as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Near East and South Asian Affairs.[13] These included accusations of intimidation, yelling at subordinates, and using insulting language, purportedly creating a toxic work environment that prompted staff departures and raised questions about his suitability for a senior State Department position. The Department of Defense Inspector General investigated in early 2008, finding the claims not fully substantiated—no evidence of physical intimidation or confirmed name-calling emerged—but noting Kimmitt's leadership style occasionally deviated from senior civilian government norms, contributing to lowered morale in his office.[13] Despite the inquiry's recommendations for ongoing oversight of his leadership, Kimmitt proceeded to confirmation, reflecting that the allegations did not derail the process.[13] His service ended in January 2009, coinciding with the presidential transition to Barack Obama, during which many political appointees departed; the brevity of the term—less than six months—limited major policy initiatives but aligned with standard administration changeover practices. No further controversies or performance critiques from his State Department role appear in official records.[31]Controversies
Responses to Iraq Insurgencies
In 2004, Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, serving as Deputy Director for Coalition Operations under Multi-National Force-Iraq, conducted daily briefings detailing the coalition's military responses to insurgent attacks and uprisings. These responses emphasized intelligence-driven offensive operations, including raids, arrests, and targeted strikes to disrupt insurgent networks, while pursuing negotiated cease-fires where feasible to minimize civilian casualties. Kimmitt reported sustained engagement levels, with an estimated 50-70 clashes per day in early April, up two to three times from prior weeks, and approximately 700 insurgent casualties since April 1.[32] During the simultaneous April 2004 insurgencies led by Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army in Shia areas and Sunni militants in Fallujah, Kimmitt articulated a dual-track approach of political negotiation and military readiness. In Fallujah, after a unilateral cease-fire on April 9, coalition forces enforced a tight cordon and responded proportionately to violations in self-defense, such as returning fire against small-arms and RPG attacks on April 27 by a seven-person insurgent group, killing one attacker, and using air support on April 28 against positions firing on supply routes and defenses, which triggered 20-minute secondary explosions from stored ammunition.[33] He stressed that Marines remained poised to resume offensive operations if required to destroy enemy forces.[32] Kimmitt issued direct warnings to Fallujah insurgents, stating on April 23 that "our patience is not eternal" and demanding they surrender heavy weapons amid faltering talks and emerging humanitarian issues like food shortages.[34] Against al-Sadr's militia, he specified, "The target is Muqtada al-Sadr and his militia. We will hunt them down and we will destroy them," reflecting a commitment to systematically neutralize leadership and fighters through three intelligence-based attacks in Baghdad alone that week.[35][32] Overall, Kimmitt affirmed the coalition's resolve to "attack these elements, defeat these elements, killing these elements" to restore security.[32]