Mark Kimmitt
Mark T. Kimmitt | |
---|---|
File:Mark kimmitt.jpg | |
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs | |
Assumed office August 8, 2008 | |
President | George W. Bush |
Preceded by | John Hillen |
Personal details | |
Born | www.state.gov June 21, 1954 |
Died | www.state.gov |
Resting place | www.state.gov |
Spouse | Catherine Kimmitt |
Parent |
|
Alma mater | West Point |
Profession | Soldier Statesman |
Awards | Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star NATO Medal (3) |
Website | http://www.state.gov |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Years of service | 1976-2007 |
Rank | Brigadier General |
Battles/wars | Bosnian War Kosovo War Iraq War |
Mark Traecey Patrick Kimmitt[1] (born 21 June 1954) is the current Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, nominated by President George W. Bush on July 11, 2007[2] and confirmed by the Senate on June 27, 2008.[3]. Mr. Kimmitt was formerly a Brigadier General in the United States Army, and served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East[2] prior to joining the State Department. 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,[2] 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]. Kimmitt's father is Joseph Stanley Kimmitt (Stan), former Secretary of the Senate and army colonel, who died in 2004. Kimmitt's brother, Robert M. Kimmitt is the current Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Treasury.
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.[2] 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 2006. 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]
Awards and decorations
Kimmitt's distinctive awards and decorations include the following:[4]
United States awards
- Defense Superior Service Medal
- Legion of Merit
- Bronze Star
- Defense Meritorious Service Medal
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Army Commendation
- Joint Staff Commendation
- Korean Defense Service Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Medal (Expeditionary and Service)
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
- Master Parachutist Wings
Foreign and international awards
- NATO Medal for operations in Bosnia
- NATO Medal for operations in Kosovo
- NATO Medal for operations in Republic of Macedonia.[5]
- NATO Service Medal
- German Parachutist Wings
- German Leistungabzeichen in Gold.
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[7]. Kimmitt served in this position until July 31, 2008, and was sworn in to his current position on August 8, 2008[7].
Controversy and Investigation
Abuse of Subordinates
On Aug. 15, 2007, during Kimmitt's confirmation proceedings, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee received an anonymous letter alleging that Kimmitt abused his subordinates.[8] The Committee asked the Inspector General of the Department of Defense to investigate the allegations.[8] The IG sent its initial report to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on January 8, 2008.[8] After the inspector general issued the report the committee received another anonymous letter on Jan. 30, 2008, resulting in further investigation.[8]
The inspector general's report concluded that Kimmitt "warrant[s] monitoring," that his "leadership style was occasionally inconsistent with the standards expected for senior government leaders," that he was "often physically intimidating," that he displayed "anger that demeaned subordinates and caused them to minimize their interaction with him," and that he created "a miserable office environment" that led five of them to get jobs elsewhere.[9] [10] [8] Employees described "sort of a permanent fear" in the office and said he threatened their jobs.[8] [9] At Kimmitt's request, the report also noted mitigating testimony of superiors, who maintain that Kimmitt had strengthened the overall performance of his office.[10]
Despite the IG Report's findings, on April 22, the Committee nonetheless voted, 12-7, in favor of Kimmitt's nomination.[8] At the committee meeting, Chairman Joseph R. Biden Jr., D-Del., noted he was very close to Kimmitt's father, who had been secretary of the Senate years ago, and said he therefore would be willing to give Kimmitt the benefit of the doubt, saying, "I'm going to let my hope triumph over my worries. . . . I hope Mr. Kimmitt . . . understands with the delay his misconduct has caused . . . that he will be chastened." [11] [8] Kimmitt was confirmed by the full Senate on June 27, 2008.
Failure to Safegard Classified Information
Kimmitt's nomination for Assistant Secretary of State was delayed because of two investigations into anonymous letters sent to the Foreign Relations Committee. Upon receipt of each letter, Sen. Joseph Biden requested that the Inspector General of the Department of Defense (IG) investigate the allegations. The IG concluded after the first investigation that "BG Kimmitt's leadership style was occasionally inconsistent with applicable standards", that "several witnesses...emphasized...that he has strengthened the overall performance of his office", and that "cognizant management officials should continue to monitor his leadership style." The IG reported at the conclusion of the second investigation that the allegation was not substantiated and warranted no further investigation, and that the complaint provided no details that would convey creditability to the allegations.[12].
External links
References
- ^ "Presidential Nomination". The White House. Retrieved 2007-10-30.
- ^ a b c d "Personnel Announcement". The White House. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
- ^ "Reid Statement On Nomination Deal". The Senate. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
- ^ a b c d "BRIGADIER GENERAL MARK T. KIMMITT" (PDF). BritishAmerican Business Inc. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ a b c "Iraq: Mission Continued?". The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
- ^ "New Horizons for Iraq". Harvard Business School Bulletin. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
- ^ a b ""Kimmitt, Mark"". Retrieved August 12.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|accessdate=
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suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d e f g h Adam Graham-Silverman (June 4, 2008), Inspector General Finds That Employees Feared State Department Nominee, Congressional Quarterly
- ^ a b "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). Inspector General of the Department of Defense. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
- ^ a b "Business Meeting, March 13, 2008, U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations" (PDF). U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
- ^ Al Kamen. "But His Dad Was a Good Guy". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
- ^ ""08-0235_RedactedScan"" (PDF). Retrieved August 21.
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