Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt

Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt
Name	Mark Kimmitt
Birth date	1954
Birth place	Los Angeles, California
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army
Rank	Brigadier general (United States)
Battles	Gulf War, Iraq War

Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt was a United States Army officer and later a civilian official in the George W. Bush administration, noted for roles during the Iraq War and in Defense Department public affairs. He served in multiple armored warfare and training assignments and later held positions in the Coalition Provisional Authority, the Department of State, and private defense consulting.

Early life and education

Born in Los Angeles, California, Kimmitt graduated from United States Military Academy at West Point and later completed graduate studies at United States Army Command and General Staff College and National War College. During his education he studied subjects linked to armored warfare doctrine, military history, and strategic studies alongside officers who served in conflicts such as the Vietnam War and the Gulf War.

Military career

Kimmitt’s career in the United States Army included command and staff tours with armored divisions and cavalry units, service with United States Central Command, and deployment to theaters associated with Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He held assignments in training establishments connected to the Armor School at Fort Knox and staff positions within V Corps and I Corps structures, liaising with counterparts from United Kingdom Armed Forces, Australian Army, and coalition partners during multinational exercises. His promotion to Brigadier general (United States) followed senior-level responsibilities for force readiness, logistics coordination with United States Army Materiel Command, and interagency planning with elements of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Role in the Iraq War and Coalition Provisional Authority

During the Iraq War, Kimmitt served in capacities that involved interaction with the Coalition Provisional Authority and Multinational Force Iraq leadership, addressing issues of post-invasion reconstruction, security sector reform, and civil-military coordination amid the Iraq insurgency. He engaged with officials from the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of State, and international organizations such as the United Nations and NATO on stabilization efforts. His public affairs duties connected him to media outlets covering the Battle of Fallujah, the Samarra bombing, and major policy initiatives under Paul Bremer and L. Paul Bremer III's administration in Baghdad.

Transition to civilian roles and government service

After military retirement, Kimmitt transitioned to civilian positions including roles at defense contractors, consulting firms, and within the Department of State where he worked on public diplomacy and security assistance linked to Iraq reconstruction and counterinsurgency programs. He collaborated with former officials from the George W. Bush administration, served as a commentator for outlets covering Middle East policy, and joined advisory boards associated with think tanks and organizations addressing national security challenges. His post-service activities included engagements with veterans’ groups such as the American Legion and professional associations tied to the Association of the United States Army.

Controversies and public statements

Kimmitt attracted attention for public statements during and after his service that intersected with debates over the Iraq War, weapons of mass destruction, and policies promoted by the George W. Bush administration. He appeared on broadcast platforms alongside commentators and officials from institutions like Fox News, CNN, and PBS to discuss casualty reporting, civil-military relations, and reconstruction timelines, drawing criticism from advocates connected to anti-war movement organizations and journalists at outlets such as The New York Times and The Washington Post. His remarks were cited in congressional hearings involving members of the United States Congress and committees such as the Senate Armed Services Committee and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform during oversight of Iraq War conduct and intelligence assessments.

Personal life and honors

Kimmitt is a member of a family with multiple diplomatic and defense connections; relatives have served in senior positions across the Department of State, the Department of Defense, and international missions including postings in Baghdad, Kuwait City, and Berlin. His awards include decorations typical of senior United States Army officers who served in major operations, and he has been recognized by military associations and veterans’ organizations for his service during the Gulf War and the Iraq War. He resides with family in the United States and remains involved in dialogues on defense policy, veterans' affairs, and international security issues.

Category:United States Army generals Category:1954 births Category:Living people