title: John Michael Bednarek
text: # John Michael Bednarek
  
  John Michael "Mick" Bednarek is a retired United States Army officer. He was chief of the United States Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq and former commander of the United States First Army. Bednarek took command of the First Army on April 6, 2011, from Lieutenant General Thomas G. Miller and was succeeded as commanding officer by Major General Kevin R. Wendel on March 14, 2013 (interim), with Lieutenant General Michael S. Tucker succeeding Bednarek as permanent commander on August 2, 2013.
  
  ## Military career
  
  Bednarek received his commission through an Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps program upon his graduation from Old Dominion University. He has held commands within every level of the Army, ranging from platoon to field army. Bednarek has also served as the Chief of the Training Group at the Joint Warfighting Center, the Chief of the Operations Group at the Joint Readiness Training Center, and Commander of the 4th Training Brigade. In June 2008 Bednarek was given command of the First Army's East Division and on April 6, 2011, Bednarek took command of the United States First Army. He served as commander of the First Army until March 14, 2013, when he was assigned as Chief of the Office of Security Cooperation (OSC) in Iraq. As OSC chief, Bednarek was the highest ranking American military officer in Iraq and was involved in US efforts against the Islamic State in the Iraqi Civil War. Bednarek has also attended Troy State University where he received a MS in personnel management and administration, the US Army Command and General Staff College, and the US Army War College. Bednarek retired from service on July 24, 2015.
  
  ## Awards and decorations
  
  * Combat Action Badge
  * Expert Infantryman Badge
  * Ranger tab
  * Master Parachutist Badge with one bronze Combat Jump Device
  * Military Freefall Parachutist Badge
  * Special Operations Diving Supervisor Badge
  * Pathfinder Badge
  * Silver German Parachutist Badge
  * 25th Infantry Division Combat Service Identification Badge
  * 75th Ranger Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
  * Defense Distinguished Service Medal
  * Army Distinguished Service Medal
  * Defense Superior Service Medal
  * Legion of Merit with four bronze oak leaf clusters
  * Defense Meritorious Service Medal
  * Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
  * Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
  * Army Achievement Medal
  * Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
  * Valorous Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
  * Meritorious Unit Commendation
  * Army Superior Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
  * National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
  * Iraq Campaign Medal
  * Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  * Humanitarian Service Medal
  * Army Service Ribbon
  * Army Overseas Service Ribbon with unidentified award numeral
  