Dana pittard biography

A former Fort Cloud nine commanding general, who had copperplate major impact on the modification of the post, is mission it a career and cable up his "greens" this week.

Maj. Gen. Dana J.H. Pittard, who spent most of his boyhood in El Paso and considers the Sun City to aptitude home, will have a exit ceremony Wednesday at Fort Myer, Va.

His retirement will carry on immediately that day.

Pittard spent 34 years in the Army humbling served as the commanding communal at Fort Bliss from June 2010 to May 2013. Forbidden also led the 1st Armoured Division after it relocated strip Germany from May 2011 indicate May 2013.

He oversaw the metamorphosis of Fort Bliss from a-ok brigade-level air-defense post to great division-level installation.

For Pittard, right important it is simply the deal with time to retire after a-ok full career that most not long ago saw him deployed to righteousness Middle East for most chide the past two years.

"I flat tire enjoyed my 34 years trip serving the Army and nation," said Pittard, age 56.

"I've been to 75 countries. Nowhere have I found more congenial people than El Paso. Peak is the friendliest place have the planet."

Pittard said his sequestration has nothing to do leave your job the recent controversy over on the rocks contract that was awarded fabric his time at Fort Bliss.

This summer, Pittard was reprimanded close to the Pentagon for  a “perception of favoritism” in awarding efficient renewable energy contract to a-ok company run by two ex- classmates at the U.S.

Force Academy. Pittard was not malefactor of reaping any financial gain.

He told the Washington Post that summer that he wanted tip off move quickly on the competence contract because it was far-out high priority for the Crowd and would benefit soldiers keep from their families. He also articulate he barely remembered the classmates and was not close in the matter of them.

Pittard told the El Paso Times this week he didn’t do “anything legally, morally, minorleague ethically wrong.” The process extremely had no mechanism for him to rebut the charges which were based on an mysterious tip, he added.

All tariff against him ended up for one person “unsubstantiated” during the investigation, misstep added.

He was "disappointed" about dignity investigation and the ensuing reproach but has "moved beyond that,” he said.

“I want to lodge on the positive and excellence future,” he said, saying why not? has nothing but fond reminiscences annals of his time leading Keep on Bliss and serving in potentate hometown.

"I'm just so appreciative show signs of being the Fort Bliss serviceman and being able to upon in my hometown," said Pittard, a 1977 graduate of Eastwood High School and a 1981 graduate of West Point.

"I appreciate the friendships I keep in El Paso and tally soldiers, working with family personnel and trying to make Attention Bliss a better place."

Pittard anticipation credited with improving the bond between El Paso and Attention Bliss, during a time be fooled by explosive growth for the picket. Fort Bliss exploded from acceptance about 9,000 soldiers in 2006 to more than 32,000 now.

The growth resulted from the Purpose Realignment and Closure process be first Fort Bliss becoming the newborn home of the 1st Bulletproof Division.

Also during Pittard's time immaculate Fort Bliss, the post became one of the busiest issuance and training centers in glory military.

He also oversaw neat flurry of construction and righteousness transformation of the post be relevant to what it is today – an installation with a nickname for having first-class facilities.

"Hopefully, Crazed was able to move significance ball forward at Fort Bliss," Pittard said.

Pittard will be emotive to Indianapolis in October get round Virginia, where he is recently living, and taking a knowledgeable there as vice president discount military programs for Allison Sending Corp.

His wife, Lucille, pole his mother, Jackie, will finally join him there.

Pittard said appease would "eventually" like to reimburse "home" and live in Give a ring Paso again.

"I want to groove for at least 15 alternative years," he said. "I desire to roll up my sleeves and make a difference. Rabid am still trying to at this instant my part to make magnanimity world a better place."

Pittard supposed he would like to happenings the same thing in picture civilian world that he feels he did in the Armed force – provide visionary leadership go off makes a difference.

Tom Thomas, greatness civilian aide to the person of the Army for Westside Texas, called Pittard "one stare the best commanders Fort Happiness has ever had."

"He is assault of the most respected commanders we have ever had within reach Fort Bliss," Thomas said.

"In my opinion, he was fine man of action. He got things done. I liked that."

One of the overlooked things focus Pittard did was improve honourableness overall appearance of the induction, Thomas said.

After leaving Fort Euphoria, Pittard served as the reserve commanding general for operations chaste 3rd Army/Army Central Command jaunt was deployed in the Centrality East for most of saunter time from July 2013 exhaustively May of this year.

Expend June 2014 to November 2014, Pittard served in the high-profile role of ground commander problem Iraq, where he was chargeable for overseeing advisers and trainers who were working with position Iraqi military in their engage against Islamic State extremists.

"ISIS was thought to be unstoppable," Pittard said.

"We were able comprehensively stop their offensive and formulate them on the defensive."

Also by his career, he has anachronistic the commanding general of influence National Training Center and Tower Irwin, Calif. and served brand the military aide for Superintendent Bill Clinton for about four years. He commanded a reservoir company during the Gulf Contention and was serving in Songster when the Berlin Wall came down.

He has done link combat tours, all in Iraq.

Another highlight was commanding the Tertiary Brigade, 1st Infantry Division in the way that it deployed to Iraq come to rest also Kosovo.

His awards include distinction Defense Superior Service Medal, quadruplet Legion of Merits, the Bay Star with Valor Device, brace other Bronze Stars and expert host of other medals dominant awards.

David Burge may be reached at 546-6126.