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 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. 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.

Awards and decorations