Thomas F . Metz Thomas F . Metz ( b . Elkin , North Carolina 1948 ) is a Lieutenant General in the United States Army . Metz retired from the Army in Jan 2010 after completing more than 40 years of active duty service on behalf of our country . His tour of duty prior to retirement was as the Director , Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization . , leading the DOD organization tasked with finding and fielding ways to defeat the IED threat . Previously he was the Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Staff , U . S . Army Training and Doctrine Command . Previous to that assignment he was Commanding General of the U . S . III Corps and Fort Hood . He assumed command of III Corps on 7 February 2003 . Metz lived in North Carolina until enlisting in the Army in June 1966 . In August , after basic training at Fort Gordon , Georgia , he entered the United States Military Academy Preparatory School . He received a Regular Army Appointment to the United States Military Academy , and he entered in July 1967 . Upon graduation from West Point in June 1971 , he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry . From March 1972 until January 1975 , Metz served as Platoon Leader , Assistant S - 3 , Scout Platoon Leader , and Combat Support Company Executive Officer with 1st Battalion , 509th Airborne Infantry , in Germany and Italy . Metz took command of Company C , 10th BCT Battalion , Fort Jackson , South Carolina , in January 1976 . He relinquished command in June 1976 to become the Aide - de - Camp for the Commander , Readiness Region VI , at Fort Knox , Kentucky . While at Fort Knox , he commanded C Company , 4th Battalion , 54th Infantry ( Mechanized ) , 194th Armored Brigade , from June 1977 until June 1978 . Metz returned to West Point in June 1981 and was an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department until May 1984 . He moved to Fort Benning , Georgia , where he was the S - 3 and XO of the 3d Battalion , 7th Infantry ( Mechanized ) ; and the S - 3 , 197th Separate Infantry Brigade ( Mechanized ) . While at Fort Benning , he also served as a Division Chief in the Infantry School ' s Combat Developments Directorate from May 1986 until June 1987 . Returning to Fort Knox in June 1987 , Metz commanded the 4th Battalion , 15th Infantry ( Mechanized ) , 194th Armored Brigade , until July 1989 . From June 1990 until June 1992 , he served as the G - 3 , 2d Infantry Division , Republic of Korea . Metz commanded the 2d Brigade , 1st Infantry Division ( Mechanized ) , from July 1992 to July 1994 . He then served as the Division and Fort Riley Chief of Staff until May 1995 . After his tour in the 1st Infantry Division , LTG Metz joined the Training and Doctrine Command ( TRADOC ) and served as Director of the Army ' s Experimental Force Coordination Cell for the 4th Infantry Division ( Mechanized ) at Fort Hood , Texas , and the Assistant Division Commander for Support for the 4th Infantry Division ( Mechanized ) . In February 1998 , Metz was assigned as the Deputy Director for Joint Warfighting Capabilities Assessment , J - 8 , until June 2000 . Metz served as Vice Director for Force Structure , Resources , and Assessment , J - 8 , The Joint Staff , until November 2001 . On 7 November 2001 , Metz assumed command of the 24th Infantry Division ( Mechanized ) and Fort Riley . During this time period , Metz was chosen to serve for 4 months as the Chief of Staff , CENTCOM , during Operation Enduring Freedom from October 2002 to January 2003 . Metz holds a Master ' s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University . He also holds a professional engineer ' s license from the Commonwealth of Virginia . His military schools include the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses , the Command and General Staff College , and the Army War College . Metz ' s awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal , Army Distinguished Service Medal , Legion of Merit with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters , Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters , Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters , Good Conduct Medal , National Defense Service Medal with 2 Service Stars , Army Service Ribbon , Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 3 , Expert Infantryman Badge , Senior Parachutist Badge , Ranger Tab , and Belgium Brevet " A " Commando .