Michael D . Barbero Michael D . Barbero is a United States Army Lieutenant General . He was commissioned in the infantry upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1976 . Military career . Lieutenant General Michael D . Barbero served as Director , Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization ( JIEDDO ) from March 2011 until May 2013 . In this post , he was responsible for leading the Defense Department ’ s actions to rapidly provide counter - IED capabilities in support of combatant commanders , military services and other federal agencies to enable the defeat of the IED as a weapon of strategic influence . Following his commissioning as an infantry officer in 1976 , Lieutenant General Barbero served in a variety of tactical assignments in mechanized , light and air assault infantry units . He served in the 1st Cavalry Division , 2d Infantry Division , two tours in the 101st Airborne Division , the 7th Infantry Division , the 10th Mountain Division and the 4th Infantry Division . In addition to infantry assignments at the tactical level , he commanded at every grade , from lieutenant colonel to lieutenant general . He commanded the 3d Battalion , 187th Infantry Battalion in the 101st Airborne Division and the 2d Brigade , 10th Mountain Division . As a brigadier general , he commanded one of the Army ’ s combat training centers , the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk , Louisiana . As a major general , he commanded the United States Army Infantry Center and Fort Benning , Georgia . Immediately prior to joining JIEDDO , he commanded the Multi - National Security Transition Command – Iraq and NATO Training Mission – Iraq . Other staff assignments included service as the executive assistant to the commander of Joint Forces Command / Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic , the Deputy Director for Regional Operations on the Joint Staff and the Chief of Staff , III Corps and Fort Hood , Texas . Lieutenant General Barbero served nearly four years in Iraq over three separate tours . During the first year of Operation Iraqi Freedom , from 2003 to 2004 , he served as the assistant division commander of the 4th Infantry Division . He next served in Iraq as the Deputy Chief of Staff , Strategic Operations at Multi - National Force – Iraq during “ the surge ” in 2007 and 2008 . Finally , during his most recent deployment , from 2009 to January 2011 , he was responsible for the training , equipping and development of all Iraqi security forces and building the ministerial capabilities of both the Ministries of Interior and Defense , while serving simultaneously as the Commander of Multi - National Security Transition Command - Iraq and the Commander of the NATO Training Mission - Iraq . He also deployed to Panama and participated in Operation Just Cause in December 1989 . Lieutenant General Barbero holds a master ’ s degree in national security and strategic studies from the National Defense University , Washington , D . C . He is a graduate of the U . S . Army ’ s Command and General Staff College and the School of Advanced Military Studies Program . His awards and badges include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal , Distinguished Service Medal , Defense Superior Service Medal ( with Oak Leaf Cluster ) , Legion of Merit ( with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster ) , Bronze Star Medal ( with Oak Leaf Cluster ) , Meritorious Service Medal ( with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters ) , Army Commendation Medal ( with Oak Leaf Cluster ) , Army Achievement Medal , Expert Infantryman Badge , Parachutist Badge , Air Assault Badge , Ranger Tab , Army Staff Identification Badge , Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge , Australian Jump Wings .