Dana J . H . Pittard Major General Dana J . H . Pittard , USA is Deputy Commanding General of Operations ( DCG - O ) for ARCENT , the US Central Command / Third Army , based in Kuwait . Pittard formerly served as the Commanding General of 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss in El Paso , Texas . He was also Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations & Training at the Training and Doctrine Command ( TRADOC ) at Fort Monroe , Virginia and commanding general of the National Training Center , Fort Irwin , California . Education . Pittard graduated from the United States Military Academy , Armor Officer Basic Course , Infantry Officer Advance Course , and the Command and General Staff College ( CGSC ) . He holds a Masters Degree in Military Arts and Science from the United States Army School of Advanced Military Studies ( SAMS ) at Fort Leavenworth , Kansas . He also has completed a National Security Fellowship at the John F . Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University . Assignments . Pittard received his commission as an Armor officer in 1981 . His first operational assignment was with the 1st Infantry Division ( Mechanized ) at Fort Riley , Kansas in 1982 . He served as a Tank Platoon Leader and Tank Company Executive Officer in 2 - 63 Armor ; then as a Scout Platoon Leader and Battalion S1 in 3 - 37 Armor . In 1984 , he served as an Admissions Officer at West Point ; and in 1985 was assigned to Bad Kissingen , Germany , as the Squadron S4 for 2nd Squadron , 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment ( ACR ) . In October 1986 , Pittard commanded E Troop , 2nd Squadron , 11th ACR until May 1988 . He next commanded Fox Company , 40th Armor ( Berlin Brigade ) from June 1988 until March 1990 . In April 1990 , he commanded D Company , 1 - 37 Armor at Vilseck , Germany , and led his unit in combat in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm . Upon returning to Germany , he served as an Assistant S3 in 3rd Brigade , 3rd Infantry Division . He next served at Fort Hood , Texas as the Assistant G3 , Chief of Plans and Exercises for 2nd Armored Division ; the S3 for 1 - 67 Armor ; and then as the S3 , 2nd Brigade , 4th Infantry Division . Pittard served as a Military Aide to President Bill Clinton from November 1996 until January 1999 . In June 1999 , he assumed command of 1 - 32 Armor / 1 - 14 Cavalry at Fort Lewis , Washington as a part of the Army ' s first Stryker Brigade until June 2001 . Pittard took command of 3rd Brigade , 1st Infantry Division in July 2002 and led the unit on deployments to Kosovo ( 2002 – 2003 ) and to Iraq ( 2004 – 2005 ) . In July 2005 , Pittard was assigned as the Assistant Division Commander for Maneuver , 24th Infantry Division later to transition to the 1st Infantry Division . In July 2006 , he deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom where he assumed command of the Iraq Assistance Group , while still serving as the Assistant Division Commander for Maneuver of the 1st Infantry Division . He was the commander of Iraq Assistance Group in 2006 through June 30 , 2007 , and transferred command to Brigadier General James C . Yarbrough . On August 8 , 2007 , he assumed command of Fort Irwin , CA . On December 18 , 2008 , Pittard announced his plans to leave Fort Irwin sometime in March 2009 . He became the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Training at TRADOC in March 2009 . On July 9 , 2010 , General Pittard assumed command of Fort Bliss , Texas . On May 24 , 2013 , Maj . General Pittard relinquished command to Maj . General Sean MacFarland . Pittard is now the Deputy Commanding General of Operations ( DCG - O ) for ARCENT . Decorations and awards . The Defense Superior Service Medal , the Legion of Merit , the Bronze Star ( 2nd Award ) , the Bronze Star with valor device , the Meritorious Service Medal ( 6th Award ) , the Army Commendation Medal , the Army Achievement Medal ( 3rd Award ) , the Ranger Tab , the Parachutist Badge , the Air Assault Badge and the General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award . He also wears the Order of St George , the Order of St Barbara , and the Order of the de Fleury Medal . Suicide Prevention Recognition . During the period Pittard commanded the post , Fort Bliss earned the LivingWorks Community of Excellence Award for effective suicide prevention and intervention programs in July 2012 . According to Department of Defense statistics , Fort Bliss had the Army ' s lowest suicide rate in 2012 while Pittard was commanding general .