Daniel P. Bolger


Daniel P. Bolger of Aurora, Illinois is an author, historian, and retired Lieutenant General of the United States Army. He currently holds a special faculty appointment in the Department of History at North Carolina State University, where he teaches military history.
Lt. Gen. Bolger retired in 2013 from the Army. During his 35 years of service, he earned five Bronze Star Medals and the Combat Action Badge. His notable military commands included serving as Commanding General of the Combined Security Transition Command in Afghanistan and Commander of the NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan ; Commanding General of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas ; the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team in Iraq ; and U.S. Army Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations. He is also the author of books, such as Why We Lost, Americans at War, The Battle for Hunger Hill, and Death Ground.

Military career

Bolger graduated from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina in 1978. Upon graduation he was commissioned an Infantry officer in the United States Army. His initial assignment was to C Company, 2nd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He served as a weapons platoon leader, Executive Officer of B Company and later on as B Rifle company commander. Bolger served as an Instructor and Assistant Professor in the Department of History of the United States Military Academy from 1986–89, he subsequently was assigned as the S-3 of the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division in Korea. Later on he served as the Assistant G-3 of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. In 1994 Bolger commanded the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, and afterwards served as the G-3 of the 101st Airborne Division. In 1998 he commanded the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division in Korea. Afterwards he served at the U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia. In 2002 Bolger served as the Chief of Staff of the 2nd Infantry Division, and later on as the Assistant Division Commander of the 101st Airborne Division. In 2005 Bolger served as the deputy commander of the Multi-National Corps-Iraq, and later on as the Commander of the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team. In 2006 he commanded the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, and afterwards he served as the commander of 1st Cavalry Division in Iraq. In 2010 he was appointed as the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army. In 2011 he was appointed as the commander of the combined Security Transition Command in Afghanistan as the Commander of NATO's Training Mission there. He retired from the Army in 2013.

Education

During his military service he was awarded: Defense Superior Service Medal, four awards of the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, three awards of the Bronze Star, four awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, three awards of the Army Commendation Medal, and two awards of the Army Achievement Medal. He has also earned the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge and the Army Staff Identification Badge. He has also earned the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist Badge and the Air Assault Badge. He was awarded the Centurion Level of the Order of Saint Maurice in 2000.