Army Major General Harold J. Greene
August 18, 1981 ~ April 7, 2007
Operation Enduring Freedom
Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan (CSTC-A)
Kabul, Afghanistan
55, of Schenectady, NY; killed (shot) by an Afghan soldier during a routine visit to
Camp Qargha's Fahim National Defense University in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Operation Enduring Freedom
Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan (CSTC-A)
Kabul, Afghanistan
55, of Schenectady, NY; killed (shot) by an Afghan soldier during a routine visit to
Camp Qargha's Fahim National Defense University in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Harold Joseph "Harry" Greene was a United States Army officer who was killed in the War in Afghanistan. During his time with the U.S. Army, he held various commands associated with engineering and logistical support for U.S. and coalition troops. At the time of his death, he was deputy commanding general of Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan.
Harry was born in Boston, Massachusetts on February 11, 1959, to Eva May (Shediack) and Harold F. Greene. Harry spent early childhood years in Nashua NH, as his father taught at Nashua High School in the mid-1960s. His family moved and he grew up in Schenectady, New York, graduated from Guilderland High School in 1977, and from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) with a bachelor's degree in materials engineering in 1980. Harry’s's father lived in Guilderland, New York at the time of his death. His mother died in February 2013. Harry received a master's degree in industrial engineering from RPI and a master's in materials engineering from the University of Southern California (USC). In addition, he received a master's degree in mechanical engineering from USC, and a Ph.D. (1992) in materials science, also from USC.
Harry’s military education included the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, and the United States Army Command and General Staff College. He completed the Defense Systems Management College's Advanced Program Management Course at the Defense Acquisition University, and also held a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the United States Army War College.
Harry received his commission as an engineer officer in 1980, after completing Reserve Officer Training Corps at RPI.
As he worked his way through the ranks, Harry’s assignments included platoon leader, company executive officer, and battalion staff officer, Fort Polk; resident engineer in Athens; project engineer in Istanbul; brigade engineer and company commander, V Corps, West Germany; staff officer and materials engineer, Army Aviation and Troop Command, St. Louis; product manager, Aerial Common Sensor, Fort Monmouth; and assistant director, Combat Developments Directorate, U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center, Fort Leonard Wood. At the time of the September 11 attacks in 2001, he was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood.
Harry was promoted to brigadier general in late 2009, and served as deputy commanding general of United States Army Research, Development and Engineering Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground. and the commanding general of Natick Soldier Systems Center. While at Natick, Harry urged the military to incorporate smartphones, video games and virtual worlds into military training. Later, he became Program Executive Officer for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology). Promoted to major general in 2012, he was Deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management in the same office. In January 2014 he was named deputy commander of Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan.
On August 5, 2014, Harry was killed after being shot by an Afghan soldier with an M16 rifle at Camp Qargha's Marshal Fahim National Defense University in Kabul, Afghanistan. He had been making a routine visit to a training facility at the time. Fourteen NATO and Afghan servicemembers were wounded in the attack, including Brigadier General Michael Bartscher of the German Bundeswehr, two Afghan generals and another Afghan officer, eight Americans, and two British soldiers. At the rank of major general, Harry is the highest-ranking American service member killed by hostile action since Lieutenant General Timothy J. Maude was killed in the September 11 attacks, and the highest-ranking service member killed on foreign soil during a war since Rear Admiral Rembrandt Cecil Robinson was killed during the Vietnam War in May 1972. To date, Harry is also the highest ranking American officer to be killed in combat in the ongoing Global War on Terrorism.
Harry was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on August 14, 2014. Following the National Anthem, invocation and scripture reading, host Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno told the standing-room-only audience that when a man or woman joins with the Army, they really have two families, the biological and the Army family. "Today, we bring those two families together to honor Harry," he said. "Harry was a Soldier, a husband, a father, a son, a friend, a leader and a great patriot," Odierno said. "He left an indelible mark on everyone he came in contact with, and when I think about Harry, I think of a scholar, an inspirational leader, one who was humble and a passionate Soldier, always committed to whatever mission he was given."
Odierno said that when he was looking for the right person to establish the multinational mechanisms to sustain the Afghan National Army and Security Force for the long term, he knew Harry was the right Soldier -- "he had all the credentials, background, personality and the knowledge to prepare the Afghan Security Forces as U.S. and coalition troops depart.
"I believe he had a rare combination of intellect, compassion and warrior ethos. He was simply a great man," added Odierno. "What I'll always remember about Harry is that he was a true patriot and the epitome of what we hope and expect of our senior leaders -- a leader who is competent, able to do whatever job is given to him and to do it to the best of his ability with commitment to Soldiers, the Army, the nation, the mission and able to balance that with commitment to his family."
Following Odierno, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Heidi Shyu recalled her relationship with Harry. He had served as her deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management until deploying to Afghanistan just eight months ago. "My words can't fully express the sense of loss, the sadness we share with the Greene family," she said. "In his 34-year career, Harry was an engineer of technical expertise, business acumen and decisive leadership to the Army. "He was passionate about his responsibilities to provide our Soldiers with the best equipment in this world," she continued. "I could count on Harry to make decisions and tackle problems with sound logic and clear perspective on what's needed, especially on matters that affect our Soldiers. I sorely miss his intellect, his talent, his sense of humor and his mentorship."
Shyu recalled a trip she had recently taken to Afghanistan. She asked the general how he was managing the challenging conditions and the hectic pace he was facing on a daily basis.
"He told me in no uncertain terms, 'it got me out of the Pentagon,' and 'there's no other place I'd rather be, because I'm surrounded by Soldiers,'" she recalled. "We say 'goodbye' to our fallen friend. Harry Greene truly lived a successful life as a defining example of generations to follow, and God bless Maj. Gen. Green, his family he cherished, and the Army he so loved."
His military education includes the Army War College, the Advanced Program Management Course at the Defense Systems Management College, the US Army Command and General Staff College, and the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses.
His awards include the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with a silver cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal and the Army Superior Unit Award.
Harry is survived by his wife, Dr. Susan Myers; daughter Amelia Greene; son, Army 1st Lt. Matthew Greene; and his daughter-in-law, Kasandra Greene and his extended family.
Harry was born in Boston, Massachusetts on February 11, 1959, to Eva May (Shediack) and Harold F. Greene. Harry spent early childhood years in Nashua NH, as his father taught at Nashua High School in the mid-1960s. His family moved and he grew up in Schenectady, New York, graduated from Guilderland High School in 1977, and from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) with a bachelor's degree in materials engineering in 1980. Harry’s's father lived in Guilderland, New York at the time of his death. His mother died in February 2013. Harry received a master's degree in industrial engineering from RPI and a master's in materials engineering from the University of Southern California (USC). In addition, he received a master's degree in mechanical engineering from USC, and a Ph.D. (1992) in materials science, also from USC.
Harry’s military education included the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, and the United States Army Command and General Staff College. He completed the Defense Systems Management College's Advanced Program Management Course at the Defense Acquisition University, and also held a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the United States Army War College.
Harry received his commission as an engineer officer in 1980, after completing Reserve Officer Training Corps at RPI.
As he worked his way through the ranks, Harry’s assignments included platoon leader, company executive officer, and battalion staff officer, Fort Polk; resident engineer in Athens; project engineer in Istanbul; brigade engineer and company commander, V Corps, West Germany; staff officer and materials engineer, Army Aviation and Troop Command, St. Louis; product manager, Aerial Common Sensor, Fort Monmouth; and assistant director, Combat Developments Directorate, U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center, Fort Leonard Wood. At the time of the September 11 attacks in 2001, he was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood.
Harry was promoted to brigadier general in late 2009, and served as deputy commanding general of United States Army Research, Development and Engineering Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground. and the commanding general of Natick Soldier Systems Center. While at Natick, Harry urged the military to incorporate smartphones, video games and virtual worlds into military training. Later, he became Program Executive Officer for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology). Promoted to major general in 2012, he was Deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management in the same office. In January 2014 he was named deputy commander of Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan.
On August 5, 2014, Harry was killed after being shot by an Afghan soldier with an M16 rifle at Camp Qargha's Marshal Fahim National Defense University in Kabul, Afghanistan. He had been making a routine visit to a training facility at the time. Fourteen NATO and Afghan servicemembers were wounded in the attack, including Brigadier General Michael Bartscher of the German Bundeswehr, two Afghan generals and another Afghan officer, eight Americans, and two British soldiers. At the rank of major general, Harry is the highest-ranking American service member killed by hostile action since Lieutenant General Timothy J. Maude was killed in the September 11 attacks, and the highest-ranking service member killed on foreign soil during a war since Rear Admiral Rembrandt Cecil Robinson was killed during the Vietnam War in May 1972. To date, Harry is also the highest ranking American officer to be killed in combat in the ongoing Global War on Terrorism.
Harry was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on August 14, 2014. Following the National Anthem, invocation and scripture reading, host Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno told the standing-room-only audience that when a man or woman joins with the Army, they really have two families, the biological and the Army family. "Today, we bring those two families together to honor Harry," he said. "Harry was a Soldier, a husband, a father, a son, a friend, a leader and a great patriot," Odierno said. "He left an indelible mark on everyone he came in contact with, and when I think about Harry, I think of a scholar, an inspirational leader, one who was humble and a passionate Soldier, always committed to whatever mission he was given."
Odierno said that when he was looking for the right person to establish the multinational mechanisms to sustain the Afghan National Army and Security Force for the long term, he knew Harry was the right Soldier -- "he had all the credentials, background, personality and the knowledge to prepare the Afghan Security Forces as U.S. and coalition troops depart.
"I believe he had a rare combination of intellect, compassion and warrior ethos. He was simply a great man," added Odierno. "What I'll always remember about Harry is that he was a true patriot and the epitome of what we hope and expect of our senior leaders -- a leader who is competent, able to do whatever job is given to him and to do it to the best of his ability with commitment to Soldiers, the Army, the nation, the mission and able to balance that with commitment to his family."
Following Odierno, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Heidi Shyu recalled her relationship with Harry. He had served as her deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management until deploying to Afghanistan just eight months ago. "My words can't fully express the sense of loss, the sadness we share with the Greene family," she said. "In his 34-year career, Harry was an engineer of technical expertise, business acumen and decisive leadership to the Army. "He was passionate about his responsibilities to provide our Soldiers with the best equipment in this world," she continued. "I could count on Harry to make decisions and tackle problems with sound logic and clear perspective on what's needed, especially on matters that affect our Soldiers. I sorely miss his intellect, his talent, his sense of humor and his mentorship."
Shyu recalled a trip she had recently taken to Afghanistan. She asked the general how he was managing the challenging conditions and the hectic pace he was facing on a daily basis.
"He told me in no uncertain terms, 'it got me out of the Pentagon,' and 'there's no other place I'd rather be, because I'm surrounded by Soldiers,'" she recalled. "We say 'goodbye' to our fallen friend. Harry Greene truly lived a successful life as a defining example of generations to follow, and God bless Maj. Gen. Green, his family he cherished, and the Army he so loved."
His military education includes the Army War College, the Advanced Program Management Course at the Defense Systems Management College, the US Army Command and General Staff College, and the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses.
His awards include the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with a silver cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal and the Army Superior Unit Award.
Harry is survived by his wife, Dr. Susan Myers; daughter Amelia Greene; son, Army 1st Lt. Matthew Greene; and his daughter-in-law, Kasandra Greene and his extended family.
