Kenneth P. Bergquist (Department of Defense)
Encyclopedia
Kenneth P. Bergquist was United States
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)
from 1988 to 1989.
, graduating with a B.A.
in 1967.
Upon graduation, Bergquist joined the United States Army
and served in the Army until 1974. For two of his years in the Army, he saw action in the Vietnam War
in Vietnam
and Cambodia
. For his combat service, he was awarded the Silver Star
, six Bronze Stars
and two Purple Hearts
.
Bergquist left the Army in 1974, but remained a member of the United States Army Reserve
. Starting in 1974, Bergquist attended the University of Texas School of Law
, receiving his J.D.
in 1977.
After law school, Bergquist joined the Central Intelligence Agency
as an intelligence officer
and paramilitary
officer. He then joined the staff of United States Senator Alan K. Simpson
(R
—Wyoming) as Legislative Counsel
. He next became Chief Counsel and Staff Director of the United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs
.
In 1983, Bergquist became Deputy Assistant Secretary for Readiness, Force Management and Training at the United States Department of the Army
. In 1986, he became Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the United States Department of Justice
's Office of Legislative Affairs.
On June 9, 1987, President of the United States
Ronald Reagan
announced the nomination of Bergquist as Assistant Secretary of Defense (Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict). Less than a year later, President Reagan nominated Bergquist as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)
, and Bergquist subsequently held this office from June 1988 until November 1989.
He later served as Associate Coordinator for Counterterrorism
.
In 2001, at the request of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
and the commander of the United States Special Operations Command
(General Charles R. Holland
), Bergquist was recalled to active duty
with the rank of Brigadier General
in order to become the first president of the new Joint Special Operations University
, set up to educate intermediate and senior personnel of the Special Operations Forces and senior personnel in the Joint Special Operations Command.
In the wake of the September 11 attacks, Bergquist was assigned to United States Central Command
as Special Operations Staff Director for Operation Enduring Freedom. In this capacity, he oversaw Unconventional Warfare and Special Operations during the War in Afghanistan.
General Bergquist retired from active duty in July 2002 and has been an independent crisis management and risk mitigation consultant and has been affiliated with a number of companies. General Bergquist has been responsible for managing the execution of approximately $100 Million of various security and national security related projects in the both the Middle East and in the United States. General Bergquist is currently associated with Jankel Tactical Systems of the United Kingdom.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)
The Assistant Secretary of the Navy is a civilian office in the United States Department of the Navy...
from 1988 to 1989.
Biography
Kenneth P. Bergquist was born in Washington, D. C. on July 12, 1944. He attended Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, graduating with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1967.
Upon graduation, Bergquist joined the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and served in the Army until 1974. For two of his years in the Army, he saw action in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
and Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
. For his combat service, he was awarded the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
, six Bronze Stars
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
and two Purple Hearts
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
.
Bergquist left the Army in 1974, but remained a member of the United States Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
. Starting in 1974, Bergquist attended the University of Texas School of Law
University of Texas School of Law
The University of Texas School of Law, also known as UT Law, is an ABA-certified American law school located on the University of Texas at Austin campus. The law school has been in operation since the founding of the University in 1883. It was one of only two schools at the University when it was...
, receiving his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1977.
After law school, Bergquist joined the Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
as an intelligence officer
Intelligence officer
An intelligence officer is a person employed by an organization to collect, compile and/or analyze information which is of use to that organization...
and paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
officer. He then joined the staff of United States Senator Alan K. Simpson
Alan K. Simpson
Alan Kooi Simpson is an American politician who served from 1979 to 1997 as a United States Senator from Wyoming as a member of the Republican Party. His father, Milward L. Simpson, was also a member of the U.S...
(R
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
—Wyoming) as Legislative Counsel
Counsel
A counsel or a counselor gives advice, more particularly in legal matters.-U.K. and Ireland:The legal system in England uses the term counsel as an approximate synonym for a barrister-at-law, and may apply it to mean either a single person who pleads a cause, or collectively, the body of barristers...
. He next became Chief Counsel and Staff Director of the United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs
United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs
The United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs deals with oversight of United States veterans issues.-Members, 112th Congress:The Committee is chaired by Democrat Patty Murray of Washington, and the Ranking Member is Republican Richard Burr of North Carolina.Source: -Chairmen of the Senate...
.
In 1983, Bergquist became Deputy Assistant Secretary for Readiness, Force Management and Training at the United States Department of the Army
United States Department of the Army
The Department of the Army is one of the three military departments within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Department of the Army is the Federal Government agency which the United States Army is organized within, and it is led by the Secretary of the Army who has...
. In 1986, he became Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
's Office of Legislative Affairs.
On June 9, 1987, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
announced the nomination of Bergquist as Assistant Secretary of Defense (Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict). Less than a year later, President Reagan nominated Bergquist as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)
The Assistant Secretary of the Navy is a civilian office in the United States Department of the Navy...
, and Bergquist subsequently held this office from June 1988 until November 1989.
He later served as Associate Coordinator for Counterterrorism
Coordinator for Counterterrorism
The Coordinator for Counterterrorism heads the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, which coordinates U.S. government efforts to fight terrorism.-List of Coordinators for Combating Terrorism:-External links:**...
.
In 2001, at the request of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces, and is the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council and the Secretary of Defense...
and the commander of the United States Special Operations Command
United States Special Operations Command
The United States Special Operations Command is the Unified Combatant Command charged with overseeing the various Special Operations Commands of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps of the United States Armed Forces. The command is part of the Department of Defense...
(General Charles R. Holland
Charles R. Holland
Charles R. Holland is a retired United States Air Force general who served as the Commander of United States Special Operations Command Headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida...
), Bergquist was recalled to active duty
Active duty
Active duty refers to a full-time occupation as part of a military force, as opposed to reserve duty.-Pakistan:The Pakistan Armed Forces are one of the largest active service forces in the world with almost 610,000 full time personnel due to the complex and volatile nature of Pakistan's...
with the rank of Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
in order to become the first president of the new Joint Special Operations University
Joint Special Operations University
The Joint Special Operations University is the designated agency within USSOCOM to conduct joint Special Operations Force education and thus is tasked with and directed to provide relevant, realistic, leading-edge education opportunities to military and civilian special operations forces...
, set up to educate intermediate and senior personnel of the Special Operations Forces and senior personnel in the Joint Special Operations Command.
In the wake of the September 11 attacks, Bergquist was assigned to United States Central Command
United States Central Command
The United States Central Command is a theater-level Unified Combatant Command unit of the U.S. armed forces, established in 1983 under the operational control of the U.S. Secretary of Defense...
as Special Operations Staff Director for Operation Enduring Freedom. In this capacity, he oversaw Unconventional Warfare and Special Operations during the War in Afghanistan.
General Bergquist retired from active duty in July 2002 and has been an independent crisis management and risk mitigation consultant and has been affiliated with a number of companies. General Bergquist has been responsible for managing the execution of approximately $100 Million of various security and national security related projects in the both the Middle East and in the United States. General Bergquist is currently associated with Jankel Tactical Systems of the United Kingdom.