LTC STEVEN R. MIRR

Commanding Officer 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

4th Infantry Division (M)

July 19, 1997 - July 7, 1999

LTC Steven R. Mirr was born in Rock Island, Illinois, on September 9, 1956. He graduated from Purdue University and was
commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. His military schooling includes the Infantry Basic and Advanced Courses, the
Venezuelan Infantry Officer Advanced Course, and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff Course.

During his initial assignments, LTC Mirr served as a platoon leader and executive oficer in both mechanized and light infantry
companies. Following graduation from the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, he served as Battalion Maintenance Officer (BMO),
Logistics Officer (S4), and company commander in the 2nd Battalion 30th Infantry (Mechanized) in Germany.

Upon his return to the United States, LTC Mirr attended the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and the Defense Language Institute
in Monterey, California, where he received a Masters Degree in Latin American Studies. Following his graduation, he was assigned
to the U.S. Military Group in Caracas, Venezuela, and attended the Venezuelan Infantry Officer Advanced Course.

From 1988-89. LTC Mirr served as a personnel assignments officer at the U.S. Total Army Personnel Command. (PERSCOM).
In 1989, he was reassigned to Panama, where he served as the aide-de-camp to the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Southern Command
(SOUTHCOM). While assigned to SOUTHCOM, LTC Mirr participated in Operation JUST CAUSE.

In 1992, following graduation from the Command and General Staff College, he was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division (M)
where he served as Chief, G3 Plans, Operations Officer (S3), 2nd Battalion 16th Infantry (M), and Executive Officer (XO)
of the 2nd Brigade.

In 1994, LTC Mirr was reassigned to the Pentagon where he served first as speechwriter for the Vice Chief of Staff, Army,
and subsequently as a liaison officer to the U.S. Congress. Prior to assuming command of the 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry (M),
LTC Mirr served as the Chief, Combat Arms Team in the Experimental Force (EXFOR) Coordination Cell at Ft Hood.

From July 1997 to July 1999 LTC Mirr commanded 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry (M). He was then assigned to the
Joint Staff in the Land and Littoral Warfare Assessment Division, J8.

1st Battalion website does not have the date of Steven Mirr's promotion to Colonel.

He was Commanding Officer of the 196th Infantry Brigade from August 2002 to June 21, 2004.

His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star (with "V" device), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal,
the Army Meritorious Service Medal (with four Oak Leaf clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (with six Oak Leaf clusters),
the Army Acheivement Medal (with Oak Leaf cluster), the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Ranger Tab and the Parachutist Badge.

COL Steve Mirr has also received the Defense Superior Service Medal.

He received the NATO Meritorious Service Medal in 2006. The NATO MSM is the personal Award of
the Secretary General of NATO, who signs each citation. Less than 50 such medals are awarded each year.

Steven R. Mirr retired from the Army in 2007.

In 2013 Steve Mirr was presented with the Rock Island Legend Award by the Rock Island-Milan Education Foundation.
The Education Foundation sponsors the Rock Island Legends, an honor group for distinguished alumni
of Rock Island High School who have excelled professionally, through community service, or who have made
significant contributions to furthering the mission of the Rock Island-Milan School District in Rock Island, Illinois.

COL Mirr and his wife Barbara have three children: Jeff, Brian and Katie.

COL Steve Mirr (right front) and his staff during exercise Pacific Blue at
Fort Shafter, Hawaii, November 2002. The exercise successfully rehearsed
disaster response to a possible major hurricane in the region. The 196th
Infantry Brigade was designated the DCE (Defense Coordinating Element)
and COL Steve Mirr was the DCO (Defense Coordinating Officer) for the
State of Hawaii and American Samoa.

Steve Mirr's education:

Purdue University

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), History

1974 – 1978

Naval Postgraduate School

Master of Arts (MA), National Security Affairs

1986 – 1987

National War College, Washington, D.C,

Master of Arts (MA), National Security Policy Studies

2001 – 2002

Career as of August 2015:

US Army

1979 – 2007 (28 years)

Colonel, Retired

Director, Defense Operations

U.S. Mission to NATO

December 2006 – Present (8 years 9 months)

Top photo of Steven R. Mirr as Operations Division Director USNATO Team Afghanistan
from Department of State Magazine January 2010 Issue Number 541 pp. 32

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