Michael R. Fenzel

Michael R. Fenzel
Official portrait, 2022
Born (1967-07-29) 29 July 1967 (age 57)
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1989–present
RankLieutenant General
Commands3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division
1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment
Battles / warsGulf War
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
AwardsLegion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star Medal (3)

Michael R. Fenzel is a United States Army lieutenant general who serves as the United States Security Coordinator of the Israel-Palestinian Authority since November 2021. He most recently served as the vice director for strategy, plans, and policy of the Joint Staff. Prior to serving in that position, he was the senior military advisor to the Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation in the United States Department of State.[1][2][3] During the attacks on 11 September 2001, Fenzel, as a major, was on a White House Fellowship serving under Richard Clarke. He was tasked to join Vice President Dick Cheney in the Presidential Emergency Operations Center and liaise with Clarke.[4]

In July 2021, Fenzel was nominated for promotion to lieutenant general and assignment as the United States Security Coordinator for the Israel-Palestinian Authority, replacing Mark C. Schwartz.[5][6]

In 2024, Tablet Magazine accused Fenzel of pro-Palestinian bias, which allegedly resulted in President Joe Biden issuing an Executive Order regarding the West Bank.[7][8][9]

He earned degrees from Johns Hopkins University (BA), U.S. Naval War College (MA), Harvard University (MA), and Naval Postgraduate School (PhD).[10]

Awards and decorations

Combat Infantryman Badge with star (denoting 2nd award)
Expert Infantryman Badge
Ranger tab
Master Combat Parachutist Badge with one bronze jump star
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Presidential Service Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge
German Parachutist badge in bronze
505th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
8 Overseas Service Bars
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Width-44 scarlet ribbon with width-4 ultramarine blue stripe at center, surrounded by width-1 white stripes. Width-1 white stripes are at the edges. Bronze Star Medal with "V" device and two oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal with "V" device and three oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal
Bronze star
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with two service stars
Southwest Asia Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars
Iraq Campaign Medal with three service stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon
Bronze star
NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia with service star
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government.

  1. ^ "Maj. Gen. Michael R. Fenzel". Joint Staff. January 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "Colonel Michael R. Fenzel". 25 November 2015.
  3. ^ "Officials Note Progress in Afghanistan, Difficulty for Taliban".
  4. ^ Clarke, Richard A. (2004). Against All Enemies. New York: Free Press. p. 4. ISBN 0-7432-6024-4.
  5. ^ "PN947 — Maj. Gen. Michael R. Fenzel — Army". U.S. Congress. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  6. ^ "General Officer Assignments". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  7. ^ "The Fraudulent Case Against 'Violent Settlers'". Tablet Magazine.
  8. ^ "Israeli settler sanctioned by Biden speaks out". ABC News. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Background Press Call On Upcoming Measures to Address Actions That Undermine Peace, Security, and Stability in the West Bank". The White House. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Colonel Michael R. Fenzel". 25 November 2015.


Military offices
Preceded by Vice Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy of the Joint Staff
2020–2021
Succeeded by
Preceded by Special Assistant to the Director of the Army Staff
2021
Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Security Coordinator of the Israel-Palestinian Authority
2021–present
Incumbent