By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Pentagon's new IG is Glennville native
MickeyKICKLIGHTER
Lt. Gen. (ret.) Claude "Mickey" Kicklighter undated service portrait
The nomination of Glennville native Claude M. “Mickey” Kicklighter to be the Department of Defense inspector general was confirmed by the Senate on April 12, according to the Pentagon Web site.
President George W. Bush announced the nomination of the retired lieutenant general on Feb. 22. It was received by the Senate Armed Services Committee on Feb. 26. The committee held a confirmation hearing March 27, and favorably reported the nomination the following day. On March 28, the nomination was referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and was discharged on April 11, and placed on the executive calendar for consideration by the Senate.
Upon assuming office, Kicklighter will become the sixth DoD inspector general confirmed by the Senate.
Kicklighter has served his country for more than 50 years, first as an Army officer for 35 years, followed by 15 years as a public servant. Most recently, in October 2005, he was selected by the secretaries of State and Defense to establish and direct the Iraq/Afghanistan Joint Transition Planning Group, a joint Department of State and Department of Defense team that has provided analysis and recommendations to address transition challenges in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In addition to serving in this position, since his retirement in 1991, Kicklighter has held a number of senior positions in the Departments of Defense, State and Veterans Affairs. Prior to his current assignment, he was the chief of staff, Department of Veterans Affairs. In 2004, he was designated a special advisor to the deputy secretary of state for stabilization and security operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Previously, he served as deputy under secretary of the Army for international affairs. Kicklighter also was director of commemorative activities in the United States and around the globe that thanked and honored our World War II veterans and their families during the 50th anniversary of that war.
Prior to this, Kicklighter was nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, in 2001, as assistant secretary for policy and planning, Department of Veterans Affairs, which later became the Office of Policy, Planning and Preparedness after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. In this role, he was senior advisor to the secretary on strategic planning, policy research and analysis, program evaluation, emergency operations, preparedness, and security and law enforcement.
During his more than thirty-five year career as a military officer, commanded units at every level from platoon through division, and then commanded a theater Army.
While a public servant, he served on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity International and as its chairman for three years.
Kicklighter graduated from Mercer University with a bachelor’s of arts degree in biology and was commissioned a second lieutenant in Field Artillery. He earned a master’s of arts degree in management of national resources from the School of Business Administration, George Washington University, and is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Sign up for our e-newsletters