ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (Aug. 7, 2014) -- The U.S. Army and Aberdeen Proving Ground community mourn the loss of Maj. Gen. Harold Greene, who was killed, Tuesday, during an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Greene had been serving as the deputy commanding general of the Combined Security Transition Command, since January 2014.
Fellow Soldiers, colleagues and friends remember Greene as an outstanding officer and a family man.
Dale A. Ormond, director of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, referred to as RDECOM, expressed his condolences in a message to the workforce.
"Many of you who knew and served with him know the impact he had on this command and its people. The loss of Maj. Gen. Greene is certainly felt across the Army and this Enterprise," he said. "He dutifully served the people of this great nation and dedicated his time at this command making sure Soldiers came first.
"We will remember Maj. Gen. Greene as a great Soldier, officer, and member of our family," Ormond said. "He was a man of uncommon and exemplary professionalism, competence, and candor, in the most profound way."
Greene served as the RDECOM deputy commanding general, from May 2009 to May 2011.
Tom Faulkner, RDECOM chief of visual information, knew Greene since his arrival at the command and photographed him for his official brigadier general portrait.
"After 33 years working here at [Aberdeen Proving Ground], I've met some wonderful people, but few were cut from the same cloth as Maj. Gen. Harry Greene," Faulkner said. "He was easy going, had an excellent sense of humor, was never condescending and always made everyone feel welcome. The Army lost a great Soldier who was full of compassion, extremely intelligent and witty, and one that made a lasting impression with everyone he came in contact with."
Mark Flaherty, with RDECOM G-6, echoed those comments.
"He was a great guy, inspirational and very approachable. He was always there for us," Flaherty said.
Michele Curry, information management officer at the Army's Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center on Aberdeen Proving Ground, provided direct information technology support to the command suite during her time at RDECOM.
"He was really a good man," she said. "I recall a conference we worked together, Conference of the American Armies, in 2010, which was a really big deal. At the end of the conference, after we had worn ourselves out, he called us all together and gave us all coins and made everybody feel special. He really did."
"He was an amazing man. He made each person feel important. He was an amazing person, that's for sure. I'm just stunned. This is a great loss, and the full impact is yet to be seen."
During Greene's time with RDECOM, he also served as senior commander at Natick Soldier Systems Center in Natick, Massachusetts.
"Maj. Gen. Greene was a great leader, true patriot and a friend to many here at NSSC. In those two short years, he worked tirelessly in the Natick community to forge partnerships that still last today. Always one to put Soldiers first, he set high standards and would never accept anything but the best equipment possible for America's warfighters. Those who had the pleasure to work for him, know that he was extraordinarily smart, cared deeply about his people and was completely dedicated to the Army's mission," NSSC Chief of Public Affairs John Harlow said.
Katie Everett works in RDECOM's science, technology, engineering and mathematics educational outreach office.
"Maj. Gen. Greene was the kind of leader that every young officer aspires to become. He was genuine, incredibly wise, bluntly honest, and had a great sense of humor. He genuinely loved people, and he loved the Army," Everett said.
Greene also served on Aberdeen Proving Ground, as the Program Executive Officer, Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors, from May 2011 to April 2012. Before his assignment in Afghanistan, he was the Deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology), from April 2012 to January 2014.
"As members of the PEO family, we extend our hearts and deepest sympathy to the Greene family at the tragic loss of our fallen colleague, friend and former PEO, Maj. Gen. Harry Greene," said Stephen D. Kreider, Program Executive Officer, Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors. "Maj. Gen. Greene was an inspirational leader who touched all he led. His life was an outstanding example of one lived in dedication to family, friends, Army and nation.
"His legacy is the character, integrity and passion for life he displayed in all he did. He is a true American hero who was responsible for the safe return of many from war due to his dedication to mission and his commitment to excellence. We will miss him."
Greene was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps, in 1980.
Greene's civilian education included a bachelor of science in materials engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; a master of science in industrial engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a master of science in materials engineering from the University of Southern California, a master of strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College, a master of science in mechanical engineering from the University of Southern California, and a doctorate in materials engineering from the University of Southern California.
His awards and decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal and the Army Staff Identification Badge.
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Natick remembers Maj. Gen. Harold J. 'Harry' Greene
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