Bert Mizusawa
Encyclopedia
Bert Kameaaloha “Bert” Mizusawa (born January 1957) is a major general
in the United States Army Reserve
. His awards include the Silver Star
, Legion of Merit
, Bronze Star, and 30 other awards as well as the Combat Infantryman
, Master Parachutist
, Ranger, Air Assault
, and Joint Chiefs of Staff
Badges. Mizusawa has also received the Humanitarian Service Medal
, the Meritorious Civilian Service Award
, and awards from two foreign governments.
. Soon thereafter Mizusawa's father enlisted in the United States Air Force
, moving the Mizusawa Family to Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia
.
In 1975 Mizusawa graduated from Kecoughtan High School
in Hampton, Virginia
. While in high school Mizusawa participated in varsity football
, wrestling
, and track
.
West Point
In 1975 Mizusawa was accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point. While at West Point he served in the Cadet Captain position as Assistant Operations Officer. On June 6, 1979 Mizusawa received his diploma from then Deputy Secretary of Defense, Charles W. Duncan, Jr., and graduated as the “number one man”—first in his class.
Harvard
In 1986 Mizusawa was accepted to Harvard Law School
and graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1989. He also received a Master of Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government
and was selected as a MacArthur Fellow, interning on the United States Attorneys’ Counterdrug Task Force.
.
, served as a paratrooper
in Italy
and commanded an elite infantry unit in the Korean DMZ.
and assumed the assignment of Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Joint Chiefs of Staff.
, where he assisted the Chairman with oversight of national defense. In 1996, he authored the GOP national security platform for the presidential campaign. In 1998, he was appointed as a three-star level Senior Executive in The Pentagon
.
Mizusawa is currently serving as Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Joint Chiefs of Staff
, Washington, D.C.
.
Bert K. Mizusawa, Esq. is currently admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia and the State of New York.
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
in 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....
. His awards include 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....
, Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, Bronze Star, and 30 other awards as well as the Combat Infantryman
Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
, Master Parachutist
Parachutist Badge
The Parachutist Badge or Parachutist Brevet is a military badge awarded by the Armed Forces of most countries in the world to soldiers who receive the proper parachute training and accomplish the required number of jumps. It is difficult to assess which country was the first to introduce such award...
, Ranger, Air Assault
Air Assault Badge
The Air Assault Badge, pictured to the right, is awarded by the U.S. Army for successful completion of the Air Assault School, a two-week course. The course includes three phases of instruction involving U.S. Army rotary wing aircraft: combat air assault operations; rigging and slingload...
, and Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
Badges. Mizusawa has also received the Humanitarian Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
The Humanitarian Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States armed forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under...
, the Meritorious Civilian Service Award
Meritorious Civilian Service Award
The Meritorious Civilian Service Award is commonly the second highest award and medal provided to civilian employees within agencies of the federal government of the United States...
, and awards from two foreign governments.
Early life
Bert K. Mizusawa, a Japanese American, was born January 1957 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Mizusawa is the second of six boys born to George and Theodora Mizusawa. Mizusawa's father met his mother in Europe (1953) while serving in the United States ArmyUnited 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...
. Soon thereafter Mizusawa's father enlisted in the United States Air Force
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
, moving the Mizusawa Family to Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia
Hampton, Virginia
Hampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts...
.
Education
Kecoughtan High SchoolIn 1975 Mizusawa graduated from Kecoughtan High School
Kecoughtan High School
Kecoughtan High School is a public high school located in Hampton, Virginia. The current grades offered are 9–12. Kecoughtan High School is one of four high schools located in the Hampton City Public School District...
in Hampton, Virginia
Hampton, Virginia
Hampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts...
. While in high school Mizusawa participated in varsity football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
, and track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
.
West Point
In 1975 Mizusawa was accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point. While at West Point he served in the Cadet Captain position as Assistant Operations Officer. On June 6, 1979 Mizusawa received his diploma from then Deputy Secretary of Defense, Charles W. Duncan, Jr., and graduated as the “number one man”—first in his class.
Harvard
In 1986 Mizusawa was accepted to Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
and graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1989. He also received a Master of Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
and was selected as a MacArthur Fellow, interning on the United States Attorneys’ Counterdrug Task Force.
Military
Graduating as top man on the list, Cadet Bert K. Mizusawa received his first choice in the USMA Corps of Cadets’ branch drawings—infantryInfantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
.
Captain
As a Captain, Mizusawa — an Airborne RangerUnited States Army Rangers
United States Army Rangers are elite members of the United States Army. Rangers have served in recognized U.S. Army Ranger units or have graduated from the U.S. Army's Ranger School...
, served as a paratrooper
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and commanded an elite infantry unit in the Korean DMZ.
- Soviet Defector Incident
- "On November 23, 1984, Captain Bert Mizusawa deployed from Camp Kitty Hawk (renamed Camp BonifasCamp BonifasCamp Bonifas is a United Nations Command military post located 400 meters south of the southern boundary of the Korean Demilitarized Zone. It is 2400 meters south of the military demarcation line and lies within the Joint Security Area , also known as Panmunjom...
in 1985) to the Korean Demilitarized ZoneKorean Demilitarized ZoneThe Korean Demilitarized Zone is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula that serves as a buffer zone between North and South Korea. The DMZ cuts the Korean Peninsula roughly in half, crossing the 38th parallel on an angle, with the west end of the DMZ lying south of the parallel and...
and commanded Joint Security Forces during the Soviet Defector Incident. At approximately 1130 hours, during a communist-led tour, Soviet citizen Vasily Matusak suddenly dashed across the Military Demarcation Line into South KoreaSouth KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. Thirty KPA soldiers pursued him, firing their weapons as they did so. The KPA soldiers, who were pinned down by fire from the JSF's 4th Platoon on guard duty in Panmunjom, were quickly outmaneuvered and isolated in the area of the Sunken Garden, now the site of the Unification Monument. In the 40-minute firefight that ensued, Corporal Jang Myong-Ki was killed, and Private First Class Michael A. Burgoyne was wounded."
Colonel
As a Colonel, Mizusawa commanded the first team deployed to Afghanistan from the Joint Center for Operational Analysis, U.S. Joint Forces Command, and the Army Reserve Information Operations Command.- ARIOC
- "The Army Reserve Information Operations Command headquartered in Adelphi, MarylandAdelphi, MarylandAdelphi is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 14,998 at the 2000 census...
, supported Grecian Firebolt 2002 and its quest to test homeland-defense communications. Activated in October 2001, ARIOC is a U.S. Army Reserve asset charged to conduct information operations. The organization, commanded by COL Bert Mizusawa, has five subordinate IO centers. IOCs are located at Adelphi, MarylandAdelphi, MarylandAdelphi is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 14,998 at the 2000 census...
; Fort Devens, Mass.; Oakdale, PennsylvaniaOakdale, PennsylvaniaOakdale is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,459 at the 2010 census. Its zip code is 15071.Oakdale is affectionately known as "America's Home Town"...
; Dublin, CaliforniaDublin, CaliforniaDublin is a suburban city of the East Bay region of Alameda County, California, United States. Located along the north side of Interstate 580 at the intersection with Interstate 680, roughly east of Hayward, west of Livermore and north of San Jose, it was named after the city of Dublin in...
; and Fort Sam Houston, TexasFort Sam HoustonFort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.Known colloquially as "Fort Sam," it is named for the first President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston....
. Each IOC is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and is authorized 90 soldiers with the mission to conduct information-assurance and computer-network-defense operations."
Brigadier General
Mizusawa was the Deputy Commanding General of the 335th Signal Command Theater. Prior to this Brig. Gen. Mizusawa served as the Deputy G3 of the U.S. Army Materiel Command; and as Deputy to the Commanding General, Multinational Corps-Iraq.Major General
On August 2, 2011 Brig. Gen. Bert K. Mizusawa was promoted to major generalMajor general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
and assumed the assignment of Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Government
From 1995 to 1998, Bert Mizusawa was appointed to the Professional Staff of the United States Senate Committee on Armed ServicesUnited States Senate Committee on Armed Services
The Committee on Armed Services is a committee of the United States Senate empowered with legislative oversight of the nation's military, including the Department of Defense, military research and development, nuclear energy , benefits for members of the military, the Selective Service System and...
, where he assisted the Chairman with oversight of national defense. In 1996, he authored the GOP national security platform for the presidential campaign. In 1998, he was appointed as a three-star level Senior Executive in The Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
.
Mizusawa is currently serving as Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
Bert K. Mizusawa, Esq. is currently admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia and the State of New York.
Articles
- Decentralized information age training: key to U.S. antiterrorism efforts. (Homeland Security) — (Sep. 2003) Colonel Mizusawa discusses the application of decentralized information age training in coping with the homeland security threat posed by terrorism in the U.S. Colonel Mizusawa also discusses the advantage of the application for city and country leadership; challenges in the deployment process; and drawbacks of Internet-based applications.
Mentions
- Dangerous Games: faces, incidents and casualties of the Cold WarDangerous Games: faces, incidents and casualties of the Cold War-Introduction:The Cold War was actually a time of hot wars, spying, and a very competitive space race. Authors James Wise and Scott Baron call attention to the political and military volatility of this period by uncovering and relating unknown or long-forgotten incidents of the period. Among...
by James E. Wise, Jr.James E. Wise, Jr.James E. Wise Jr., author, is a former naval aviator, intelligence officer, and Vietnam veteran, retired from the U.S. Navy in 1975 as a captain. He became a naval aviator in 1953 following graduation from Northwestern University. He served as an intelligence officer aboard the USS America and...
, and Scott BaronScott BaronScott Baron, is a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War and former law enforcement officer in California. He is the author of They Also Served: Military Biographies of Uncommon Americans and coauthor, with James Wise, of Dangerous Games: faces, incidents and casualties of the Cold War, Women at...
. Naval Institute Press (2010): Annapolis, Maryland - The Reagan DiariesThe Reagan DiariesThe Reagan Diaries is an edited version of diaries written by President Ronald Reagan while in the White House. The book is edited by Douglas Brinkley, while the full, unedited diaries were published in 2009...
edited by Douglas Brinkley. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation (2007): New York, New York (Referencing Soviet Defector Incident in Korean DMZ)