Joseph Benkert

Joseph A. Benkert is an American citizen who served as an officer in the United States Navy, and as an appointed official in the George W. Bush Administration. Currently he serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Security Affairs.

Benkert is notable for testifying before the United States Congress.

Personal Life

Joseph Benkert is married to Gail, and together have two children Stephen and Suzanne.

Naval career

Captain Joseph A. Benkert was named in the lawsuit David Alan Carmichael v. United States.cite web
url=http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/Opinions/Futey/05/FUTEY.Carmichael.pdf
title=David Alan Carmichael v. United States
date=June 23, 2005
accessdate=May 17
accessyear=2007
format=PDF] Benkert was Carmichael's commanding officer, and, according to Carmichael's complaint, shared responsibility for his dismissal without proper cause.

Forum participant evaluating Iraqi reconstruction

In March 2007 Benkert participated in a forum evaluating the problems that plagued American efforts to help reconstruct Iraq.cite web
url=http://www.sigir.mil/reports/pdf/Lessons_Learned_March21.pdf
title=Lessons in Program and Project Management
date=March 2007
accessdate=May 17
accessyear=2007
format=PDF]

Congressional testimony on the use of gas

On September 27, 2006, while serving as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defensefor International Security Policy, Benkert testified before the Senate Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support.cite web
url=http://armed-services.senate.gov/testimony.cfm?wit_id=5793&id=2421
date=September 27, 2006
author=Joseph A. Benkert
publisher=Senate Committee on Armed Services
title=U.S. Policy and Practice with Respect to the Use of Riot Control Agents by the U.S. Armed Forces
accessdate=May 17
accessyear=2007]
Executive Order 11850, signed in 1975, proscribed the USA from using chemical weapons. According to Benkert, it was the position of the Bush Presidency that riot control agents, like tear gas, should not be considered chemical weapons.

Congressional testimony on Guantanamo captives

In early May 2007 Benkert and two other officials testified before Congress that 30 released Guantanamo captives had returned to the battlefield.cite news
url=http://realtime.com/realtime_news/rt_top_stories/14441187_pentagon_urges_congress_to_keep_guantanamo_open.html?pageid=nandu.category-leaf&pageregion=A3
publisher=Reuters
date=May 9 2007
author=David Morgan
title=Pentagon urges Congress to keep Guantanamo open
accessdate=2007-05-17]

Press releases

On May 9 2007 Benkert was quoted on the future of the Guantanamo detainees:cite news
url=http://realtime.com/realtime_news/rt_top_stories/14441187_pentagon_urges_congress_to_keep_guantanamo_open.html?pageid=nandu.category-leaf&pageregion=A3
title=Pentagon urges Congress to keep Guantanamo open
publisher=Reuters
date=May 9 2007
author=David Morgan
accessdate=2007-05-17] quotation|"Neither the president nor the secretary has said we're going to close it tomorrow,There are no readily available facilities to take these guys,"

On April 11 2007 Benkert was quoted commenting on a facility to destroy American and former Soviet era nerve gas.cite news
url=http://dtirp.dtra.mil/WTR/04202007-2.cfm
title=U.S, Russia Agree to Finish Nerve Gas Destruction Facility
publisher=International Herald Tribune
date=April 11 2007
accessdate=2007-05-17]

References