Michael Beary

Michael Beary
Born	1956 (age 59–60)
Allegiance	Ireland
Service/branch	Army
Years of service	1975–present
Rank	Major General
Commands held	Commander UNIFIL Commander EUTM Somalia GOC 2 Brigade Director of Defence Forces Training CO Eastern Brigade Training Centre
Battles/wars	UNIFIL (Lebanon) UNIKOM (Iraq-Kuwait) UNPROFOR (Bosnia and Herzegovina-Croatia) ISAF (Afghanistan) EUTM (Somalia/Uganda)
Awards	Service Medal UN Peacekeepers Medal UN Medal for UNIFIL UN Medal for UNIKOM UN Medal for UNPROFOR NATO Medal for the Balkans NATO Medal for ISAF CSDP Medal for EUTM Somalia

Michael Beary (born 1956) is an Irish Army Major General and current Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) appointed May 2016.

Military career

Beary was appointed an officer in the Irish Army Infantry Corps in 1975. Beary has held appointments as Commanding Officer of the Eastern Brigade Training Centre, in training, operations and Military Intelligence at Defence Forces Headquarters (DFHQ) and served as a Senior Instructor at the Command and Staff School, Military College, Defence Forces Training Centre (DFTC). In March 2009 Beary was promoted to the rank of Colonel and appointed Director of Defence Forces Training with responsibility for education and training policy, the development of doctrine and liaison with external education and training agencies.^[1]

In November 2013 and upon promotion to the rank of Brigadier General, Beary was appointed General Officer Commanding the 2nd Brigade (Army).^[2]

Overseas appointments

Beary has served on three deployments to Southern Lebanon with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeeping mission, including as Company Commander and Staff Officer in the Operations Branch at UNIFIL HQ.^[1]

He served in Kuwait and Baghdad, Iraq as part of the United Nations Iraq–Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM).^[1]

He served in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR).^[1]

In 2003, Beary completed a four month tour of duty as Liaison Team Leader with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) HQ in Afghanistan.^[1]

Between September 2004 and 2007, Beary served for three years with the European Union Military Staff (EUMS) Intelligence Division in Brussels while seconded to the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union. Beary provided intelligence planning expertise in this role for EU military operations and civilian missions.^[1]

From August 2011 to February 2013, Beary commanded the European Union Training Mission Somalia (EUTM Somalia), a EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) mission to train Somali Armed Forces in Uganda.^[3]

On Friday, 27 May 2016 Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon appointed Major General Beary as the Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, to succeed Major General Luciano Portolano of the Italian Army who completes his assignment 24 July.^[4]

Education

Beary received his second level education at Patrician College, Ballyfin, County Laois.

He has a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree from NUI Galway and is a graduate of the Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, University College Dublin (UCD) holding a Master of Business Studies in Organisational Studies.

He is a graduate of the Irish Defence Forces Command and Staff School, and a 2009 graduate of the National War College, National Defense University in Washington, D.C. from which he holds a Master of Science degree in National Security Studies.^[1][5]

Decorations

	Fianóglach shoulder tab (selection/service in the Army Ranger Wing)
	"Wings" – Qualified Parachutist
	Service Medal (20 years service)
	United Nations Peacekeepers Medal
	United Nations Medal for UNIFIL
	United Nations Medal for UNIKOM
	United Nations Medal for UNPROFOR
	NATO Non-Article 5 Medal for the Balkans
	NATO Non-Article 5 Medal for ISAF
	Common Security and Defence Policy Service Medal for EUTM Somalia in Uganda

References