John Michael "Mick" Bednarek is a retired United States Army officer.

[1][3][5][6] Bednarek received his commission through an Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps program upon his graduation from Old Dominion University.

[1][3][7] He served as commander of the First Army until March 14, 2013, when he was assigned as Chief of the Office of Security Cooperation (OSC) in Iraq.

[3] As OSC chief, Bednarek was the highest ranking American military officer in Iraq and was involved in US efforts against the Islamic State in the Iraqi Civil War.

[8] Bednarek has also attended Troy State University where he received a MS in personnel management and administration,[9] the US Army Command and General Staff College, and the US Army War College.