Nolen V. Bivens
Brigadier General
United States Army
Chief of Staff, United States Southern Command

           Brigadier General Nolen V. Bivens currently serves as Chief of Staff, United States Southern Command, Miami, Florida.  Brigadier General Bivens was commissioned as an infantry officer upon graduation from South Carolina State University in 1976.  His initial tour of duty was with the 9th Infantry Division in Fort Lewis, Washington, followed by an assignment as Assistant S-3.  After completion of the Infantry Officer Advanced Course in 1981, he was assigned to Eight United States Army, Korea.

          In August 1982, Brigadier General Bivens began studies for a Masters Degree in Management from Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey California.  Following graduation in 1984, he was assign to the Army Combat Development Experimentation Center, at Fort Ord, California.  Brigadier General Bivens graduated Army Command and Staff College in 1988 and was assigned as the Chief Force Integration Officer, 3d Infantry Division, Germany.  He later became the Executive Officer, 2d Battalion, 15th Infantry and Deputy G-3 until returning to CONUS during June 1991 as an Operation Research/Systems Analyst for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army in Washington, DC.

          During August 1993, Brigadier General Bivens assumed command of 3d Battalion, 7th Infantry, 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Stewart, Georgia.  During September 1995, Brigadier General Bivens returned to Washington, DC as Program Integrator for the Office of the Director of Program Analysis and Evaluation and a student at the National War College.  In July 1997, he was assigned as Chief of the Combat Analysis Division United States Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.  In December 1998, Brigadier General Bivens assumed command of Basic Combat Training Brigade, Fort Benning, Georgia until May 2001.

          During May 2001, Brigadier General Bivens returned to Washington DC as Chief, Support Agency, Reform and Assessment Division, Joint Warfare Capability Assessment Directorate, The Joint Staff.  He remained in this assignment until July 2003, when he was re-assigned as Deputy Director for Requirements, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3, United States Army to include duty as Deputy Director of Regional Operations, Coalition Provision Authority, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Iraq.  In July 2004 he moved to Fort Hood Texas to assume duties as Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver), 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized).  Finally, Brigadier General Bivens deployed to Kuwait as Assistant Chief Of Staff, C-3, Coalition Forces Land Component Command and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, returning to CONUS to assume his current billet in June 2006.

          Brigadier General Bivens has an undergraduate degree in Chemistry and graduate degrees in Management and National Security and Strategic Studies.  His decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Bronze Star Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with five Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal, Expert Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge, Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge and Army Staff Identification Badge.   

For more information you can contact US Southern Command Public Affairs at 305-437-1201