Thomas F. Metz

Thomas F. Metz
Lieutenant General Thomas F. Metz
Born	1948 (age 68–69) North Carolina
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1966-2010
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	III Corps 24th Infantry Division
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (3)

Thomas F. Metz (b. Elkin,North Carolina 1948) is a Lieutenant General in the United States Army. Metz retired from the Army in Jan 2010 after more than 40 years of active military service. His tour of duty prior to retirement was as the Director, Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization., leading the DOD organization tasked with finding and fielding ways to defeat the IED threat. Previously he was the Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. Previous to that assignment he was Commanding General of the U.S. III Corps and Fort Hood. He assumed command of III Corps on 7 February 2003.

Metz lived in North Carolina until enlisting in the Army in June 1966. In August, after basic training at Fort Gordon, Georgia, he entered the United States Military Academy Preparatory School. He received a Regular Army Appointment to the United States Military Academy, and he entered in July 1967. Upon graduation from West Point in June 1971, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. From March 1972 until January 1975, Metz served as Platoon Leader, Assistant S-3, Scout Platoon Leader, and Combat Support Company Executive Officer with 1st Battalion, 509th Airborne Infantry, in Germany and Italy.

Metz took command of Company C, 10th BCT Battalion, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, in January 1976. He relinquished command in June 1976 to become the Aide-de-Camp for the Commander, Readiness Region VI, at Fort Knox, Kentucky. While at Fort Knox, he commanded C Company, 4th Battalion, 54th Infantry (Mechanized), 194th Armored Brigade, from June 1977 until June 1978.