Steven P. Schook
Encyclopedia
Steven P. Schook is a retired U.S. Army Brigadier General
and former United Nations
diplomat.
as a Regular Army Infantry officer. After several assignments as an operations and executive officer, he assumed command of the 2d Battalion, 7th U.S. Cavalry "Garry Owen", 1st Cavalry Division. Upon graduation from the United States Naval War College, he assumed command of the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized).
In 1997 through 2002, Schook served on the Joint Staff and in the United States Army Forces Command
. His flag assignments include Chief of Staff, III Corps, and Assistant Division Commander, 1st Cavalry Division. He also served as Director at the Human Resources Policy Directorate, HQDA.
From 2003 to 2004, Schook served as Chief of Staff, Kosovo Force (Main), Camp Bondsteel
. In 2004, he assumed command of SFOR
in Bosnia and Herzegovina
. In 2004 and 2005, he was appointed to Commander and Senior Military Representative of NATO headquarters in Sarajevo
, Bosnia and Herzegovina. After leaving the Army as Brigadier General in 2005 after 30 years of service, Schook worked as a senior vice president
of New Technology Management Inc.
appointed Schook to Principal Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General
(PDSRSG) in Kosovo
. Schook succeeded Lawrence Rossin in that position and worked under SRSG
Søren Jessen-Petersen
and Joachim Rücker
.
In 2007, Schook came under investigation by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services
(OIOS), in response to rumours and allegations including on aggressive behavior, and unprofessional and close relationships with Kosovan Energy Minister Ethem Çeku. According to German news magazine Der Spiegel
, OIOS also looked into (unproven) reports that Schook had revealed the whereabouts of a man living under a UN witness protection program, who had testified against Ramush Haradinaj
. Schook's contract was not extended in December 2007. In January 2008, his predecessor Lawrence Rossin succeeded him as PDSRSG in Kosovo. In May 2008, Schook was cleared of all wrongdoing as OIOS concluded that there was no evidence of misconduct on his part.
Currently working in Kosovo as an advisor for Ramush Haradinaj
.
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
and former United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
diplomat.
Military career
Schook was born and raised in Mount Clemens, Michigan. He graduated from the United States Military AcademyUnited States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
as a Regular Army Infantry officer. After several assignments as an operations and executive officer, he assumed command of the 2d Battalion, 7th U.S. Cavalry "Garry Owen", 1st Cavalry Division. Upon graduation from the United States Naval War College, he assumed command of the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized).
In 1997 through 2002, Schook served on the Joint Staff and in the United States Army Forces Command
United States Army Forces Command
United States Army Forces Command is the largest Army Command and the preeminent provider of expeditionary, campaign-capable land forces to Combatant Commanders. Headquartered at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, FORSCOM consists of more than 750,000 Active Army, U.S. Army Reserve, and Army National...
. His flag assignments include Chief of Staff, III Corps, and Assistant Division Commander, 1st Cavalry Division. He also served as Director at the Human Resources Policy Directorate, HQDA.
From 2003 to 2004, Schook served as Chief of Staff, Kosovo Force (Main), Camp Bondsteel
Camp Bondsteel
Camp Bondsteel is the main base of the United States Army under KFOR command in Kosovo. Located near Uroševac in the eastern part of Kosovo, the base serves as the NATO headquarters for KFOR's Multinational Brigade East . The base is named after Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient United States...
. In 2004, he assumed command of SFOR
SFOR
The Stabilisation Force was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina which was tasked with upholding the Dayton Agreement. It replaced the previous force IFOR...
in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. In 2004 and 2005, he was appointed to Commander and Senior Military Representative of NATO headquarters in Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
, Bosnia and Herzegovina. After leaving the Army as Brigadier General in 2005 after 30 years of service, Schook worked as a senior vice president
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of New Technology Management Inc.
New Technology Management Inc.
New Technology Management Inc. is a supplier of border surveillance technology now in use at land border ports of entry throughout the United States.-Corporate history:...
Diplomatic assignments
On April 19, 2006, UN Secretary General Kofi AnnanKofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
appointed Schook to Principal Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General
Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo is an appointed by the Secretary-General to lead the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo...
(PDSRSG) in Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
. Schook succeeded Lawrence Rossin in that position and worked under SRSG
Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo is an appointed by the Secretary-General to lead the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo...
Søren Jessen-Petersen
Søren Jessen-Petersen
Søren Jessen-Petersen is an international civil servant from Denmark. He was named Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Kosovo and head of UNMIK on 16 June 2004 and held the position until the end of June 2006...
and Joachim Rücker
Joachim Rücker
Joachim Rücker is a German international civil servant, since November 2008 serving as the German ambassador to Sweden. He was named Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Kosovo and head of UNMIK from 1 September 2006 to 20 June 2008...
.
In 2007, Schook came under investigation by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services
United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services
The United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services is a United Nations organ whose primary purpose is to perform world-wide audit, investigation, inspection, programme monitoring, evaluation and consulting services to the United Nations Secretariat and the rest of the United Nations...
(OIOS), in response to rumours and allegations including on aggressive behavior, and unprofessional and close relationships with Kosovan Energy Minister Ethem Çeku. According to German news magazine Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel is a German weekly news magazine published in Hamburg. It is one of Europe's largest publications of its kind, with a weekly circulation of more than one million.-Overview:...
, OIOS also looked into (unproven) reports that Schook had revealed the whereabouts of a man living under a UN witness protection program, who had testified against Ramush Haradinaj
Ramush Haradinaj
Ramush Haradinaj is a former leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army and former prime minister of Kosovo. He leads the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo and is among former KLA officers charged of war crimes during the 1999 Kosovo War by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia...
. Schook's contract was not extended in December 2007. In January 2008, his predecessor Lawrence Rossin succeeded him as PDSRSG in Kosovo. In May 2008, Schook was cleared of all wrongdoing as OIOS concluded that there was no evidence of misconduct on his part.
Currently working in Kosovo as an advisor for Ramush Haradinaj
Ramush Haradinaj
Ramush Haradinaj is a former leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army and former prime minister of Kosovo. He leads the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo and is among former KLA officers charged of war crimes during the 1999 Kosovo War by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia...
.