Field rank After completing the
Infantry Officer Basic Course, Wendel served in a variety of command and staff positions in the United States, as well as completing assignments in
South America,
Europe and
Southwest Asia. He graduated from the Infantry Officer Advanced Course in 1983, after which he commanded Company D, 4th Battalion, 187th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, followed by command of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade, 101st Division. Wendel graduated from the
United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1991, after which he held a variety of field grade officer staff positions, and commanded 1st Battalion,
327th Infantry Regiment. He subsequently graduated from the
United States Army War College, after which he served as special assistant to the commanding general of the
1st Cavalry Division at
Fort Hood,
Texas. Wendel holds a master's degree in public administration from
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, and earned a master's degree in Strategic Studies and Theory from the Army War College.
20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield Explosives Command From 2000 to 2003, Wendel commanded 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. In August 2003, he was assigned as chief of the strategy division in the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J-5) on the
Joint Staff at
The Pentagon. From 2004 to 2005, Wendel was assigned as assistant deputy director for Strategy and Policy (J-5) on the Joint Staff. Wendel served as commander of the
20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield Explosives Command (CBRNE) (originally called the 20th Support Command) at
Aberdeen Proving Ground,
Maryland from 2005 to 2008. His subsequent assignments included director of operational maneuver for
United States Army Central in
Kuwait, and deputy director of Operations for
United States Africa Command.
General officer From 2011 to 2013, Wendel was commander of
First Army Division East; during 2013, he was interim commander of
First United States Army following the departure of
John Michael Bednarek to serve as Chief of the
Office of Security Cooperation (OSC) in
Iraq, and prior to the arrival of
Michael S. Tucker to assume command of First Army. After leaving First Army, Wendel was assigned as commander of
Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan (CSTC–A)/Ministerial Advisory Groups and Commander of
North Atlantic Treaty Organization Training Mission – Afghanistan. Wendel's first deputy commander with (CSTC–A) was
Harold J. Greene, who was killed in action in August 2014. Wendel completed this assignment in October 2014, and was succeeded by Todd T. Semonite. ==Awards==