Army Maj. Gen. Harold Greene worked his way up the military over 34 years to become a training leader and infrastructure expert in the U.S. effort to heal war-torn Afghanistan , where he was killed Tuesday . His service took him all over the world , and along the way , he earned two master 's degrees in engineering and even a doctorate . Greene was slain when a gunman believed to be an Afghan soldier opened fire at a training facility in Kabul , hitting the general and several others . Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno described Greene and soldiers who were wounded in Tuesday 's attack as `` professionals , committed to the mission '' in Afghanistan . `` It is their service and sacrifice that define us as an Army , '' Odierno said in statement . Greene was the deputy commander of the Combined Security Transition Command , which is responsible for helping transfer security control in Afghanistan to the Afghans . Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said the general was a logistics and infrastructure expert helping to lead training efforts . Throughout his military career , Greene 's focus was using technology to make soldiers ' lives better , retired Maj. Gen. Robert Scales told The Army TImes . `` He had a real sense of what was important , '' Scales said . `` Harry was always the one who always understood the tactical needs of the close-combat soldiers . '' And Greene was someone who many admired , he said . `` He was just very level , down-to-earth , '' Scales told The Army Times . `` It 's just devastating that you 've got this great genius with this incredible reputation and education , and some Islamist wacko comes in and fires a 10-cent bullet and Harry 's life is over . There 's a certain unfairness in life that war brings . '' 'Singular ability to display wisdom ' A native of upstate New York , Greene received his commission as an engineer officer after graduating from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1980 , the Army said . He later earned a master 's degree in engineering from that school and another master 's in engineering from the University of Southern California . He also earned a Ph.D. in materials science from USC . After 1980 , he traveled widely and served in posts around the country and the world : Fort Leonard Wood , Missouri ; Fort Monmouth , New Jersey ; Army Aviation and Troop Command in St. Louis , Missouri ; Fort Polk , Louisiana ; Germany ; Athens , Greece ; and Istanbul , Turkey . Greene had served as deputy for acquisition and systems management in the Army 's headquarters in Washington before deploying to Afghanistan , according to an Army website . His prior assignment was the program executive officer leading the group responsible for `` research , development , acquisition , and life cycle management of the Army intelligence , electronic warfare and sensor systems . '' When he was promoted to brigadier general in 2009 , Greene earned praise for what one military leader called his `` singular ability to display wisdom . '' `` He has the rare abilities to make others better , and that 's something very special too because at the level he 's at right now his ability to inspire others , to show others the way , is so important as well , '' Lt. Gen. Stephen M. Speakes said at the time . Greene told people at the ceremony that his success was part of a team effort . 'Get great things done ' `` All I did was try to pull people in the right direction , and they went and did great things . So the reason I 'm up here is not what I did , but what all of you did . I know it was truly you guys and gals that did the work the Army recognized today , and for that I thank you , '' he said . `` I was very lucky . I worked with tremendous people , and over the years I was honored to have jobs where I could work with great people and we could get great things done . '' In 2011 , Greene gave a farewell speech at the Natick Soldier Systems Center in Massachusetts , where he was the senior commander . `` We 've accomplished a lot , but there is still a lot of work to do , '' Greene said , according to a description of his remarks on the Army 's website . He told the audience he wished he could have made more improvements , like replacing windows so more light would come in . `` The one thing I did n't get to : quality of life and facilities , '' Greene said . `` I wish I could have stayed longer to continue to do more . The workforce here deserves better . We need to keep working to improve the quality of life for the workforce and the soldiers that are stationed here . '' Insider attacks : When Afghan soldiers turns and kill allies .
Friend : Maj. Gen. Harold Greene 's focus was improving soldiers ' lives . He earned two master 's degrees in engineering and a Ph.D. in materials science . Greene was one of the highest-ranked U.S. military service members killed since 9/11 . Title: Why do we have to wait for our food?