Who took over as the top civilian administrator of Iraq in May 2003?

Paul Bremer took over as Iraq’s top civilian administrator in May 2003. He led the Coalition Provisional Authority, the U.S.-directed body that governed Iraq after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s government.

Bremer arrived in Baghdad on May 12, 2003, succeeding Jay Garner, who had headed the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance for only a short period. As administrator, Bremer exercised sweeping authority over Iraq’s civil administration while the country was under occupation. His tenure lasted until June 2004, when sovereignty was formally transferred to an interim Iraqi government.

Two of Bremer’s most consequential decisions were the de-Ba’athification order, which removed many members of Saddam’s Ba’ath Party from public employment, and the order disbanding the Iraqi Army. Supporters argued that these steps removed the old regime’s power; critics said they contributed to unemployment, instability, and the insurgency that followed. Bremer is sometimes confused with military commanders such as Tommy Franks, but Bremer was the senior civilian administrator.