Major General Michael E. Dunlavey served as the sole Commander, Joint Task Force 170 (JTF 170), Guantanamo Bay (GTMO), Cuba from February 2002 through November 2002.

In October 2002, MG Dunlavey wrote a memo to his superiors, requesting formal authorization to use extended interrogation techniques, that included sleep deprivation, beatings, sensory deprivation and overload. In November 2002, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld created Joint Task Force Guantanamo with the combined responsibilities of both Task Force 160 and Task Force 170.