Wayne A. Downing

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Wayne A. Downing
May 10, 1940(1940-05-10) – July 18, 2007 (aged 67)
Image:Wayne Downing.jpg
General Wayne A. Downing
Place of birth Peoria, Illinois
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1962-1996
Rank General
Commands held United States Special Operations Command
U.S. Army Special Operations Command
Joint Special Operations Command
75th Ranger Regiment
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Awards Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Silver Star (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (4)
Soldier's Medal
Bronze Star (7)
Purple Heart
Other work military analyst, NBC News
Wayne A. Downing as Major General, 1988
Wayne A. Downing as Major General, 1988

Wayne Allan Downing (May 10, 1940 – July 18, 2007) was a retired four-star United States Army general born in Peoria, Illinois. He graduated from the United States Military Academy (West Point) in 1962.[1]

General Downing's West Point ring was severely damaged in an anti-personnel mine explosion while he served in Vietnam. A soldier serving under his command replaced the stone with Chrysocolla, a copper mineral. General Downing wore that very same ring until at least 1995.

Contents

[edit] Military career

  • Sep 62 - Feb 63 Student, Infantry Officer Basic and Ranger Course
  • Apr 63 - Jun 64 Platoon Leader, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate)
  • Jun 64 - Sep 64 Liaison Officer, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate)
  • Dec 64 - Oct 65 Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General, 173rd Airborne Brigade, Vietnam
  • Oct 65 - Apr 66 S-2/S-5 (Intel/Civil Affairs) Officer, 173rd Infantry Brigade, Vietnam
  • Apr 66 - Aug 67 Instructor, Infantry School, Fort Benning, GA
  • Aug 67 - Jan 68 Company Commander, Infantry Training Center, Fort Benning, GA
  • Jan 68 - Sep 68 Student, Infantry Officer Advance Course, Infantry School, Fort Benning, GA
  • Sep 68 - Dec 68 Company Commander, 25th Infantry Division, Vietnam
  • Dec 68 - Sep 69 Battalion S-3 (Operations) Officer, 25th Infantry Division, Vietnam
  • Sep 69 - Oct 69 Brigade S-3 (Operations) Officer, 25th Infantry Division, Vietnam
  • Dec 69 - Jan 72 Student, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
  • Feb 72 - Jun 72 Student, Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA
  • Jun 72 - Feb 75 Senior Operations / Systems Analyst, Office of Secretary of Defense, Washington D.C.
  • Mar 75 - Dec 76 Battalion S-3 Officer / Executive Officer, 75th Infantry (Ranger), Fort Stewart, GA
  • Dec 76 - Mar 77 Commander, Task Force (Alaska), 24th Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA
  • May 77 - Jul 79 Commander, 2nd Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry, Fort Lewis, WA
  • Aug 79 - May 80 Student, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
  • Jun 80 - Apr 82 Secretary to Joint Staff, European Command, Vaihingen, Germany
  • May 82 - Apr 84 Commander, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, U.S. Army Europe, Germany
  • May 84 - Nov 85 Commander, 75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger), Fort Benning, GA
  • Nov 85 - Jun 87 Deputy Commanding General, 1st Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, NC
  • Jun 87 - May 88 Director, Washington Office, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, FL
  • May 88 - Dec 89 Deputy Chief of Staff (Training), U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, VA
  • Dec 89 - Aug 91 Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, NC

[edit] Post 9/11

In 2001, Downing came out of retirement to coordinate the national campaign "to detect, disrupt and destroy global terrorist organizations and those who support them."[2]. He held the title of National Director and Deputy National Security Adviser for combating terrorism. He reported to then-NSA Condoleezza Rice and Homeland Security director Tom Ridge. From 2003 until his death he held the Distinguished Chair at the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point.

Downing was formerly a director of Metal Storm[3] and Science Applications International Corporation. He also performed various speaking engagements.

Besides working for the US government in his retiree years, he also worked for NBC News as a military analyst.[1]

His awards and decorations include two Army Distinguished Service Medals, two Silver Stars, four Legions of Merit, the Soldier's Medal, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Purple Heart. General Downing earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Ranger Tab and the Pathfinder Badge.

In 2006 he received the United States Military Academy's 2006 Distinguished Graduate Award.[4]

General Downing died on July 18, 2007, of meningitis.[5]

General Downing was buried in the West Point Cemetery, West Point, New York on September 27, 2007. His grave is just north of the main cemetery building and as of 28 September has a wooden temporary marker.

[edit] See also

United States Army Portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b NBC Nightly News, Western Edition, 27 September 2007
  2. ^ Out of retirement
  3. ^ SourceWatch.org
  4. ^ Wayne A. Downing, 67; Army general was a prominent advisor on terrorism
  5. ^ MSNBC report

[edit] External links