| Wayne A. Downing | |
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General Wayne A. Downing |
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| Born | May 10, 1940 Peoria, Illinois |
| Died | July 18, 2007 (aged 67) |
| 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 Gulf 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 (6) Purple Heart Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (3) Air Medal (11) Army Commendation Medal (4) |
| Other work | military analyst, NBC News |
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 with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1962 and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Tulane University.[1]
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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 Advisor for combating terrorism. He reported to then-National Security Advisor 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 a senior executive with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). 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]
In 2006 he received the United States Military Academy's 2006 Distinguished Graduate Award.[4]
Downing died on July 18, 2007, of meningitis[5] and 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.
On September 24, 2008, the Metropolitan Authority of Peoria voted unanimously[6] to change the name of the Greater Peoria Regional Airport to the "General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport".
General Downing has been decorated for service, to include:
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Wayne was on the Board of Directors of SAIC and Chairman of the Special Projects Committee of the Corporation. He was not an executive.