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Wayne A. Downing
GEN Downing, Wayne A
General Wayne A. Downing
Born (1940-05-10)May 10, 1940
Died July 18, 2007(2007-07-18) (aged 67)
Place of birth Peoria, Illinois
Place of death Peoria, Illinois
Place of burial West Point Cemetery, New York
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Department of the Army Seal United States Army
Years of service 1962–1996
Rank US-O10 insignia 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 A

Wayne A. Downing as Major General, 1988

Wayne Downing

GEN Wayne A. Downing in his service uniform

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 held a Master of Business Administration degree from Tulane University.[1]

Military career[]

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 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".

Awards and decorations[]

General Downing has been decorated for service, to include:

width=160px
US Army Airborne master parachutist badge
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Defense Distinguished Service ribbon
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Service Medal ribbon
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Silver Star ribbon
US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit ribbon
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon
Soldier's Medal ribbon
V
Silver oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star ribbon
Purple Heart BAR
Defense Meritorious Service ribbon
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service ribbon
Air Medal ribbonValor deviceRibbon numeral 9
V
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal ribbon
Bronze star
National Defense Service Medal ribbon
AFEMRib
Silver star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Vietnam Service Ribbon
Bronze star
Bronze star
Southwest Asia Service ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Vietnam gallantry cross-3d
Vietnam Campaign Medal Ribbon
Us sa-kwlib rib
RangerTab TIoH
Pathfinder US Military Master Free Fall Parachutist Badge
Presidential Unit Citation ribbon
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon
Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm
Badge Combat Infantryman Badge
Badge Master Parachutist Badge
Badge Ranger Tab
1st Row Awards Defense Distinguished Service Medal w/ oak leaf cluster Distinguished Service Medal w/ oak leaf cluster
2nd Row Awards Silver Star w/ oak leaf cluster Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit w/ 3 oak leaf clusters Distinguished Flying Cross w/ 1 oak leaf cluster
3rd Row Awards Soldier's Medal Bronze Star w/ valor device & 1 Silver oak leaf cluster Purple Heart Defense Meritorious Service Medal
4th Row Awards Meritorious Service Medal w/ 2 oak leaf cluster Air Medal w/ valor device & numeral 9 Army Commendation Medal w/ valor device & 3 oak leaf clusters National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service stars
5th Row Awards Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal w/ 1 silver service star & 2 bronze service star Southwest Asia Service Medal Army Service Ribbon
6th Row Awards Army Overseas Service Ribbon Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ 3 bronze stars Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ "60" Device Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Badge Pathfinder Badge Jumpmaster Military Free Fall Parachute Badge
Unit Awards Presidential Unit Citation Joint Meritorious Unit Award w/ oak leaf cluster Meritorious Unit Commendation Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation

See also[]

Wayne was on the Board of Directors of SAIC and Chairman of the Special Projects Committee of the corporation. He was not an executive.

References[]

External links[]


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