Wayne Allan Downing (10 May 1940 – 18 July 2007) was a 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.NBC Nightly News, Western Edition, September 27, 2007 He also served on the board of directors at a US Government focused high-tech company, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).

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 Airborne 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 Graduate 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 the 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) which was converted to 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, GA
Nov 85 – Jun 87 Deputy Commanding General, 1st Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, NC
Jun 87 – May 88 Director, Washington Office, United States 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
Aug 91 – Apr 93 Commanding General, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, NC
May 93 – Feb 96 Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), MacDill Air Force Base, FL

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."{{cite web|author1=CBSNEWS|title=Counter-Terror Team Takes Shape|website=CBS News |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/counter-terror-team-takes-shape/|access-date=3 March 2015|date=8 October 2001}} He held the title of National Director and Deputy National Security Advisor for combating terrorism.{{cite web|author1=C-SPAN|title=New Anti-Terrorism Officials Announcement|url=http://www.c-span.org/video/?166573-1/new-antiterrorism-officials-announcement|access-date=3 March 2015|date=9 October 2001}} 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 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.

In 2006, he received the United States Military Academy's 2006 Distinguished Graduate Award.[http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-downing19jul19,1,7747431.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california Wayne A. Downing, 67; Army general was a prominent advisor on terrorism]

Downing died on 18 July 2007, of meningitis[https://web.archive.org/web/20070826235953/http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/07/17/274367.aspx MSNBC report] and was buried in the West Point Cemetery, West Point, New York on 27 September 2007. His grave is just north of the main cemetery building.

On 24 September 2008, the Metropolitan Authority of Peoria voted unanimously[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26876621 MSNBC report – Peoria Airport Gets A New Name]{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} to change the name of the Greater Peoria Regional Airport to the "General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport".

Awards and decorations

Downing's awards and decorations include:

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|colspan="4"|File:Combat Infantry Badge.svg

colspan="4"|170px125px

colspan="4"|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Silver_Star_ribbon.svg|width=106}}

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=US_Defense_Superior_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=oak|ribbon=Legion_of_Merit_ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Soldier's_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}

{{ribbon devices|number=5|type=oak|other_device=v|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Defense_Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

{{ribbon devices|number=0|other_device= |type=oak|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}22px20px

|{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=oak|other_device=v|ribbon=Army_Commendation_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Presidential Citizens Medal ribbon -vector.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=7|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=service-star|ribbon=Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Army_Service_Ribbon.svg|width=106}}

{{ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Army_Overseas_Service_Ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vietnamese Gallantry Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}}26px26px26px

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg|width=106}}

colspan="4"|125px

colspan="2"|120px

|colspan="2"|165px

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=United States Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious_Unit_Commendation_ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png|width=106}}

class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
Badge \|colspan="4"\|Combat Infantryman Badge
Badge \|colspan="4"\|Master Parachutist Badge with USSOCOM background trimming
1st Row Awards \|colspan="1"\|Defense Distinguished Service Medal w/ oak leaf cluster \|colspan="1"\|Army Distinguished Service Medal w/ oak leaf cluster \|colspan="1"\|Silver Star w/ oak leaf cluster
2nd Row Awards \|Defense Superior Service Medal \|Legion of Merit w/ 3 oak leaf clusters \|Distinguished Flying Cross w/ oak leaf cluster \|Soldier's Medal
3rd Row Awards \|Bronze Star w/ valor device & 1 Silver oak leaf cluster \|Purple Heart \|Defense Meritorious Service Medal \|Meritorious Service Medal w/ 2 oak leaf cluster
4th Row Awards \|Air Medal w/ valor device & numeral 9 \|Army Commendation Medal w/ valor device & 3 oak leaf clusters \|Presidential Citizens Medal \|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 silver stars \|Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ "60" Device \|Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Badge \|colspan="4"\|Ranger Tab
Badge \|colspan="2"\|Pathfinder Badge \|colspan="2"\|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

class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

Badge

|colspan="4"|Combat Infantryman Badge

Badge

|colspan="4"|Master Parachutist Badge with USSOCOM background trimming

1st Row Awards

|colspan="1"|Defense Distinguished Service Medal w/ oak leaf cluster

|colspan="1"|Army Distinguished Service Medal w/ oak leaf cluster

|colspan="1"|Silver Star w/ oak leaf cluster

2nd Row Awards

|Defense Superior Service Medal

|Legion of Merit w/ 3 oak leaf clusters

|Distinguished Flying Cross w/ oak leaf cluster

|Soldier's Medal

3rd Row Awards

|Bronze Star w/ valor device & 1 Silver oak leaf cluster

|Purple Heart

|Defense Meritorious Service Medal

|Meritorious Service Medal w/ 2 oak leaf cluster

4th Row Awards

|Air Medal w/ valor device & numeral 9

|Army Commendation Medal w/ valor device & 3 oak leaf clusters

|Presidential Citizens Medal

|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 silver stars

|Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ "60" Device

|Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)

Badge

|colspan="4"|Ranger Tab

Badge

|colspan="2"|Pathfinder Badge

|colspan="2"|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

When Downing was a Major, he was awarded the Soldier’s Medal for actions of heroism not involving enemy contact while serving with the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam.{{cite web | url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/143435#179634 | title=Wayne Downing - Recipient - }}

Downing also earned the Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation, French Parachutist Badge, 75th Ranger Regiment DUI and Secretary of Defense ID Badge. In 1971, he was reported to have also received the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster for his service in Vietnam.{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cNeqibq2y1EC&pg=PA728 |chapter=Class of 1962—Register of Graduates |title=Register of Graduates and Former Cadets 1802–1971 of the United States Military Academy |date=1971 |page=728 |publisher=The West Point Alumni Foundation Inc. |access-date=August 24, 2022}} Downing wore these decorations as a major general in 1988 but omitted them as a general.

Civilian career

Downing was on the Board of Directors of SAIC and Chairman of the Special Projects Committee of the corporation.

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070826235953/http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/07/17/274367.aspx Commemoration for Wayne Downing by NBC News]
[http://www.wtvp.org/programming/Ipeo/videoplayerwm.ipeo.106.asp An interview with General Wayne Downing on WTVP's "Interesting People" Recorded on March 31, 2006]
[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Wayne_A._Downing Profile] at SourceWatch
{{C-SPAN|44281}}

Category:1940 births

Category:2007 deaths

Category:Deaths from meningitis

Category:United States Military Academy alumni

Category:Tulane University alumni

Category:United States Army generals

Category:Military personnel from Peoria, Illinois

Category:United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War

Category:Joint Forces Staff College alumni

Category:Air War College alumni

Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)

Category:Recipients of the Silver Star