USMA Class of 1962. Cullum No. 24096.
He was the son of Francis W. Downing and Eileen Wieland Downing.
On July 21, 1962 as Wayne A. Downing, he married Linda A. Chester at Hempstead, New York.
They were the parents of two children.
Their marriage ended in divorce on January 2, 1981 at Virginia.
On April 28, 1995 as Wayne Allan Downing, he married Kathryn Bickerman at Hillsborough, Florida.
US Army General. He entered the US Military Academy at West Point, New York, graduating in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. After completing the Army Infantry Office Basic and Ranger Course in February 1963, he was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade where he performed duties as a platoon leader, a liaison officer, an aide-de-camp to the commanding general, and an intelligence/civil affairs officer. In April 1966, he was assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia, as an infantry school instructor, and then as the company commander of the Infantry Training Center. In January 1968, he remained at Fort Benning where he attended the Infantry Officer Advance Course, graduating in September 1968. He was then assigned to the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam, where he served as the company commander, the battalion S-3 operations officer, and then the brigade S-3 Operations Officer. He returned to the United States in December 1969 and became a graduate student at Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, and received a Master of Business Administration degree in January 1972. From February to June 1972, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia, after which he was assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, DC, as a senior operations/systems analyst. In March 1975 he was assigned to Fort Stewart, Georgia, where he was the S-3 operations officer/executive officer for the 75th Infantry Battalion. In December 1976, he became the commander, Task Force (Alaska), 24th Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, and in May 1977, he was transferred to Fort Lewis, Washington, where we was the commander , 2nd Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry. In August 1979, he attended the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, graduating in May 1980. He was then assigned to Vaihingen, Germany, in June 1980, where he performed duties as the Secretary to the Joint Staff, European Command, and in May 1982, he became the commander of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, US Army Europe, Germany. He returned to the United States in May 1984 to become the commander of the 75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger) at Fort Benning, and in November 1985, he was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as the deputy commanding general, 1st Special Operations Command. In June 1987, he transferred to MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, as the Director, Washington Office, US Special Operations Command. In May 1988, he became the Deputy Chief of Staff (Training). US Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, Virginia, and in December 1989 he became the Commanding General of the Joint Special Operations Command, US Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg. In August 1991, he was selected as the Commanding General of US Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, and in May 1993, he was promoted to the rank of general and became the commander in chief, US Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, retiring from that position in February 1996 with 34 years of continuous active military service in the US Army. Among his decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Distinguished Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Silver Star with one oak leaf cluster, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, the Soldier's Medal, the Bronze Star with valor device and one oak leaf cluster, the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with valor device and 2 silver oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with valor device and three oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal with one service star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with one silver service star and two bronze service stars, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with three bronze stars, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with "60" device, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia). He also wore the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, and the Jumpmaster Military Free Fall Parachute Badge. In 2001, he came out of retirement to coordinate the national campaign "to detect, disrupt and destroy global terrorist organizations and those who support them." He held the title of National Director and Deputy National Security Advisor for combating terrorism. From 2003 until his death he held the Distinguished Chair at the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. He was a former director of Metal Storm, a weapons technology research and development company, and served on the Board of Directors of Science Applications International Corporation and was Chairman of their Special Projects Committee. Additionally, he worked for NBC News as a military analyst and was a prominent adviser on terrorism. In 2006, he received the US Military Academy's Distinguished Graduate Award. He died from meningitis. After his death, the Metropolitan Authority of Peoria, Illinois renamed the Greater Peoria Regional Airport to the General Wane A. Downing Peoria International Airport in his honor.
He was the son of Francis W. Downing and Eileen Wieland Downing.
On July 21, 1962 as Wayne A. Downing, he married Linda A. Chester at Hempstead, New York.
They were the parents of two children.
Their marriage ended in divorce on January 2, 1981 at Virginia.
On April 28, 1995 as Wayne Allan Downing, he married Kathryn Bickerman at Hillsborough, Florida.
US Army General. He entered the US Military Academy at West Point, New York, graduating in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. After completing the Army Infantry Office Basic and Ranger Course in February 1963, he was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade where he performed duties as a platoon leader, a liaison officer, an aide-de-camp to the commanding general, and an intelligence/civil affairs officer. In April 1966, he was assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia, as an infantry school instructor, and then as the company commander of the Infantry Training Center. In January 1968, he remained at Fort Benning where he attended the Infantry Officer Advance Course, graduating in September 1968. He was then assigned to the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam, where he served as the company commander, the battalion S-3 operations officer, and then the brigade S-3 Operations Officer. He returned to the United States in December 1969 and became a graduate student at Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, and received a Master of Business Administration degree in January 1972. From February to June 1972, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia, after which he was assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, DC, as a senior operations/systems analyst. In March 1975 he was assigned to Fort Stewart, Georgia, where he was the S-3 operations officer/executive officer for the 75th Infantry Battalion. In December 1976, he became the commander, Task Force (Alaska), 24th Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, and in May 1977, he was transferred to Fort Lewis, Washington, where we was the commander , 2nd Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry. In August 1979, he attended the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, graduating in May 1980. He was then assigned to Vaihingen, Germany, in June 1980, where he performed duties as the Secretary to the Joint Staff, European Command, and in May 1982, he became the commander of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, US Army Europe, Germany. He returned to the United States in May 1984 to become the commander of the 75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger) at Fort Benning, and in November 1985, he was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as the deputy commanding general, 1st Special Operations Command. In June 1987, he transferred to MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, as the Director, Washington Office, US Special Operations Command. In May 1988, he became the Deputy Chief of Staff (Training). US Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, Virginia, and in December 1989 he became the Commanding General of the Joint Special Operations Command, US Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg. In August 1991, he was selected as the Commanding General of US Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, and in May 1993, he was promoted to the rank of general and became the commander in chief, US Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, retiring from that position in February 1996 with 34 years of continuous active military service in the US Army. Among his decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Distinguished Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Silver Star with one oak leaf cluster, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, the Soldier's Medal, the Bronze Star with valor device and one oak leaf cluster, the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with valor device and 2 silver oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with valor device and three oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal with one service star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with one silver service star and two bronze service stars, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with three bronze stars, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with "60" device, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia). He also wore the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, and the Jumpmaster Military Free Fall Parachute Badge. In 2001, he came out of retirement to coordinate the national campaign "to detect, disrupt and destroy global terrorist organizations and those who support them." He held the title of National Director and Deputy National Security Advisor for combating terrorism. From 2003 until his death he held the Distinguished Chair at the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. He was a former director of Metal Storm, a weapons technology research and development company, and served on the Board of Directors of Science Applications International Corporation and was Chairman of their Special Projects Committee. Additionally, he worked for NBC News as a military analyst and was a prominent adviser on terrorism. In 2006, he received the US Military Academy's Distinguished Graduate Award. He died from meningitis. After his death, the Metropolitan Authority of Peoria, Illinois renamed the Greater Peoria Regional Airport to the General Wane A. Downing Peoria International Airport in his honor.
USMA Class of 1962. Cullum No. 24096.
He was the son of Francis W. Downing and Eileen Wieland Downing.
On July 21, 1962 as Wayne A. Downing, he married Linda A. Chester at Hempstead, New York.
They were the parents of two children.
Their marriage ended in divorce on January 2, 1981 at Virginia.
On April 28, 1995 as Wayne Allan Downing, he married Kathryn Bickerman at Hillsborough, Florida.
US Army General. He entered the US Military Academy at West Point, New York, graduating in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. After completing the Army Infantry Office Basic and Ranger Course in February 1963, he was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade where he performed duties as a platoon leader, a liaison officer, an aide-de-camp to the commanding general, and an intelligence/civil affairs officer. In April 1966, he was assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia, as an infantry school instructor, and then as the company commander of the Infantry Training Center. In January 1968, he remained at Fort Benning where he attended the Infantry Officer Advance Course, graduating in September 1968. He was then assigned to the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam, where he served as the company commander, the battalion S-3 operations officer, and then the brigade S-3 Operations Officer. He returned to the United States in December 1969 and became a graduate student at Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, and received a Master of Business Administration degree in January 1972. From February to June 1972, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia, after which he was assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, DC, as a senior operations/systems analyst. In March 1975 he was assigned to Fort Stewart, Georgia, where he was the S-3 operations officer/executive officer for the 75th Infantry Battalion. In December 1976, he became the commander, Task Force (Alaska), 24th Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, and in May 1977, he was transferred to Fort Lewis, Washington, where we was the commander , 2nd Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry. In August 1979, he attended the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, graduating in May 1980. He was then assigned to Vaihingen, Germany, in June 1980, where he performed duties as the Secretary to the Joint Staff, European Command, and in May 1982, he became the commander of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, US Army Europe, Germany. He returned to the United States in May 1984 to become the commander of the 75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger) at Fort Benning, and in November 1985, he was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as the deputy commanding general, 1st Special Operations Command. In June 1987, he transferred to MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, as the Director, Washington Office, US Special Operations Command. In May 1988, he became the Deputy Chief of Staff (Training). US Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, Virginia, and in December 1989 he became the Commanding General of the Joint Special Operations Command, US Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg. In August 1991, he was selected as the Commanding General of US Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, and in May 1993, he was promoted to the rank of general and became the commander in chief, US Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, retiring from that position in February 1996 with 34 years of continuous active military service in the US Army. Among his decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Distinguished Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Silver Star with one oak leaf cluster, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, the Soldier's Medal, the Bronze Star with valor device and one oak leaf cluster, the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with valor device and 2 silver oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with valor device and three oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal with one service star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with one silver service star and two bronze service stars, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with three bronze stars, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with "60" device, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia). He also wore the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, and the Jumpmaster Military Free Fall Parachute Badge. In 2001, he came out of retirement to coordinate the national campaign "to detect, disrupt and destroy global terrorist organizations and those who support them." He held the title of National Director and Deputy National Security Advisor for combating terrorism. From 2003 until his death he held the Distinguished Chair at the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. He was a former director of Metal Storm, a weapons technology research and development company, and served on the Board of Directors of Science Applications International Corporation and was Chairman of their Special Projects Committee. Additionally, he worked for NBC News as a military analyst and was a prominent adviser on terrorism. In 2006, he received the US Military Academy's Distinguished Graduate Award. He died from meningitis. After his death, the Metropolitan Authority of Peoria, Illinois renamed the Greater Peoria Regional Airport to the General Wane A. Downing Peoria International Airport in his honor.
He was the son of Francis W. Downing and Eileen Wieland Downing.
On July 21, 1962 as Wayne A. Downing, he married Linda A. Chester at Hempstead, New York.
They were the parents of two children.
Their marriage ended in divorce on January 2, 1981 at Virginia.
On April 28, 1995 as Wayne Allan Downing, he married Kathryn Bickerman at Hillsborough, Florida.
US Army General. He entered the US Military Academy at West Point, New York, graduating in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. After completing the Army Infantry Office Basic and Ranger Course in February 1963, he was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade where he performed duties as a platoon leader, a liaison officer, an aide-de-camp to the commanding general, and an intelligence/civil affairs officer. In April 1966, he was assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia, as an infantry school instructor, and then as the company commander of the Infantry Training Center. In January 1968, he remained at Fort Benning where he attended the Infantry Officer Advance Course, graduating in September 1968. He was then assigned to the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam, where he served as the company commander, the battalion S-3 operations officer, and then the brigade S-3 Operations Officer. He returned to the United States in December 1969 and became a graduate student at Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, and received a Master of Business Administration degree in January 1972. From February to June 1972, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia, after which he was assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, DC, as a senior operations/systems analyst. In March 1975 he was assigned to Fort Stewart, Georgia, where he was the S-3 operations officer/executive officer for the 75th Infantry Battalion. In December 1976, he became the commander, Task Force (Alaska), 24th Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, and in May 1977, he was transferred to Fort Lewis, Washington, where we was the commander , 2nd Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry. In August 1979, he attended the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, graduating in May 1980. He was then assigned to Vaihingen, Germany, in June 1980, where he performed duties as the Secretary to the Joint Staff, European Command, and in May 1982, he became the commander of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, US Army Europe, Germany. He returned to the United States in May 1984 to become the commander of the 75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger) at Fort Benning, and in November 1985, he was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as the deputy commanding general, 1st Special Operations Command. In June 1987, he transferred to MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, as the Director, Washington Office, US Special Operations Command. In May 1988, he became the Deputy Chief of Staff (Training). US Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, Virginia, and in December 1989 he became the Commanding General of the Joint Special Operations Command, US Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg. In August 1991, he was selected as the Commanding General of US Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, and in May 1993, he was promoted to the rank of general and became the commander in chief, US Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, retiring from that position in February 1996 with 34 years of continuous active military service in the US Army. Among his decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Distinguished Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Silver Star with one oak leaf cluster, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, the Soldier's Medal, the Bronze Star with valor device and one oak leaf cluster, the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with valor device and 2 silver oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with valor device and three oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal with one service star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with one silver service star and two bronze service stars, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with three bronze stars, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with "60" device, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia). He also wore the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, and the Jumpmaster Military Free Fall Parachute Badge. In 2001, he came out of retirement to coordinate the national campaign "to detect, disrupt and destroy global terrorist organizations and those who support them." He held the title of National Director and Deputy National Security Advisor for combating terrorism. From 2003 until his death he held the Distinguished Chair at the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. He was a former director of Metal Storm, a weapons technology research and development company, and served on the Board of Directors of Science Applications International Corporation and was Chairman of their Special Projects Committee. Additionally, he worked for NBC News as a military analyst and was a prominent adviser on terrorism. In 2006, he received the US Military Academy's Distinguished Graduate Award. He died from meningitis. After his death, the Metropolitan Authority of Peoria, Illinois renamed the Greater Peoria Regional Airport to the General Wane A. Downing Peoria International Airport in his honor.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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