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Wayne A. Downing
  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.[1] He also served on the board of directors at a US Government focused high-tech company, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). Military career
Post-9/11In 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.[3] 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.[1] In 2006, he received the United States Military Academy's 2006 Distinguished Graduate Award.[4] Downing died on 18 July 2007, of meningitis[5] 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[6] to change the name of the Greater Peoria Regional Airport to the "General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport". Awards and decorationsDowning's awards and decorations include:
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.[7] 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.[8] Downing wore these decorations as a major general in 1988 but omitted them as a general. Civilian careerDowning was on the Board of Directors of SAIC and Chairman of the Special Projects Committee of the corporation. References
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