Commander, 53rd Infantry Brigade, Florida Army National GuardBrigadier General David C. Godwin is the commander of the 53rd Infantry Brigade (Separate), Florida Army National Guard, Tampa, Florida. This Brigade with an authorized strength of 4039 personnel includes three infantry battalions, a 105mm field artillery battalion, a support battalion, an engineer company, a light cavalry troop, and air defense battery and a military intelligence company.
The Brigadier General received his ROTC commission as a 2LT in the Regular Army on May 4, 1969 and served initially on active duty as a Platoon Leader with the 10th Cav at Fort Knox, Ky. In 1970 he was assigned to the Republic of Vietnam and served as a Platoon Leader and Assistant Sq S3 with the 11th Armored Cav Rgmt and as a Cav Liaison Officer with the Special Liaison Section. Royal Thai Army Volunteer Force. His final active duty assignment was as a Tank Co Cdr and Asst Bde S3 with the First AIT Bde at Fort Knox. He joined the Florida National Guard in October of 1973 as the Commander of Co B, 2/124th Inf Rgmt. He served continuously in the 2/124th Inf Rgmt until 1986 in the positions of S1, S2, S3, S4 and Executive Officer, rising to the rank of Major. In 1986 he was assigned as S2 of the 53rd Inf Bde (Sep). He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in September of 1988, and became Deputy Director of Logistics for the Florida Army National Guard. On June 1, 1989 he assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment. In July of 1992, he was assigned as S3 of the 53rd Inf Bde (Sep) and served in that capacity until September 1993 when he was assigned as the Deputy Director of Logistics. He was promoted to Colonel on 04 March 1994 and assigned as Deputy Commander of the 53rd Inf Bde (Sep). He assumed command of the Brigade on 1 April 1998.
1969 Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida - BS Degree - Accounting
1969 Armor School, Armor Officer Basic Course
1978 Infantry School, Infantry Officer Advanced Course
1981 Command and General Staff College
1997 Army War College
May 69-Jul 69, Student, Armor School
Jul 69-Mar 70, Platoon Leader, Troop D, 10th Cavalry, Fort Knox, Kentucky
Apr 70 -May 70, Leave, Jungle Operations Training Center Enroute to RVN
May 70-Nov 70, Platoon Leader, Troop I, 3rd Squadron 11th Armored Calvary Regiment, Republic of Vietnam
Nov 70-Feb 71, Asst S-3, Headquarters 3rd Squadron 11th Armored Calvary Regiment, Republic of Vietnam
Feb 71-May 71, Assistant Calvary Liaison Officer, Headquarters, Third Regional Assistance Command, Republic of Vietnam
May 71-Sep 71, Battalion Executive Officer, Company A 2nd Battalion, 1st Advanced Individual Training Brigade, Fort Knox, Kentucky
Sep 71-Nov 72, Commander, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 1st Advanced Individual Training Brigade, Fort Knox, Kentucky
Nov 72-May 73, Assistant Operations and Training Officer, Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Advanced Individual Training Brigade, Fort Knox, Kentucky
May 73-Sep 73, USAR Control Group (Reinforcement)
Sep 73-Dec 73, Motor Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion 124th Infantry, Florida Army National Guard
Dec 73-Jun 78, Company Commander, Company B (-) 2nd Battalion 124th Infantry, Florida Army National Guard
Jul 78-Jul 78, S-1, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion 124th Infantry, Florida Army National Guard
Aug 78-Jul 79, S-2, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion 124th Infantry, Florida Army National Guard
Aug 79-Jul 81, S-4, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion 124th Infantry, Florida Army National Guard
Aug 81-Nov 82, S-3, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion 124th Infantry, Florida Army National Guard
Dec 82-Mar 86, Executive Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion 124th Infantry, Florida Army National Guard
Mar 86-Jul 88, S-2, Headquarters and Headquarters Company (-), 53rd Infantry Brigade, Florida Army National Guard
Aug 88-May 89, Assistant Director, State Area Command, Headquarters and
Headquarters Detachment, Florida Army National Guard
Jun 89-Jun 92, Battalion Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion 124th Infantry, Florida Army National Guard
Jul 92-Aug 93, S-3, Headquarters and Headquarters Company (-), 53rd Infantry Brigade, Florida Army National Guard
Sep 93-Mar 94, Deputy Director Log, State Area Command, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Florida Army National Guard
Mar 94- Apr 98, Deputy Brigade Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company (-), 53rd Infantry Brigade, Florida Army National Guard
Apr 98 ' Present, Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company(-), 53rd Infantry Brigade, Florida Army National Guard
Soldier's Medal
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
Army Commendation Medal (with 2 bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Achievement Medal
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal (with 2 Campaign Stars)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with silver hourglass)
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (with 4 bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (with 60 device)
Valorous Unit Citation
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Director of Business Operations, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Inc.
2LT RA 05 May 69
1LT AUS 04 Jun 70
CPT AUS 18 Jun 71
MAJ ARNG 02 Aug 81
LTC ARNG 07 Sep 88
COL ARNG 04 Mar 94
BG ARNG 01 Oct 99
(Current as of February 2001)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.