Retired December 1, 2007
Major General David B. Poythress
was the adjutant general of Georgia. In this position, he reported directly to the Governor with responsibility for providing command and control authority over the 12,000 personnel of the Georgia Army National Guard, the Georgia Air National Guard, and the Georgia State defense force.
The general is a distinguished military graduate of the Emory University Reserve Officer Training Corps program and was commissioned in 1964. His active-duty service included a tour as chief of military justice at DaNang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. He was called to active duty during Operation Desert Shield/Storm to supervise the continental United States backfill of reserve legal personnel.
1964 Bachelor of arts degree in political science, Emory University, Atlanta, Ga.
1967 Juris doctor degree (with honors), Emory University, Atlanta, Ga.
1982 National Security Management Course
1986 Air War College, by correspondence
1. August 1967 - December 1968, assistant staff judge advocate, 75 Combat Support Group, Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas
2. December 1968 - July 1969, chief of civil law, Headquarters 12th Air Force, Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas
3. July 1969 - August 1970, assistant judge advocate, 366th Combat Support Group, DaNang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam
4. August 1970 - August 1971, assistant staff judge advocate, 1st Combat Support Group, Hamilton Air Force Bse, Calif.
5. October 1972 - March 1990, assistant staff judge advocate, (IMA) Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Ga.
6. March 1990 - June 1992, assistant staff judge advocate, (IMA), 9th Air Force, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.
7. June 1992 - March 1998, mobilization assistant to staff judge advocate, Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
8. March 1998 - June 1999, inactive status, Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center, Denver, Colo.
9. June 1999 - present, the adjutant general of Ga., Atlanta, Ga.
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with one device
Air Force Commendation Medal with one device
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor device and cluster
National Defense Service Medal with one device
Vietnam Service Medal with one device
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short
Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with bronze and silver oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hourglass
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Supreme Court of Georgia
United States Court of Military Appeals
Supreme Court of the United States
Second Lieutenant Jun 8, 1964
First Lieutenant Jun 8, 1967
Captain Jun 12, 1969
Major Jun 8, 1978
Lieutenant Colonel Sep 21, 1983
Colonel March 28, 1988
Brigadier General Feb14, 1994
Major General March 30, 2000
(Current as of September 2009)
The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.